Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-05
BY GEORGE VAN SLYKE.

NEW YORK, April 4.--The South is
the real fighting ground in the opening
moves of the 1882 national campaign
The sudden activity of the managers OF
the major political parties all along
the line this week shows that the field
work preparatory to the national con-
ventions, little more than year of,
has progressed further than was known,
except to the few scouts and sharp
shooters. The campaign is well on its
way. The numbering political machines
| are swinging into action and will pick
up speed each month from now on.
! Both parties are showing the gravest
concern over the South. Having broken
in 1928 from its old traditions, the
! group of States below the Mason Dixon
| line which for generations were classed
as Soidly Democratic, offer complex
problems to the Republicans as we'll as
! the Democrats. The Southern politi-
clans apparently like their new freedom
and intend making the most Of it.
x + X \
| Under the leadership of Horace A.
Mann. Southern manager for Herbert
| Hoover in 1928 and mystery man of
/ that campaign, The professional South
/ ern Republicans are organizing as never
before to force recognition in the next
| from the Hoover administration the
! patronage to which they believed they
were entitled, and frankly they are sore.
Now Mann has set out to organize the
232 Southern delegates, including West
| Virginia, into a workable bloc and ap-
| parently is making so much progress
/ that the Republican managers are
alarmed. He insists that this bloc may
combine with the anti-Hoover forces in
urEf M
the convention. Even if they cannot do
that they promise to make a lot of
| trouble for Mr.. Hoover The Mann or
| ganization is operating under the title
The Southern States Republican
League" which is forming rapidly into
compact and effective machine.
x X
This means a fight Probably 1t will
develop into a contest before the Com
mittee on Credentials for contested
| seats before the convention gets under
way and will end with one or the other
set OF delegates being thrown out. The
| Republican convention may develop
| into a much livelier affair than has
been anticipated generally. The hos
| tile attitude of the Southern Republic
| ans is a menace to the happy relations
| in the Hoover family.
The SouthernerS take it for granted
that Mr.. Hoover is TO be a candidate
| for denomination. That is the basis for
all political jockeying on both sides at
this time, although no formal an
nouncement has come revealing the
| White House attitude.
| X X x X
Apparently accepting the Mann chal-
lenge, Walter F. Brown, Postmaster
General and political mentor of the
Presidents family, invaded the South
this week to check the revolt His action
| comes nearest to an official indication
that the President is preparing to run
again of any single development to
date.
Mr.. Brown told the Republicans Of
Florida that Washington and the ma
tional organization look to that State
to repeat its performance of 1928. The
party is watching the South with
keenest interest, he stated. Later, Mr.
Brown visited South Carolina for con-
ferences with State leaders and he and
other representatives of the Washing
ton interests are in touch with the
leaders of States not allied with the
Mann organization.
X X X
Primary contests may develop In
many of the Southern States for selec-
ton OF delegations. If the Mann or
ganization Is functioning and well
financed the Presidents agents NAV
experience more difficulty than Federal
administrations have known in modern
times in holding the delegates. For the
most part the selections are Federal
Office holders and one of the ancient
and easy pastimes of the Republican
operators has been to hand-pick the
Southern delegates
While the South is causing them some
| depression, the Republicans have beer
cheered this week by the ENCOURAGING
vote OF their party in rock-ribbed Yer
mont. Warren r. Austin was elected
United States Senator by tWo-to-one
vote, and the cheering feature to Wash
1ngton is that the Democrats were I'M
able to capitalize on unemployment and
the business depression to a point OF
making a dent in the party strength.
| * X X X
The whole situation is developing SC
rapidly that the party managers in
Washington are stressing the need for
prompt action in the matter of their
national Craftsmanship. Senator Fess
is not expected to serve through the
pre-convention contests at the head OF
the committee and the Hoover hackers
are feeling the need for firmer hands
at the helm at this time
The Democrats, too, look anXiously
to the South, their source of power
Soundings have been made in the deer
South. Democratic leaders are con-
WINGED that the Southern States are
ready and willing to return to the folc
If given fair opportunity.
The South is dry politically, but it /:
Democratic first and dry afterward
The liquor issue need not set up an in
surmountable barrier to 1882 Demo.
cratic unity, the party leaders believe
Given a dry or even moist Prot
estant as nominee for President, the be-
lief is that the South will be as Demo-
cratic as ever If the religious issue i.
projected again there is almost certain
to follow a repetition of 1928. The
opinion prevails that the South vii