Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-08
INDIANA AWAITS
LIVELY CAMP A|GN
Most official Prophets Give
Hoover Slight
Edge.
Special Dispatch to The Star,

Special Dispatch to The Star,
INDIANAPOLIS, July Smith VS..
Hoover. unless all signs fail, will prove
the most interesting campaign In IN
diana since the memorable schism OF
1912. and In many respects, because OF
the injection of prohibition. tolerance
and religion. it will be the most en-
crossing political struggle the State
ever has witnessed.
Offhand most political observers &C
quainted with the situation In Indinan
are inclined to give Herbert c. Hoover
a decided edge in the prediction prog
nostications over Gov. Alfred E. Smith
Yet most of them qualify their predic-
tions with the assertion that more time
for analysis Is required before defl-
mite estimate can be made.
It Is noticeable, however. that the
Republicans who we're hoping that
Smith would be nominated by the
Democrats have scaled down the eSti-
mates of majorities from 100000. which
they made previous to the convention,
to 10000. after the reaction TO Hous-
ton had set in. And it is furthermore
noticeable that the Democrats, who be-
fore the national convention had been
prepared to kiss Indiana good-by II
Smith headed the ticket. now appear
more hopeful 1t is plain, therefore.
that each side after considering the
situation in the cold light of plain
facts. has come to the point where 1t
has wholesome respect for its antag-
onist.
The assumption that Hoover could
carry Indiana over Smith is based al
most entirely on the belief that Indiana
has established itself as predominantly
Protestant and dry and that its people
will not vote to place a Catholic In the
lieved that the seeds of religious in
tolerance. sowed by the Ku KluX Khan
during the last six years still are ex-
tant. and that while the Khan has prac-
tically passed out of existence as
strong organization. such as 1t was In
1924 II still has large potential fol-
lowing,
1t already is plain that so far as out
side appearances are concerned the
campaign against Smith will be waged
on the prohibition question. but actually
That, however. will not be made In the
open. but will be left for the whispering
squads.
Tolerance. therefore. will be the
dominant issue-tolerance OF a mans
religious views. tolerance for the man
who likes to take nip without vio-
lating the law. How this issue will fig-
ure IN the campaign Is the point that
is agitating the politicians. It Is mani
fest the Republicans cannot openly
press the religious angle against Smith.
and they will have to pussyfoot on the
prohibition question In many places.
The Democrats, on the other hand,
will hesitate to come out In the open
in defense of Smiths Catholicism
for fear of alternating lot of Protestant
Democrats. nor will they have the cour-
age to press the wet and dry question.
It appears at this time that these moot
questions. therefore will be left for the
whisperers.
Churches In Fight
The churches which have been the
backbone Of the dry movement in the
State seem determined to enter the po-
litical arena. and II Is expected many a
pulpit will echo with invectives against
Smith before Fall. E. S. Shumaker SUI
perintendent Of the Indiana Anti-Saloon
League, which, with the Ku Klux Khan.
has held political Indiana in its grip for
ton into the balance against the New
York Governor. The campaign will af
ford him new opportunity to sally
forth for more funds and more power,
At the start, therefore. Hoover will
become the automatic beneficiary OF the
forces which have been swayed by the
uplifters, the sincere church people, the
Anti-Saloon Leaguers and the Ku
Klux Khan. He will not have to bid for
that support: It comes only because the
Democrats chose wet Catholic as
candidate for President.
One of the greatest factors in Hoover's
behalf, however, is the woman vote.
The women Of Indiana are well ac-
ministration Of the food control act
during the war and they are for him
That was proved In the recent primary
when the women poured out In I'M
told numbers to support the Secretary
against Senator James E. Watson.
Looking at the situation from another
angle. 1t is patent that any Republican
candidate enters Indiana with decided
advantage. Since 1912 no Democratic
presidential candidate has had look in
In this State. In 1870. the first year
that women voted. Harding had a ma
jority over Cox of l85.006. and In 1924
Coolidge swept through the State with
majority Of 2l0,79T over Davis
Tolerance, however, figured In those
campaigns as Is evident from a study
OF the votes cast for governor In 1920,
when the Khan had not yet made its
appearance. Warren T. McCray was
elected governor by majority OF l68,-
900, running nearly up with Harding
In 1924. however. when the Khan had
fastened its grip on the State and Ed
jackson was its candidate for governor
DR.. Carleton B. McCulloch. who ran on
an anti-Klan ticket was defeated by
only 82.4al. That revealed spread
IT kAt
Of Coolidge and jackson.
Using the recent primary as a basis
from which to study the approaching
campaign. one finds that Senator
Arthur r, Robinson. an avowed dry and
supported by the Anti-Saloon League
and the ku Klux Khan. achieved a clear
majority over two opponents In the
Republican senatorship primary. But
at the same time Arthur l.. Gilliom,
attorney general. who had inveighed
against the Anti-Saloon League and the
Khan, and Scion j. Carter, who stood
on practically the same platform. polled
a total Of 1858 votes
Many voted for Giliom or Carter
because they believed them to be wet,
others because of their stand on toler-
ance, while others sought to thus swat
the Khan, or the Anti-Saloon League.
Anyway those $4,000 votes are some
thing for the Republicans to ponder
over. Gilliom by his TRADE against
Shumaker, has made the path OF the
Anti-Saloon League head more difficult
In the coming compaign and ne also
has struck hard blow at the Khan.
Another factor that cannot be over
looked is the attitude OF the farmers.
Previously TO the Kansas City conven-
ton approximately 100000 farm men
and women signed petitions pledging
themselves In effect not TO vote for
Hoover w. II. Settle. president of the
Indiana Farm Bureau Federation. which
boasts membership of more than
$4,000 has spared no pains in telling
the Hoosier farmers that the doors OF
the Kansas City convention were