Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-09
ens Stir Political Camps Campaign Enters SemiFnal Stage
THE WEEK IN POLITICS
Summary of National Developments Based on Reports
From The Stars Special Correspondents
and Staff Writer'S

A S the presidential campaign
" enters the semi-final stage,
"A political cross currents are
4 A everywhere churning the
surface Of affairs to such an
unusual extent that managers of
both ma jor parties are wondering. in
something like bewilderment. what is
actually happening in the depths to
cause all this visible disturbance
They are using every available means
to ascertain the exact situation. ac-
cording to the latest dispatches to
The Star from it's special political
writer's in every State in the Union.
If ground swell is already set
ting in toward either Hoover or
Smith. 1t has not yet been detected
But there are indications--far too
numerous to be overlooked by either
Side-that man and woman voters all
over the country are profoundly STIR
red by the liquor and religious issues
and that the foment may be greater
at the end of the campaign than to-
day.
In the definite form in which
they have appeared this year the
religious and liquor questions are
new and virtually unknown factors
in a presidential race. Conservative
observers have no presidents to guide
them in forecasting results. Many
dry and Protestant Democrats are
deserving to the Hoover camp. but
the extent of the detection will Prob
ably not be known until the votes
are counted in November. The same
is true with regard to wet and Catho-
lie Republicans. many of whom are
swinging to Smith.
X X
While these two issues remain far
In the forefront, there are evidences
that farm relief, the tariff and pros
perity are having effect in some
States. aiding coe party or the other
in different localities. Organized
labor in several Eastern communities,
where it has usually been out in the
open for the Democratic national
ticket, Is either keeping hands off
this year or swinging toward the Re-
publicans, because of faith in IT,.
economic views Of Hoover.
On the other hand Smith is dis
tinctly gaining in some Midwestern
agricultural States. and several hith-
erto rock-ribbed Eastern States are
reported to be on the verge Of 60
ing Democratic because of strong
Smith sentiment in some of their big
industrial centers.
x y Y
In the East, recognized by both
parties as the greatest battle ground,
the intensity of the fight is increas-
ing. Maine voters will 60 to the
polls tomorrow to elect State officers
and congressional representatives..
That State seems sure to go Repub-
lican as usual by big majority, the
size of which, as compared with the
vote of former years, will be looked
upon as an index of the situation in
the rest of New England. New
Hampshire. still regarded as Ge-
batable ground. with the Republicans
leading slightly, will hold its pri-
.marieS Tuesday.
Massachusetts, remains the great
est New England enigma. the Re-
publicans there being frankly wor-
ried and the Democrats enthusiastic
over Smiths prospects. Rhode Is
land is another political crossword
puzzle, with both parties seemingly
confident of victory. Republicans
are more confident than the Demo-
Gratis Of carrying Connecticut.
Neither side will concede anything
in New York. Smith seems conf
dent that his home St&te will stand
by him and is planning to run the
campaign there in his own way, as
he has done in his governorship con-
tests. Meanwhile the Empire State
Republicans insist that Smith will
find that carrying the State for
President and governor are vastly
different. Hoover's decision to speak
in New Jersey later this month has
lifted the Republicans there out of
the uneasiness they experienced after
the big Smith turnout at Sea Grit
last month.
Pennsylvania, regardless of Phila-
delphia vice disclosures, seems safe
ly Republican, but the Republicans
of little Delaware are having local
troubles. Prohibition is cropping out
as the main issue In Maryland, de-
spite Democratic efforts to push farm
relief and alleged Republican cor
ruption to the front. Because Gov.
Ritchie. national wet leader, has
three times carried Maryland, the