Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-19
Penetrating the Split.

EerperudJlnR the OpllG'
The anti-Smith Democrats of Vir-
ainia have definitely established them
their convention in Roanoke yesterday
they cast the die which will either
make them a real, permanent power
In the State and perhaps an important
them finally into oblivion. They have
nominated candidates for governor ard
for attorney general; they have gone
on record again as opposed to the MI
tional leadership of the Democratic
party and to the State leadership which
adhered to Alfred e. Smith in the last
campaign. And finally they have de-
clared their satisfaction with the sup
port which they gave to President
Hoover IN the last campaign and COM
graduated the President upon his stand
for prohibition and law enforcement.
Many predictions have been made
since the last campaign that the Demo-
Gratis who broke away in Virginia and
other Southern States would soon drift
back to their old party allegiance. But
the convention in Roanoke gives very
different impression Of the situation.
There were evidences that the organiza-
ton Of the "antis" is strongly knit, and,
furthermore, that the regular Defno-
cratic leaders have been able to do little
90 far to win them back to regularity.
The virginia anti-Smith Democrats
have planned a campaign that is wider
in scope than the state boundaries.
They propose to set UP In Washington
A committee to act with similar COM
mittees representing anti-Smith Demo-
Gratis in other states In a general drive
to remove all vets from the leadership
OF the Democratic national party. 1t is
a drive that may be potent in some Of
the States, particularly those which
broke away from Smith and the ma
tional ticket last year. But it is clear
1t viii not make for harmony, generally
speaking, in the party throughout the
Nation. There is admittedly vide
cleavage in the Democratic party over
the wet and dry issue. The additionally
Democratic South is dry" The States
in the North and East where the DEM
ocrAtic party has been strong are wet
in sentiment.
whether the efforts of the drys to dry
up the Democratic party entirely, and
Of some Of the Republicans to do the
same for the O. o. P, will eventually
divide the country along wet and dry
lines only the future can tell. Prohi-
bition Is still an issue. 1t is still in
the experimental stage so far as en-
forcement Is concerned. 1t is subject
on which millions of Americans differ
violently. 1t is an issue which has Sue
ceeded In splitting the Democratic party
wide open, and to some extent it has
split the Republicans.
The anti-Smith Democrats in Vir-
ginia declare that they see no change
In the national leadership of the DEM
ocratic party. They point to the fact
that Mr. Raskob. a wet, is still chair
man Of the national committee and
that he has said distinctly he is to re-
tain his Craftsmanship. This apparently
is enough for them to go on. If they
succeed In electing their candidate for
governor this year, with Republican
support, the old Democratic organiza-
ton in the State will have been well
smashed. The political complexion of
the State may, in that event, be per-
manently changed.
The eyes Of the Nation will be on
the eubernatorial campaign in Virginia
this Summer and Fall. 1t will be the
first Statewide test since the 1928 cam
paign of the alignment formed then
between dry, anti-smith Democrats and
the Republicans.