Evening star., 1928-09-11
DEMOCRATS FEEL
CERTAIN OF SOUTH
Leaders Admit Danger
Exists, but Expect Change
by Election Time.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

With the presidential campaign at
length swinging into the decisive stage.
Democratic leaders have counted noses
In the region that has given them most
anXiety-the Southland are now con-
vinced IL will remain solid" Time
enough has elapsed, they think, to show
whether the revolt captained by Senator
Simmons Of North Carolina and fo-
mented by distinguished churchmen
was likely to prove contagious as far as
other prominent Southern Democrats
are concerned. AS they now survey the
situation. Smith managers believe the
worst Is over and that Dixie's ia elec-
toral votes will be found anchored to
traditional moorings on November g..
Meanwhile the Democrats are girding
themselves for the hardest fight they
have ever had to put up In the South.
Except for Senator Simmons. no out
standing Southern Democratic politician
has bolted the national ticket. Hef1in of
Alabama has not yet declared himself.
but practically all the rest of the South S
representation in Congress is in line
Senator Hugo Black, Heflin's colleague
from Alabama. where anti-Smith senti-
ment IS rampant. has announced his
support of Smith and Robinson, and so
has Gov. Bibb Graves.
Anti-Smithite Defeated.
One Senator from Texas, Earle B.
Mayf1eld, who was hostile to Smith, has
Just been defeated for denomination by a
pro-Smith Democrat, Representative
Tom Connally Senator Morris Shep-
pard of Texas, author of the eighteenth
amendment. has pledged the Democratic
national ticket whole hearted support
one Of the proudest feathers in the
Smith cap. Senator Walter F. George
OF Georgia. who ran second to Smith in
the Houston convention, is actively on
the stump for the Democratic candi-
dates. All these men are appealing to
their brethren not to commit party sui
eide by becoming Hoover Democrats"
OF equal If not greater Importance
from the Smith standpoint is the una
nimity with which the Southern Demo-
cratic press Is back of the ticket. To
date, barring defections in two border
States-Tennessee and Oklahoma-no
newspaper South of the Mason and
Dixon line has renounced the Houston
nominees. The Chattanooga News. own
ed by George F. Milton, inveterate Nc
Adoo man. and the Daily Oklahoman
of Oklahoma City. are the border State
papers in revolt. In the solid South"
ltSeil. Democratlc papers are marching
shoulder-to shoulder for Smith and
Robinson. Here and there. support is
not 100 per cent enthusiastic, but in
variably they are asking their communi-
ties to reman loyal to ancient Demo-
cratic principles and forget the minor
issues of prohibition and religious preju-
dice.
Council of War Held.
There was recently council of war
on the Southern situation in Washing
ton at the Offices of Senator Pat Har-
rison, regional manager for the Demo-
Gratis in Dixie. Among those who parti-
cipated in the powwow were Senators
Glass and Swanson of Virginia, and
Senator Fletcher Of Florida
There was agreement among them
that conditions at this hour are dis
quieting, and. in spots. even serious
But there was no less unaninity that
| danger will have disappeared by elec-
ton time. The principal and urgent
necessity, 1t was decided. was to get
out the immense Democratic vote.
which never before has had to be poll
ed in anything like its full dimensions.