Evening star., 1928-10-28
ouer Still Granted Edge Both Parties Dre Hard 70uard Finish
WEEK IN POLITICS
Summary of National Developments Based on
Reports of The Stars Correspondents
and Staff Writers.

seems destined to be long re-
membered in the history of
American politics, the rival
presidential candidates and CAM
paign managers of the two major
political parties are now putting
forth their final efforts to win.
Hoover has finished his drive for.
votes in the East and he plans, In
the last six days before election day,
November 6, to cross the continent
frc. Washington to his home in
California to vote and to make a few
speeches. Smith is still engaged in
his supreme effort to carry the big
and little Eastern States, including
his own New York, which has the
largest electoral vote of all.
In polls, straw votes and accord
ing to the summation Of the latest
dispatches to The Star from its Spe-
cial political writers in everv State
in the Union, Hoover is well in the
lead in the country as whole.
These dispatchas are supplemented
by dispatches from staff correspond
entS of The Star who have gone into
the more doubtful States and from
a detached viewpoint have made q
careful study of the situations.
X X
All observers admit that conditions
as they exist today could be upset
by developments which might pos
sibly occur in the remaining
days before election. If the situ-
alton changes materially, or If con-
ditionS as they exist today have
been inaccurately gauged, Smith may
be elected, observers agree.
There is also general agreement
that the campaign will not be over
until the very day of election--in
many communities not until the last
ballot is cast and the polls are
closed.
Never in any presidential cam
paign has there been such q heavy
registeration, never such efforts to
get out every possible vote, nor such
intensive work by both sides on in
dividual voters In some States the
result is still so doubtful that neither
side, speaking privately, will claim
victory.
The battle in several of the New
England States wakes hotter. Chief
to center in Massachusetts, which
who spoke Wednesday in Boston
and aroused great enthuiasm. This
State and Rhode Island comprise
the New England region In which
Smith apparently has the best
chance of winning, although the
Democrats are fighting hard and
are hopeful in New Hampshire and
Connecticut. Whether the Demo-
cratic nominee will be able to
break through the normal Repub-
lican majoritieS in any of the States
in this group is still one of the great
enigmas of the campaign.
Dropping Democratic hopes were
revived by Smiths visit to Connec-
ticut, where the Republicans have
never admitted the Democrats had
chance. The more optimistic Demo-
cratic leaders now think Smith may
carry the Nutmeg State. The close
campaign in little Rhode Island is
reported to be turning upon the re-
ligious issue. Maine and Vermont
are still declared to be as safely Re-
publican as ever.
X \ X X
In New York State, home of Coy.
Smith and center OF interest for
political observers everywhere, the
campaign is reaching climax. The
Republican managers are working
hard to get the States big electoral
vote for Hoover, even though they
Senator Smith himself will take
Nf fNya
his home State in the last days
high hope of victory. Impartial OBJ
servers, according to The Star corre-
Spondent, cannot figure Smith VIC
tory in New Jersey, but the Demo-
Gratis hope the situation viii change
with the appearance of Smith there
Wednesday.
Although Pennsylvania Republicans
laugh at the Democratic claim that
Smith has a chance to carry their
State, they are working just about
as hard as If they believed he did.
Most predictions are that the Repub-
lican ticket will win in Delaware by
a much reduced majority, but the
Democrats refuse to admit that like
lihood.
From Maryland come reports that
the result is still hanging in the bal
ance there, with both parties fight
ing tooth and nail. The Democrats
hope for great things from Smiths
speech in Baltimore Monday. They
hope there will be a Democratic ma
jority in Baltimore sufficiently large
to wipe out the expected big Hoover
majority in the counties.
In the other border States the CAM
paign is becoming increasingly Bit
ter. While West Virginia Repub-
licans are apparently confident, the
Democrats, overcoming their former
reticence, are announcing an "eX-
pectaticn" that Smith will carry the
State and that Senator Neely, DEM
ocrat, will be reelected. Kentucky