Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-20
DEMOCRATS UNITE
FOR FIGHT TO GAIN
SEATS IN CONGRESS
Hope to Overcome Majority
OF One Republicans Hold
in Senate.
TYDlNGS AND HAYES
CONFER WITH SMITH
Nominee Denies Report He Will
Subordinate Farm Relief
and Dry Issue.

! BY the Associated Press
| ALBANY, N. Y, July 20.--In their
efforts to put Gov. Smith in the White
House. the Democrats intend to over
look no opportunities to capture con-
| troll of Congress
The Democratic presidential nominee
himself already has discussed the sena-
toriai phase of the question with two
Senators of his political faith-Tydmgs
of MARYLAND and Hawes of Missouri
and before long he undoubtedly will be
acquainted with the situation as it
affects the House of Representatives.
Confer With Smith.
Tydings. who is chairman of the
Democratic senatorial campaign COM
mittee, gave Gov. Smith a first-hand
insight into their contemplated ,ac-
tivities at conferences which terminated
here Yesterday. They proceeded to
New York to confer with party leaders,
determined TO work In close co-opera-
ton with the Democratic national COM
mittee in an effort to overturn the slim
Republican majority in the Senate.
Representative Oldfield of Arkansas,
one of the war horses in Democratic
ranks. is head of the party'S congress
sior1ai campaign committee, whose chief
function is to try to bring about the
election of Democrats to the House He
has been Iii for several months and
was unable TO attend the Houston con-
vention as delegate at large from his
home State, but he has sent word along
70 Gov Smith that he soon win be in
harness again. anxious to do all ne can
for the success of the party.
As they prepare to make their nght
to wrest congressional control from the
Republicans. the Democrats are faced
with the necessity of upsetting MI
nority of 80 In the House. The lineup
In the Senate during the close OF the
last session was Al Republicans, 40
Democrats, Farmer-Labor and va
cancies.
Seats at Stake.
In all. IS senatorial seats are at
stake in the Nuverabef eieeti0rs. OF
these the Democrats hold 20. the Re-
publicans IA and Farmer-Lahorite j.
Among the Democratic seats involved
In the coming election are those OF
Ashurst OF Arizona, Bayard OF Della
ware. Bruce of Maryland, Copeland OF
New York, Dill of washington, Edwards
of New Jersey. Gerry of Rhode Island
Kendrfck Of wyoming. King OF Utah
Locher of Ohio, Neeley of West vir-
ginia, Pittman of Nevada, Reed OF Mis-
souri,. Walsh OF Massachusetts, and
Wheeler of Montana. With only one
exception Reed of Missouri-Senators
now holding office are seeking re-elec-
a - r. - t4nk from
debatabie States in the North and
West, is giving the Democratic sena-
torial campaign committee no little con-
cern.
In their efforts to build up a Demo-
cratic majority In the Senate party
leaders are hoping to pick up seats In
some of the States where Republican
Senators are up for reelection. In this
group are the seats OF Cutting of New
Mexico, Fess of Ohio, Frazier Of North
Dakota, Greene of Vermont, Hale OF
Maine, Howell OF Nebraska, johnson Of
California, La Toilette of wisconsin
Mclean of Connecticut, Reed OF
| Pennsylvania, Robinson OF Indiana and
| Vandenberg OF Michigan, besides the
seat formerly held by the late Senator
| Gooding of Idaho and that claimed by
Smith of Illinois.
1t is the plan of the Democratic
senatorial committee to conduct its
operations mainly from New York in
concert with the activities of the ma
tional committee, and 1t Is probable. in
| the interests OF coordination, that the
partys congressional committee will do
| likewise.
Denies Report.
Gov Smith declared today that he
intended to deal with. prohibition and
| farm relief extensively" in his speech
| Of acceptance.
The Democratic presidential nominee
| disclosed his intentions when asked by
| newspaper men about published reports
that he planned to subordinate the
farm relief and prohibition issues and
stress his ideas about reorganization OF
Federal Government functions and gov
ernmentai economy
The governor said there was no basis
Tor such forecast OF his intentions
and reiterated that he had disclosed 10
no one what he intended TO emphasize
| except that he would touch on ali
major issues OF the campaign.
The date for Smith notification and
his acceptance speech probably win be
set within the next day or two. Sem
ator Ptttman OF Nevada, who will be
chairman OF the notification commit
tee. was an overnight guest of the gov
ernor and discussed with him plans foi
the ceremony.
Determination Of the date was left
10 the nominee. who said radio factli,
ties would have TO be surveyed before 8
decision is reached
q