Evening star., 1934-10-28
HOLD
VOTE ADVANTAGE
IN WEST VIRGINIA
New Deal Losing Ground,
but Party Feels Sure
of EIecting Holt.
REGISTRATION MAJORITY
OF 10000 IS CITED
Labor's Approval of Senate Nomi-
nee Seconded by Rural
Allegiance.
BY ROBERT H. HoRNER.

BY ROBERT H. HORNER.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
CHARLESTON, w. Va, October a..
Sizing up the situation at this stage
of the campaign, the indications are,
that, although the New Deal has lost
ground in the last three months In
West Virginia, the Democrats still hold
the advantage in this formerly strong
Republican State. They expect to
elect Rush D. Holt, the 29-year-old
candidate for the United States SEN
ate, as well as re-elect the six Demo-
cratic Representatives.
This outlook is generally accepted
at the State Capitol because of the
well-founded belief that the New Deal
still has left sufficient strength to
control the election.
Registration Favors Democrats.
Aside from New Deal activities, sew
eral other reasons are cited as indica-
tive of Democratic success at the polls
this year. One is the party's heavy
registration, which shows 10000 ma
Jority over the Republicans. Another
is the virtual unanimity of labor in
giving its Endorsement to Holt. Also,
Holt, though lacking in support from
business interests, showed unexpected
strength in agricultural counties in the
primary last August, and nothing has
happened to cause this support to 20
from him.
While this view was almost admitted
by Republican leaders at the outset of
the campaign. they now are talking
more Of possible victory because of
what, to many, appears to be a de-
cided trend away from the New Deal
and a claimed waning in the popular
1ty of President Roosevelt.
Much of the credit for these changes
Is being given to Senator H. D. Hat
field, the Republican candidate for
reelection, and Charles N. KimbalI,
the party's new State chairman, who
has perfected a strong organization
and has succeeded in bringing to-
gether all OF the party factions.
Hatfield Attacks New Deal.
Backed up by the regular organiza-
ton and the growing Young Repub-
lican Clubs, Senator Hatfield has con-
Quoted vigorous campaign in which
ne has concentrated assaults upon
every phase of the New Deal.
BY his persistence in attack upon the
Red brain trust" as he calls it, and
by his analyses of the administrations
failures, citing N. r. A., A. A. A.,
the cheapening of money" and the
tariff, the Senator has succeeded in
turning, much Of the tide, according
to reports from all sections, and, il
is said, has made the prospects for
himself more hopeful. His work also
has aided the Republican congressional
candidates to such an extend that
some observers now are willing to
that Candidates C. M. Jones
of Hinton, in the fifth district, and
Carl G. Bachmann of Wheeling, in
the first district, may win.
One prospect which the Republicans
cherished two months ago, was that
the Democrats would remain hope
lessly split, as was indicated at that
time at Clarksburg when Holt de-
manded the resignation of Robert G.
Kelly, State chairman, and failed to
get it.
At the Clarksburg meeting bitter
words passed between Holt and Kelly.
and Holt and Gov. H. G. Kump, with
Senator M. M. Nicely backing up the
senatorial candidate. Holt called
Kelly and his friends "rattlesnakes.
Gov. Kump warned Holt to keep his
'unclean hands" off the Legislature,
and there came near being an up-
rising in the open committee before
1t was a fight between
the so-called liberals" headed by
Holt and Senator Nicely, against the
so-called conservatives" and the
damage done to the party seemed
lrreparable. At that time Holt in,
dicated that he would not "forsake
my principles" and would make his
against the conservatives
of his own party. But Kelly an
nounced Immediately that in spite of
what Holt had said about him, "I am
still for him and will work to elect
him."
The Clarksburg affair gave the
State new picture of the young SEN
atorial candidate and he was ex-
pected to carry on his fight against
the Democratic conservatives to wrest
from them control of the Legislature.
Word went about the State that
Holt was a radical and business
circles took it up. AS result, busi-
ness became alarmed and many men
who were strongly opposed to Senator
Hatfield said they were forced to turn
TO him because they were afraid of
Holt.