RELIGIOUS ISSUE

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 33, 2 November 1928, Page 11

RELIGIOUS ISSUE

EXPLOITED BY SMITH IN ELECTION CAMPAIGN “STRAW VOTES” CONDUCTED SHOW HOOVER IN LEAD It is intimated that Governor Smith, the Democratic candidate for the United States Presidency, will make the religious issue the paramount one in the rest of his speeches. Numerous "straw votes” that have been conducted all show Mr. Hoover leading. (United Press Association.— By Electric Telegraph. —Copyright.) (Australian Press Association.) New York, October 31. While It was declared that, having fully discussed the religious issue, the Democratic candidate, Governor Smith, would make little or no further reference to it, intimations are now given that in the next four and last campaign speeches to be delivered in or near New York City, the Governor will make this question the paramount one. The candidate’s advisers feel that his Roman Catholicism will be a deciding factor in the election, and he is reported to be very much disturbed over this fact. He was said to have declared that he would rather be defeated than obtain the support of such organisations as the Ku Klux Klan. -The importance of the Governor s decision again to stress the so-called bigotry issue” lies in the fact that personalities fly thickest always toward the end of the campaign, and an intense discussion of the religious question promises to make the final week possibly one of the most unsavoury in American podtics.

Heavy Democratic Defeat Forecasted.

There is a large amount of betting on the results of the election. Prominent Wall Street commissioners estimate that four million dollars in wagers have already been placed, and the amount will possibly reach ten millions before the election. The odds have been 9 to 2 in favour of Hoover, but have wavered from time to time as the fortunes of the two candidates apparently changed' With an ostensible change of sentiment they have been as low as 7 to 2 in favour of Hoover, and now are 4to 1. Along with this sublimated form of trying to guess the outcome of the election numerous “straw votes” are being conducted throughout the country. These, with no exceptions, all show Hoover leading’. One magazine, which in 1924 was able to forecast the outcome with fair accuracy, has this year conducted an elaborate postcard poll, in which over three million votes have been gathered, with Hoover receiving 63 per cent. A remarkable feature of this poll is that Smith is leading in only four States, and these are all Southern. If the results should bear this out, the Democrats’ defeat would be nothing short of disastrous.

HOUGHTON RESIGNS AMBASSADORSHIP

NOMINEE FOR SENATE

(Australian Tress Assn.—United Service.)

Washington, October 31.

President Coolidge on Wednesday accepted the resignation of Mr. Alanson 8.-Houghton, United States Ambassador in London, and now Republican nominee for the United States Senator from New York.