Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-10-29
CAROLINA LINEUP
FOR 40 IS LIMITED
Attempt by Labor to Absorb
Party May Change Bal
loting in Next Race.
This is the nth in series OF
articles on North Carolina politics.
BY WILL p. KENNEDY,
Stan Correspondent of The Star


RALEIGH, N. c.. october 90
Even before the avalanche of votes
on election day, the forward looking
politicians, business men and welfare
students are deeply concerned as to
what wreckage and damage may fol-
low in the wake of the avalanche
what may be the salvaging to be done
in 1870. They are already looking
forward four years to what they ex-
pect to be the greatest, most momen-
tous campaign in American history.
Organized labor and the Negro vote
are going to be cast almost solidly for
the Democratic ticket. These worried
leaders profess to see an attempt by
labor to absorb one of the great po-
litical parties. And if labor is sue
cessful in any such design, they
point out that it would swing the
business men and capitalists in self
defense to support of a reorganiZed
Republican party. The Negro voter.
disenfranchised by the illiteracy clause
in 1899, is definitely returned to the
electorate and can no longer be
driven away from the polls, even in
the South, by Strong-arm methods.
The Negro in North Carolina this
year is voting Democratic and will be
welcomed at the polling booths-but
the Democrats realize that this is
problem they must deal with in the
future. In the past SO years North
Carolina Negroes have been acquiring
education rapidly. They cannot be
disbarred from voting in the future
and they constitute one-third of the
entire voting strength in the State.
Ultimately thev can command the
balance of power in North Carolina.
A coalition of Republicans and Ne
sroes could at any time defeat the
Democrats.
The breaking away of party bell
vethers from the partisan alignments
in the present campaign is rated al
most as treason in North Carolina.
where strict party adherence is rated
as a religion. The Norris and Borah
end CouZens and La Toilette disaf-
fections are looked at askance-as
traitorous to the party-as are Al
Smith, Gov. Ely, Brainbridge Colby,
John w. Davis sniping. The Mime
sofa situation, the Democratic knitting
of O'Brien for Mckee in New York
and similar activity in other centers-
all agitate party tranquility and point
towards a breaking up (or DOWN OF
the old parties. The mugwump and
independent tendency impresses North
Carolina leaders as momentous-with
the State background of strict party
devotion.
Communistic Talk.
There is great deal of communistic
talk and sentiment in the old Tar Heel
State-growing out of the desperation
Of a large proportion of tenant farm
ers, who have been getting scarcely
enough 10 hold soul and body together
and see little hope in the future. II,
with the reelection of Roosevelt
living conditions continue to improve
and prosperity progresses. it is an
ticipated that this communism may
die down, but it might under adverse
social and economic conditions be
easily famed into a flame in the next
four years. The North Carolina lead
ers are guarding as best they can
against communism becoming an out
standing issue in the 1910 campaign
and II the issue comes. they expect
that this State, which always cham
pioned religious liberty but turned
against AL Smith in 1923 because OF
religion. will turn to the Catholics as
the historic crusaders against COM
munism. The spread of communism
threatens both major parties.
There are business leaders in North
Carolina who emphasize that il
Roosevelt again sweeps the country
with an unprecedented majority as
they confidently expect he Wilt is
contrary to human nature to expect
that he may not be tempted beyond
the power of resistance for the public
good to make a try for third term.
In that event party lines would be
swept aside.
There are those also, who while in
sisting that Roosevelt will not seek q
third term. who do feel that he will Sc
lect his successor. Senator Barley OF
Kentucky is considered heir apparent