Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-22
DEMOCRATS DRAFT
VIRGINIA CANT A|GN
Every Precinct May Be In
vaded-KIan Influence
Fought.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
RICHMOND. Va. July 2l.-State
Democratic campaign headquarters
were opened in Richmond this week oy
j. Murray Hooker, chairman OF the
State Democratic committee. Inc
headquarters are located In MURPHY
Hotel In the rooms occupied by the
Bvrd constitutional amendment forces
during their successful campaign which
closed with the special election June 10,
1t is expected that branch headquarters
will be opened at several places, eSpe-
cially Roanoke.
In opening headquarters here. Mr..
Hooker gave out a statement TO the Ell
feet that reports from the various sec
tons of the state indicate that Smith
would be given the usual majority
which Virginia gives to presidential
candidates, but that owing to the spe-
cial activity of the Republicans this
year no chances would be taken. ana
the Democrats would conduct what the
old time politicians call precinct cam
paign.
The Virginia Democratic organization
is intact and in good working order as
far as the state committee Is con-
cerned, but some fear is entertained
that some of the local committees IN
certain parts of the State have fallen
into the hands OF the Ku Klux Khan.
It Is not easy to tell who is Klans-
man, but 1t is charged that some MEM
bers of the Richmond city Democratic
committee belong to the order.
Plan Many Clubs.
To generally stimulate interest in the
campaign as we'll as to offset any action
ON the part of local committees not
sympathetic with the partv's nattH'N"'
nominees. II Is proposed to organize
Democratic clubs In every county ana
city IN the State. At Democratic head
quarters 1t Is said that many men and
women whose political activities hereto
fore have been confined to casting their
ballots have this year evidenced de-
sire to participate more actively in the
campaign and 1t Is thought that they
can best do this through the medium
of the proposed clubs
So far the Republican campaign
plans call for congressional nomina-
tions In only four OF the ten districts
OF the State. In the second, or Norfolk
Portsmouth district they have NOM
mated Menalcus Landlord who will OPP
pose the winner Of the present Demo-
cratic contest between Joseph r. Deal,
incumbent and John A. Lesner. In
the fifth district. which surrounds
Danville and which Is the home OF
Senator Claude A. Swanson, the Re-
publicans have nominated John d.
Bessett to oppose Representative Joseph
Whitehead. Democrat. NJ, ]. Putnam
has been nominated by the Republicans
of the tenth. one Of the valley districts.
to oppose Representative Harry st,
George Tucker, Democrat, To-day the
ninth district Republicans are meeting
at Bristol to nominate candidate to
oppose w. II, Rouse, Democrat.
Internal Dissension.
The Republican forces in the ninth dis
trict once consistently Republican, APP
pear in bad shape this year, They have
many internal dissensions and the Al
Smith wave has aroused more en-
thusiasm among the Democrats of
Southwest Virginia than among those
of any other section of the State. The
Republicans. however, are said to have
a good fighting chance In the nth
district. certain sections OF which have
been submerged by the Ku Kluxism In
recent campaigns. All members of the
present Virginia congressional delega'
ton are Democrats
r. L, g. BARRETT