The Washington times., 1929-10-30
POLL 7 |CAL
INTEREST
REVIVED

NORFOLK, Va, Oct. 3d.
Less interest is being shown IN
the race for governor in the
Second Congressional district
of Virginia than was the case
in the last presidential contest,
when Democratic DETECTION
was serious enough to result
in a 1890 majority for Hoover:
Polling approximately one:thlrd Oh
the vote in the district, Norfolk was
somewhat excited oNer the State ana
local contests in the Democratic
primary last August. But lmme-
diately after the primary a large
norton of the Democrats seemed
to lose interest, developing on apathy
which is one of the chief concerns
OF party leaders.
Anti.Smith Fervor Revived -..
Evidences of a considerable en-
thusiasm have appeared among the
snti.Smith forces. Feeling that they
had devoted themselves to holy
cause, the members of this group
have exerted themselves accordingly
P,,t even in this quarter q mod
crate decline in fervor has been
noted sinca midsummer when the
anti.Smith organiza ation, in its haste
to keen the rank and file out OF
the Democratic party, launched us
campaign.
Within the last week, however,
the political thermometer in hls
district again has begun to rise
John Garland Pollard, Democratic
candidate for governor, came to
Norfolk to address an overflow audi
ence last Wednesday. DIR. William
Moseley Brown, coalition candidate,
spoke here the next evening and
spent two days on the stump In
Norfolk and Princess Anne counties.
The speeches of the candidates
not only inspired the workers OF the
two parties with new zeal. but also
started a ripple OF discussion on
the placid surface of the political
waters that has widened with each
succeeding day until now a large
proportion of the electorate has been
affected.
Trinkje To Close Campaign
This week promises to be as ex-
citing as last Governor Byrd spoke
in Norfolk last night. Henry W.
Anderson, who since the departure
of Bishop James Cannon, jr., has
become the chief unofficial spokes-
man and guide of the coalition can
didates, appears here for a final
broadside on Thursday.
It had been expected that Mr.
Andersons appearance would close
the public debate in this city, but
Democratic workers have arranged
to have former Gov. +. Lee Trinkle
come here to reply to Anderson on
Friday night Mr.. Trinkle will
close the speaking campaign.
Probably the chief foundation for
the hopes which Democratic leaders
have of rolling up a substantial
majority for Pollard in this district
is the heavy vote cast in the Demo
cratic primary in August. In almost
every county and city in the district
the primary vote ran we'll ahead of
the Democratic vote in the general
election. In Norfolk the total pri.
mary vote reached II 900, on unpre-
cedented figure for the city. in
sharp contrast to the 5.SSs vote
cast here for Smith in 1928. This
figure is taken in Democratic circles
to indicate a decided swing back to
regularity among the rank and file
of the anti-Smith forces.
Doubtful of Portsmouth
Because of this swing there are
predictions of a majority for Pol
lard in the district of from 1000
to 5000. The Democrats expect to
carry the city of Norfolk by a
heavy majority. They expect to
carry Isle of Wight county, which
went for Hoover, and also Nanse.
mond and Southampton counties
and the city of Suffolk, which went
for Smith.
AS to the city Of Portsmouth and
the counties Of Norfolk and Prin-
cess Anne, there il more doubt.
Some OF the Democratic leaders are
altogether confident as to Norfolk
county, but in other quarters assur-
ance Is lacking.