PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 260, 2 November 1928, Page 6

PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS.

Not even the bitterest of Mr. Al. Smith's numerous enemies can deny that he possesses a large amount of personal and political courage. The weakness of his position as a candidate for the Presidency lies in the two facts that he is a Roman Catholic and an antiProhibitionist. A political opportunist or a weaker man would have thought it necessary or desirable to evade these issues, or to handle them very delicately and casually. But that is not Al. Smith's way. A week ago, after some dexterous finessing, he came out with the emphatic declaration that "the Volstead law is not an article of religious faith," and that in his opinion "to drink is no sin." Though he was warned that his profession of faith would cosi him many thousands of Votes, he preferred to imperil his chances rather than run the risk of being misunderstood. And now he has decided deliberately to raise. the religious issue as well, declaring that he would rather be beaten than win support by sailing under false colours.

Despite the dangers that this decision may involve, Mr. Smith has now resolved that in the closing stages of the campaign he will make the religious question the paramount one, and Ms last speeches will deal chiefly with this issue. It is evident from the importance attached to this step by friends and foes alike that the religious issue transcends in interest and; importance even the.Liquor question in the eyes of the American people. If Al. Smith is beaten it will not be because he is a son of Tammany or because the "drys" outnumber the "wets" in the United States* but principally because he is a Roman Catholic. There are, of course, other factors in this complicated situation td be taken into account, and the desperate efforts made by the Republicans to secure the support of the Middle West indicates that the rural vote will play a very important part in the coming contest. But Al. Smith's conviction that the religious issue is of paramount interest is probably wellfounded, and he deserves great eredit and high praise for facing the facts so frankly and boldly. It is lamentable that in any country religion should be allowed to interfere in politics, but that is his! misfortune and not Ms fault-