Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-08
Party Leaders Hope to Hold
Dry Rural and Wet City
Votes in Fall.
BRENNAN DEATH BLOW
TO SMITH IN ILLINOIS
Moore's Victory Held Indication
of Virginia's Adherance to
National Ticket.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

senatorial candidate. Charles M Hay.
to run with AL Smith in the November
election. They have nominated also
Francis M Wilson for governor, who
has a dry record but has been called
acceptable to the wet leaders in St
Louis.
From the Democratic point of view,
this appears good strategy. Hay is the
driest of the dry. 1t is the hope Of the
leaders he will be able to keep the rural
Democrats, many of whom are dry. in
line for the entire ticket. thereby gain
ing strength for Smith and Robinson.
On the other hand. they hope to pick
up Republican votes among the vets in
st. Louis, with AL Smith heading the
Democratic national ticket.
The nomination of Hay. however, has
come only after bitter fight among
the Democrats of Missouri, with Sena-
tor James A. Reed exerting his power
full influence in the State for the nomi-
nation of James A. Collet. a wet. Reed
has for years been q political enemy of
Hay, who fought Reed in 1920, when
Reed practically was read out of the
party because he had opposed Wood
row Wilson and the League of Nations,
and in 1929, when Reed ran for renomi-
nation to the Senate.
Missouri DebatabIe Ground.
Missouri has been regarded as de-
batable ground in this election. The
Republicans carried the State four
years ago for Coolidge, Notwithstanding
the desperate efforts of the La Toilette
ticket and of the Democrats TO beat
them Off 1t went Republican, too. in
the Harding landslide. Two years ago.
however, the State chose Senator Harry
HaweS, a Democrat, over former Sena-
tor George B. Williams, Republican.
Hawes was considered a wet. In the
coming campaign contrary currents will
be at work st. Louis, a Republican
stronghold, has many wet voters. On
the other hand, parts of rural Missouri
where the Democratic vote Is strong
are very dry.
Desperate efforts viii be made to
line up the German-American vote,
which has been as rule Republican,
although It was that vote which saved
Senator Reed in 1922 1t Is wet vote
and for that reason inclined to AL
Smith. But the Republicans are out
to show that Mr.. Hoover has the
gratitude of the Germans for the aid
he rendered women and children in
Germany and Austria after the arm
istice was signed.
The death of George r. Brennan.
Democratic leader in Illinois and one
of Smiths strongest deutenants In the
preconvention campaign. in Chicago
today will come as real blow to the
Smith chances in that State. Brennan
has been the Democratic boss in Cook
County, Chicago, for years, and it was
upon his ability to handle the organ
iZation and to do business" with some
of the Republican factions in Chicago
that many Democratic hopes have
been based for Smiths success Ia
Illinois this year.
Democrats Are Satisfied.
Generally speaking the result OF the
senatorial and gubernatorial primaries
is satisfactory to the Democrats. What
attitude Senator Reed will take in view
Of the nomination of his bitterest enemy,
MIR. Hay, remains to be seen. Senator
Reed is violently opposed TO the election
of Mr. Hoover, however, and doubtless
will do all he can to further the inter
ests of the Democratic national ticket.
The nomination yesterday Of Repre-
sentative r. Walton Moore, Democrat,
to succeed himself as member of Con-
gress from the eighth congressional dis
trict of Virginia was accomplished by
an overwhelming vote, despite the effort
of his opponents TO bring into the con-
test the Smith and anti-Smith issue.
H. Earlton Hanes had the support, 1t is
reported, Of some OF the die-hards who
oppose the election Of Gov. Smith to the
presidency.
Mr.. Moore, on the other hand. has
announced he will support the Demo-
cratic national ticket. Mr. Moore has
been member OF Congress for many
years and Is popular In his district, and
ordinarily his denomination would have
been taken as matter OF course But
nevertheless his victory yesterday by
large vote must be interpreted as an
indication that the Democrats of Vir-
ginia are going to line up sooner or
later for the party's national ticket,
Notwithstanding the fact that AL
Smith is not acceptable 10 many of
them.
Much interest centered today In the
projected debate between Gov. AL Smith
of New York and Rev. Or. John
Roach Straton, pastor of Calvary Bap-
tist Church, New York. over the ques~
sAplit IA kllt uGhUllG5b Toe
In America today 10 the forces of moral
progress and true political wisdom?"
There was a feeling that the governor
had embarked upon dangerous course
and that unless he made especially good
in the debate, he would lose ground In
the campaign thereby.
Evans 10 Go t0 Tennessee.
The Hoover people today are well
satisfied with the decision OF the Ameri-
! can Federation of Labor officially to
| maintain neutrality AS between Hoover
and Smith for the presidency. No
/ effort was made 10 have the executive
| council. meeting In Atlantic City, IN
| dorse Mr. Hoover On the other hand,
| the friends OF Gov. Smith sought
strenuousl'' To have an Endorsement to
| 30 to their candidate,
Announcement that Representative
Evans Of California would go to Ten
nessee Immediately 10 take charge of
the campaign In that State for Herbert
Hoover was made yesterday at Repubii-
can national headquarters.
| This Is the first step In the contem-
! plated Republican drive In the South,
| and whether 1t will be followed by SINH
| lar efforts In other States was not re-
| vealed In the brief announcement OF
the committee,
Evans is native OF Laurel County,
| Ky. on the Tennessee border, He will
| sci up headquarters at an early date In
the Border" state which gave the RE
'