Evening star., 1932-10-26
HEAVY DEMOCRATIC
LEAN SEEN IN 0H|0|
Greater Effort Held Needed
to Increase Swing to
Hoover.
EY DAVID LAWRENCE.

CINCINNATI, October 26.-This Sec
ton of Ohio has always been wet, but
usually is given big Republican major
ity. Today it remains wet, but is lean
ing heavily toward the Democratic side.
Unemployment and prohibition are
the main considerations. While the
early polls show Hoover running behind
by wide margin, indications are that
the President is gaining ground every
day Republicans hereaboutS are frank
ly doubtful about the outcome, but they
are hoping that the ground swell Will
reach its peak on election day on
every side there is the comment that
Mr.. Hoover has won votes by his eXposl-
tion and that since the Des Moines
speech a new Hoover has been projected
into the contest.
Speech Not Comforting.
The address of AL Smith over the
radio has stirred up lively controversy
irrespective of party. The revival OF the
religious issue of four years ago may
or may not be sequel. but In state
which has had in the past fairy
heavy dry vote, the Smith speech is
far from comforting to many Repub-
licans who were just about to desert
their ticket.
some eNlOeDce Ol lllt IcSdINc lCil-
dency of the electorate, namely, the
disposition to vote tgainst the "lns," Is
apparent in the way the tide Is running
in the gubernatorlal race. Gov. White.
Democrat is having hard time, while
his Republican opponent, David 1ngalS.
is showing up we'll in all straw votes.
If Mr. Hoover should carry the State
it would mean the certain defeat OF
Mr.. White, and it will probably take
victory of over 10000 by Roosevelt to
re-elect the present Governor.
Hard to Measure Swing.
It is difficult to measure the size OF
the Hoover swing of the last 10 days.
Some observers think that it has only
served to reduce a possible Roosevelt
plurality of 100000 down to 100000. 1t
means that there is much more work
to be done by the Republicans, particu-
larly in the rural districts, If they are
to carry Ohio.
President Hoover is due here in
few days en- route to Indianapolis, and
preparations are being made to greet
him with large crowds. Radio speeches
may be helpful, but the political lead
ers here think personal appearance
and a speech will be influential IN this
section of the State.
Ogden Mills, Secretary Of the Treas
ury, was here last night and was given
an enthusiastic reception. He speaks
tomorrow at Toledo. There is no longer
any doubt that the Republicans are
concerned over the Buckeye State ana
are making real efforts the last two
weeks to capture its electoral votes.
When Cincinnati and the vicinity are
doubtful, from the Republican view
point then it may be truly said that
the Republicans chance of carrying the
state is doubtful. 1t will be admitted
by Republican leaders that Ohio is not
safely Republican this year, but on the
other hand they stubbornly refuse TO
concede that it is lost.
Two Uncertain Factors.
Two factors present great uncertainty.
One is the women'S vote, IN Whlcn
Hoover is faring much better than with
the mems vote The other point Is
the large number of votes going to
Norman Thomas. 1t remains to be seen
whether Thomas will draw more from
the Democratic than from the Repub-
lican side. Unquestionably he will get
big vote in Ohio.
Southern Ohio is fighting ground.
Earlier conversion to the wet side by
the President would have helped him
in this territory though the unem-
plOyment situation Is Sucn tnat ~ IS
doubtful whether Cincinnati would have
looked very much different even II the
prohibition issue had been eliminated.
This is only another way Of saying that
whatever gains Mr.. Hoover may make
in the next week or so must come
from economic arguments and from the
opposition to change in government at
this time, which is the basis of the Re-
publican appeal Ohio at the moment
looks Democratic.
(Copyright. 1927