“SUCCESS SEEMS ASSURED”

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 35, 5 November 1928, Page 11

“SUCCESS SEEMS ASSURED”

UNITED STATES PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION PRESIDENT COOLIDGE CONFIDENT OF HOOVER’S ELECTION (United Press Association. —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Australian Press Association. (Rec. November 4, 5.5 p.m.) Washington, November 2. After hearing Mr. Hoover speak over the radio, President Coolidge eent the following 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 bo in competent hands in which the welfare of the people will be secure. Your addresses have disclosed a breadth of information and maturity of thought and the soundest conclusions on public questions which have never been surpassed in a previous Presidential campaign. You have had knowledge and judgment whicli have 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 truth has power and conclusiveness of its own which is always supreme.” .

EXCEPTIONAL BITTERNESS RELIGIOUS ISSUE RAISES A STORM (Australian Press Association.) New York, November 2. As was expected, the re-entry of the religious issue has resulted in exceptional bitterness in the political campaign, and in a statement repulsing the charges of bigotry the Republican National Committee has declared that “the vituperative outcry of Tammany slandermongers is the most despicable exhibition this country has ever witnessed of bigotry that knows no decency.” “From' the Sidewalk to the Gutter.” The final sentence in the same statement is probably one of the strongest that ever bore the official stamp of an American political party: "The campaign has descended from the sidewalks 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 Governor Smith’s rise to fame as a city-bred man. The Democratic National Committee has forwarded to Dr. Hubert Work. Secretary of the Interior, a number of. legal documents to prove that the Republicans are distributing literature asking for opposition to Smith because he is a Catholic, and demanding that it be stopped. Senator Moses, one of Hoover’s campaign managers, was charged with the responsibility. He has replied that he cannot remember whether the literature sent out -contained religious matter, and added: “Mr. John J. 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.” “Shameful Subterfuge.” The Republican National Committee declared that “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 a serious consideration of the issues.” Whether this new emphasis upon the religious issue will change the popular trend, which is still unmistakable for Hoover, is difficult to say. It is clear, however, that 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 are no clear indications how it will go, but for a variety of reasons it is clear that .Smith cannot lose New York State and win the election, although the same is not true for Hoover. New York City is staunchly Democratic in the sense that it has always supported Smith as Governor. Smith’s “Showmanship.”

The campaign managers have therefore decided upon a monster parade through the city streets, led by Governor Smith, and with admitted showmanship, it is conceded tliat they will so manage the demonstration as to show a popular enthusiasm even exceeding that of the reception of .Lindbergh. The proof that such a demonstration may have a political effect is even seen in the fact that Wall Street betting commissioners declare that it probably would have a decided effect on the betting odds. The campaign has entered the phase of so-called “crowd manoeuvring.”

THE FINAL SPEECHES PROSPECTS DISCUSSED FROM THREE ANGLES (Australian Press Association.) (Rec. November 4, 11.5 p.m.) New York, November 3. Mr. Smith, in Madison Garden, and Mr. Hoover at Pueblo, Colorado, summed up their campaign policies tonight as virtual valedictories before the voters go to the polls. Mr. Smith pledged himself not to interfere with the tariff, and denied that property values 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 ou the labour question and condemned the Ku-Klux-Klan, and the 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 re garding limitation of armaments, international peace, reduction of the national debt by six billion dollars, and the national prosperity. He expressed approval of the protective immigration laws. Prospects Summed Up. Naturally both parties claim victory, and in the tinal estimates the Democrats insist that Smith will obtain popular majorities in 37 States with a total electoral vote of 402, conceding Hoover majorities in only seven States with an electoral vote of 57 and declare that four States with 72 electoral votes are doubtful. The Republicans claim that Hoover Will carry 36 States with 409 electoral votes, conceding Smith 12 States with 122 votes. An Independent Estimate. An independent canvass of the sentiment throughout the nation gives the following more conservative estimate: Smith, 22 States, with 213 votes and 10 doubtful States with 105 votes. It is interesting to note that the Republican estimate conceded the entire 12 so-called doubtful States to Smith, whicli is in accordance with the Democratic claims, hut independent observers include the following four southern States among those considered doubtful : Florida, Texas, Virginia, and Tennessee.

A majority of 266 electoral college votes is necessary for electiou to the Presidency.