SOME THEORIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 266, 9 November 1928, Page 7

SOME THEORIES.

REASONS FOR DEFEAT,

" Democrats Try To Ride To Power On Beer Keg."

" SMITH WRECKS PARTY."

(United Service.)

(Received 10.30 a.m.)

NEW YORK, November 8.

The "Denver Post," whose polities are independent, has a unique explanation for the election result. It says: "The American people have spoken. Prohibition is here to stay and woe betide the candidate or party who attempts to nullify or repeal it. "Women and automobiles are the two explanations of the crushing defeat administered to Al. Smith. He will go down to history as the man who wrecked the Democratic party. Never again will any great political party dare try to ride into power on a beer keg or a whisky bottle'.

The "Arkansas Gazette" says: "The greatest reason for the regrettable result of the ballottingj.is that religious freedom has been called into question in a land founded upon the principle of religious freedom."

In spite of Mr. Smith's large popular vote he obtained fewer electoral college votes than any Democrat Presidential nominee in history. The latest definite returns show that Mr. Smith won only the following eight States:—Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Rhode Island, and South Carolina.

.This means that he lost the following States which voted Democrat at the laot Presidential election in 1924:—Florida, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.

By winning Massachusetts and Rhode Island, however, Mr. Smith secured two States which voted Republican in 1924. His victory in these two States merits examination. They are suffering from depression in'the textile manufacturing industry. They have large Roman Catholic populations, and their cities are notedly "wet" in sentiment.

The following table shows the States won by the two candidates with the number of electoral votes apportioned to each State, with the popular majorities. The returns given are still incomplete:— i Hoover. Smith. Majority. New York ... 45 — 100,000 Illinois 29 — (not stated) Pennsylvania . 38 — 300,000 Ohio 24 ; — 200,000 Connecticut .. 7 — 100,000 Kansas 10 , — 300,000 Maine 6 > — (not stated) lowa 13 — 200,000 Indiana 15 _— (not stated) Tennessee .... 12 — 10,000 Missouri 18 ,— 2,000 Michigan .... 15 — 500,000 New Jersey .. 14 — 150,000 Vermont ' 4 ~— 20,000 Oregon 5 — 200,000 Maryland .... 8 — 10,000 California ... 13 — 200,000 West Virginia 8 — 30,000 Kentucky .... 13 — 30,000 Georgia — 14 60,000 New Hampshire 4 — (not stated) Delaware .... 3 ; — 15,000 Wisconsin .... 13 — 50,000 South Dakota . 5 — 30,000 Louisiana .... — 10 75,000 Alabama — 12 (not stated) Arkansas .... — 9 (not stated) Mississippi ... — 10 (not stated) South Carolina — 9 (not stated) North Carolina 12 (not stated) Minnesota .... 12 — 150,000 Wyoming .... 3 — 15,000 Colorado 6 — 50,000 Idaho 4 — " 80,000 Nebraska 8 — 100,000 New Mexico .. 3 .< — 10,000 Rhode Island .. — 5 1,600 Utah 4 — 15,000 Washington 7 — 80,000 Virginia 12 — 18,000 Arizona 3 ■ — 5,000 Florida 6 — 10,000 Nevada 3 , — 12,000 North Dakota . 5 — 12,000 Massachusetts . — 18 (not stated) Montana 4 — (not stated) Texas 20 <•" — (not stated) Oklahoma 10 — (not stated) Electoral votes 444 ' "87