PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 262, 5 November 1928, Page 12

PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN

THE RELIGIOUS ISSUE. PROHIBITION AND TAMMANY. FIGHT FOR WH T TE HOUSE ITC^OL.'RS. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

SAN FRANCISCO, October 18

Not since the time of Abraham Lincoln has any presidential election caused greater exasperation and shock, recrimination and counter-recrimination, as that which found Herbert Hoover and Governor Alfred Smith, of New York, striving for White House honours.

On the approach of election day dyed-in-the-wool Republicans are found pledging their support to the Democrats, while others who are Democratic by tradition have promised to vote the Republican ticket. Churches are split, and families are separated over the issue. The question of religion overshadows all other issues in the vigorous campaign waged with a strenuousness never before equalled in the United States.

On the religious side of the campaign Rev. Dr. Laughton, of Montreal, dealing with the subject, said: "When a Church grasps political power it becomes corrupt and tyrannical, and its ministers become debauched. The people of Great Britain and the United States, where Prote tantism is the prevailing religion among the progressive citizens, reject the principle that 'the question of religion should enter into politics. But can a conscientious Catholic honourably swear allegiance to the constitution of the United States? It is possible that a Catholic elected President of the United States could be so loyal to his country that his election would in no wise effect the constitution, and therefore a man, merely because he is a Roman Catholic, should not be prevented from running for the highest political office in the United States. Years ago I predicted that a Catholic would some day present himself on the political stage of the United States as candidate for the Presidency. That day has now arrived, and the honour has fallen to Al. Smith, a Roman Catholic of Irish extraction, an able Statesman, head of the greatest State of the Union. 'Can he be elected President?' A spectre that will not fade in the minds of millions of Protestant voters, is the fear that a true Catholic, if elected, might make his office subservient to the Church whose faith he professes. But such would not come to pass, for the clergy of the Roman Catholic Church are too shrewd to impose their •will upon Smith, if elected, and any attempt to do so would be repudiated by the latter, I believe. But Smith ist pronounced wet, and he will work for the modification of the Volstead Act, which means its nullification. Even the dry Democrats below the Mason and Dixon line have been aroused by his declaration in respect to prohibition, and threaten to throw Jn their lot with the Republicans. Thus is presented the picture oi a house divided against itself. Another barrier to be surmounted is Smith's affiliation to Tammany Hall, which for many years past has been identified with everything sinister in New York politics. Hoover Lacks Courage. Senator Carter Glass, of Virginia, in a speech at Washington, said that he believed Hoover was a gentleman and an hone&t man, but added, "I cannot believe he is a brave man." "It is because I think he has honest convictions," Senator Glass declared, "that I know he has not the courage of them, because no honest man with the courage of hie convictions could have touched elbows with the treasonable crowd** in Washington and silently acquiesced in the frightful maladministration with which they literally shocked the world." The Virginia Senator sharply criticised the Republican nominee for the statement that "the record of these seven and. a-half years constitute a period of rare courage in leadership and constructive action." *1 could wish that Mr. Hoover had never said that," Senator Glass said "I would like to think he doee nfll believe that. If he does, he exhibits a degree of insensibility unsuited to any man who aspires to the presidency ol the United States." Hoover's record also came under th« Senator's scrutiny. -The Virginia legislator said that we- are told "he is a great engineer an<L- has done notable professional work." "Where and when?" Glass asked, and after referring to notable engineering achievements, asserted that "nothing ii known of the unidentified works built by Mr. Hoover." Gkuas said that credit for the feeding of the Starving women and children ol Europe should go to Woodrow Wilson Many of the Republicans now supporting Hoover were among those who wouW not tuust Hoover to spend 100,000,000 dollars in relief work that President Wilson secured from Congress. "Senatoi William E. Borah," Glass declared, "now extolling Mr. Hoover as an. 'executiv* genius,' at that time joined othei Republican Senators in refusing to trusl Hoover to spend the money voted bj Congress." Praising the record of Governor Smith Democratic nominee, as one that ahowe< honesty and ability, Senator Glass de plored "finally, the wretched talk abou Tammany by those who conveniently forget the Vere machine in Penn eylvania, the old Cox machine in Ohio the Bill Thompson machine in Illinois. 3

HOOVER Wiix WIN.

CONSUL-GENERAL'S OPINION.

"Yes, we are glad to be back. This is a very charming country and its people most hospitable; but good to visit our own country," said Mr. Walter L. Lowrie, United States ConsulGeneral in New Zealand, in answer to a question on board the Aorangi last evenin". And Mrs. Lowrie echoed her husbands sentiments. They left New eZaland last June to spend their fourth holiday in their home land since Mr. Lowrie has been stationed in the Dominion. They will remain in Auckland til lto-morrow evening, when they will leave for Wellington* ; Mr. Lowrie told a representative that tho general opinion when he left the United States was that Hoover would win the Presidential election, but A 1 Smith' was marshalling all his forces and was leaving no stone unturned to defeat his opponent. When Mr. Lowrie was in the States the sectarian issue liad not been raised; in fact there was I no mention of it, and therefore he was k not competent to express an opinion on ft the subject, wh ; ch, according to cabled I advices in the paper#, wjw making the ■ campaign hotter than evtr,