Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-05

NODIlCAn ana lJeIIlOCIhblC
ayers are improving the interval by
vigorous work in preparation to un-
timber their heaviest artillery In the
presidential campaign In Septem-
Der and keep 1t hot throughout that
month, October and until election
day in November, according to the
latest dispatches received by The
Star from It's correspondents all over
the country.
Meantime political shipping, reach
ing In some instances the importance
of a skirmish between the lines or
sallies into enemy territory. is going
ahead with increasing regularity, and
seems to forcshadow rather bitter
struggle toward the end.
Not for a long time has there
been a presidential campaign in
voIvinC so many elements of uncer-
tainty as this one. In every State
party leaders are using all the time
honored means In an effort to dis
cover the drift of sentiment. They
are getting some fairly accurate an
formation In some cases and they
are baffied by reports brought In by
their scouts from other sections.
Each week they are more impressed
large numbers OF voters to shift al
legiances from one camp to the other.
They find Democratic drys looking
upon Hoover with favor and Repub-
lican vets inclined to vote for Smith.
From almost every State comes the
news that the women voters are more
aroused in this campaign than they
have been at any time since they
obtained the right to vote IN A ma
tional election Many OF them are
being influenced according to OBJ
servers, by religious sentiment, al
though this seems to apply equally
to the male voters. But 1t is the
liquor question mainly, that Is re-
ported to be causing women to take
an unusual interest In this cam
paign. Many OF them. although by
no means all, are openly, and re-
CARELESS Of party. against Smith be-
cause of his liberal views on this
subject. This is offset to great
extent by sentiment favorable to
Smith among men of both parties
in the larger cities.
1t begins to look--although 1t is
early to venture any sort of gen.
eralization--that In measure the
larger and wetter cities, like Boston,
New York, Cleveland. Cincinnati,
Chicago, ST. Louis and others that
will easily come to mind, may be
aimed against the drier rural or
sn1all-town sections. This does not
mean, Of course, that there Is not
much dry sentiment In the big cit
les. but simply that the political
drift as reported in such closely set
tied communities is apparently at
present toward Smith on account of
his liberal views regarding prohibit
ton, while 1t is toward Hoover In
the other portions of the States. and
especially among the women. be-
cause he is acceptable to the drys.
~
New England continues to fur
nish interesting developments AL
though Maine is counted safely Re-
publican. spice has been added 10
the campaign there by the an
nouncement that Justice William r.
pattangall, husband Of Mrs. Pat
tangali, for many years Democratic
national Committeewon1an and him
self a Democratic leader. will vote
for the Republican candidates In
State and Nation. The wet senti-
ment in the industrial centers of
Massachusetts, and the large Catllo-
lie vote is responsible for repeated
reports that this normally Republi-
can State may be considered debat-
able ground. Bay State Republic
ans know they have real fight on
their hands and are preparing to
enter in earnest.
Democrats have been more than
normally active In Connecticut, but
reports indicate that the Republic
ans can be depended upon also to
put up a battle of unusual agrees
siveness. While the campaign in
Vermont and Rhode Island remains
somewhat quiet for the present.
rush OF candidates at the last min
ute to enter the state primaries
in New Hampshire is reported, The
Hoover versus Smith campaign In
the Granite state promises to be
lively.
In New York State the Republic
ans. after period OF repose, have
gone into action. They have de-
clared that a result OF survey
made by themselves indicates that
Smith cannot carry his home STATE,
basing this claim upon two things;
namely. their belief that Smith cam
not carry the normally upstate Sec
tions, where his votes for governor
have never made great inroads on
the normal big Republican vote, and
that Smith cannot count on the
s,lpport OF the Jews, Socialists and
negroes In New York City. which
have hitherto voted for him. Tho
Democrats claim TO he uiimpressed
by such statements and profess stu
prenle confidence that the governor
viii carry the Empire State, Mean
time the Democrats are going ac-
lively ahead to win Republican
votes many OF which they are re-
portAd to have corraled already
among the wet element In New
York City New Jersey Democrats
continue 10 prepare for big Smith
demonstration upon the occasion OF
his expected speech at Sea Grit Au-
gust rs, while the Jersey Republican
leaders are hiding their time.
Reports of wet Smith sentiment IN
the mining and industrial resiolis
OF Pennsylvania come in, but no
observers class that State as any"
thing but Republican a. usual. Del.
aware and Maryland are still looked
upon as doubtful.
Ohio, Indiana and Illinois are
arousing the usual interest, because
so much depends upon their Dig
block of electoral votes, and they
may be called debatable. especially
Ohio and Indiana Even the Demo-
Gratis admit that when Ohio goes
Democratic In a presidential cleo
ton IL is for some unusual reason
The Democrats are counting on me
wetness Of the big cities 10 supply
that reason this year. but the ne
publleans are cheered by the fact
that ALI proposals smacking nf wet"
ness has been defeated there mere
tnfore There seems To be no uoupl
that the Indiana farmers~-~at least
thaRA afitiatAd cldaAiy With the