Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-27
POLITICAL CRISIS
FACING VIRGINIA
Spirited Campaign for Gov
ernor Following "SoIid
South" Break.
Ry the Associated Press.

RICHMOND, Va, May 27.-Virginia,
still bearing scars of the political bat
tie of 1928 that saw her break with
the Democratic solid South" is ex-
periencing one of the most spirited po-
litical years in her long history.
Already listening to the roar OF
Democratic oratory in the primary
campaign Virginians are anticipating
another, and probably a more interest
ing campaign between Democrats ana
Republicans in the Fail.
First to Hold Elections.
Virginia is the first Southern State
% hold a State election among the
five from the solid South" that, cast
their votes in the Republican column
LAST November.
The Republicans will make a de-.
termined effort to wrest State control
from the Democratic party-a control
the Democrats have exercised since
their return to power after reconstruc.
ton. The Democrats are conf1dent OF
EC93:S; their ground, undismayed by
the RepublIcai. victory for the ma
tional ticket.
A third political group, CONCEDED by
all to have exercised tremendous IN
fuence in the 1928 election, has main
tanned its exiStence-the antt-Smith
Democrats. They will hold State
convention in Roanoke June ~ 10
nominate "if deemed proper" ticket
for the election in the Fall.
The Republican party, stronger IN
Virginia than in most Southern States.
expects to enlist large number OF
votes from the anti-Smith group.
Favored by Opinion.
Return of the anti-Smith Democrats
10 the Democratic fold was made easy
through an opinion obtained by the
Democratic executive committee from
the attorney general. The attorney
general held that the primary laws re-
curing the voter to have supper ed
election applied only to those nominated
by direct primary, and since presidential
electors were chosen by convention,
those who failed to support the Demo-
cratic national ticket were eligible to
participate in the State primary this
year.
Three gubernatorial candidates now
are stumping Virginia in the Democratic
primary, discussing issues OF State in
terest. The candidates are John Gar
land Pollard, former attorney general
of Virginia and faculty member of the
College Of william and Mary; G.. Walter
Mapp, former State Senator, and Rose
well Page, former second auditor of
Virginia and brother of Thomas Mel
son Page, Ambassador to italy in the
Wilson administration. AL pledged
party loyalty.
Angel Prominently Mentioned.
Little discussion has conferred on the
prospective nominee for governor Of the
Republican party, although the name
of Robert Angel of Roanoke, Repub-
lican State chairman, often has been
mentioned. Mr.. Angel, however, has
announced he will retire as State chair
man this year due to ill-health. Henry
w. Anderson, Richmond attorney, also
has been mentioned for the post.
The anti-Smith Democrats consti-
tute the unknown" factor in State
politics. The general opinion is that
to name third ticket would split the
vote Hoover received and Democrats
believe this would assure a Democratic
victory. There is conviction in Demo-
cratic circles that the leaders Of the
anti-Smith group cannot throw any
large support to the Republicans this
year.
Hoover Takes $4,000 Votes.
The normal Democratic majority Is
about $4,000, but last year Hoover got
1880 and Smith 141 900. Democrats
contend that number Of Democrats
who were not affiliated with the anti
Smith group voted against Smith last
year. Democrats expect many votes to
come back to their party this year, and
predict the usual $4,000 majority. Re-
publicans point out that three Of their
nominees for Congress were eelcted In
1928.