BITTER FIGHT.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19459, 5 November 1928, Page 11

BITTER FIGHT.

ELECTIONS IN U.S.A.

THE FINAL STAGE.

CANDIDATES' PROSPECTS

(UXITED PH2SS ASSOCIATION —BT ELECTBIO TELEGRAPH —COPTEIOHT.)

(Keceived. November 4th, 11.5 p.m.)

NEW YORK, November 3,

Mr Al. Smith, in Madison Gardens, and Mr Herbert Hoover, at Pueblo, Colorado, summed up their campaign policies to-night as virtual valedictories before the voters go to the polls. Mr Smith pledged himself not to interfere with tariff, and denied that property would ebb under his administration. He reiterated his promise to help the farmers, and again outlined his attitude towards Prohibition. He attacked the Republican record on labour, and condemned the Ku Klux Klan and. Anti-Saloon League as Republican allies.

Mr Hoover stressed the danger of the introduction of competitive tariff under the Democrats. He recounted the Republican accomplishments in the limitation of armaments, international peace, the reduction of the national debt by six billion dollars, and national prosperity. He expressed approval of the protective immigration laws. Naturally both Parties claim that they will gain the victory, and in the final estimates the Democrats insist that Mr Smith will obtain popular majorities in 37 States, with a total electoral vote of 402, conceding Mr Hoover majorities in only seven States, with an electoral vote of 57, and declaring that four States, with 72 electoral votes, are doubtful. The Republicans claim that Mr Hoover will carry 36 States with 409 electoral votes, conceding Mr Smith 12 States with 122 votes.

An independent canvass of the sentiment throughout the nation gives the following more conservative estimate: For Mr Smith 22 States with 213 votes and 10 doubtful States with 105. It is interesting to note that the Republican estimate conceded the entire 12 so-called doubtful States to Mr Smith, which is in accordance with Democratic claims, but independent observers include the following four Southern States among the doubtful: Florida, Texa3, Virginia, and Tennessee. A majority-of 266 Electoral College votes is necessary for election to tho Presidency.—Australian Press Association.

THE RELIGIOUS ISSUE.

DEMOCRATIC "HOLY WAR."

NEW YORK, November 2,

As was anticipated the re-entry of the religious issue has resulted in exceptional bitterness in the political campaign and a statement refuting charges of bigotry.

The Republican National Committee has declared: "The vituperative outcry of the Tammany slander-mongers is the most despicable exhibition this country has ever witnessed of bigotry that kppws no decency."

The final sentence in the same statement is probably one of the strongest bearing the official stamp of an American political Party: "The campaign has descended from the side-walks of New York to the gutters of New York.'' The reference here is to a popular song about the footpaths of New York which has been adopted by the Democrats as descriptive of Mr Al Smith's rise to fame as a city-bred man. The Democratic National Committee has produced a number of legal documents to prove that the Republicans are distributing literature asking for opposition to Mr Smith because he is a Catholio and demands that it be stopped. Senator Moses, one of Mr Herbert Hoover's campaign managers, was charged with responsibility for this. He has replied that he cannot remember whether the literature sent out contained religious matter, and added: "Mr Raskob and his Presidential candidate in the closing days of the campaign are like Mohammedans proclaiming a Holy War. The St. Louis headquarters of the Democratic National Committee have been busy for weeks flooding certain sections of the country with vicious attacks upon Mr Hoover's religious faith." "Crowd Man«euvring." The Republican National Committee declared: "Under the mockery of denouncing it, the Democrats have introduced the religious issue until it is now apparent that this shameful subterfuge has been artfully employed to substitute passion and prejudice for «erious consideration of the issues." • Whether this new emphasis upon the religious issue will change the popular trend, which is still unmistakably for Mr Hoover, is difficult to say It is clear, however, that Mr Smith's managers are now ready to employ every device known to political artifice to command popular attention and support. It is avowed that New York State is doubtful ground. There is no clear indication how it will go, but for a variety of reasons it is clear that Mr Smith cannot lose New York State and win the election, although the same is not true for Mr Hoover. New York City is staunchly Democratic in the sense, that it has always supported Mr Smith as Governor. The campaign managers have therefore decided upon a monster parade through the city streets, led by Mr Smith, and, with admitted showmanship: it is conceded that they will so manage the demonstration as to show popular enthusiasm, even exceeding the reception of Colonel Charles Lindbergh. Proof that such a demonstration may have its political effect is even seen in the fact that Wall Street Betting Commissioners declare it probably will have a decided effect on the betting odds. The campaign has entered a phase of so-oalled "crowd-mancouvring."—Aus-tralian Press Association.

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. "SUCCESS SEEMS ASSURED." (Received November 4th, 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, November 3. After hearing Mr . Herbert Hoover speak over the radio Mr Calvin Coolidge sent a telegram to the Republican candidate: "Your success in the campaign seems assured. I shall turn over the great office of President of the United States to your safe keeping sure that it will be in competent hands in which the welfare of the people will be secure. "Your addresses have disclosed a breadth of information, maturity of thought, and the soundest conclusions on public questions such as have never been surpassed in any previous Presidential campaign. You have had knowledge and judgment which has enabled you to tell the people the truth. You have been clear, candid, and courteous, demonstrating your faith in the people and your consciousness that