Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, MAY 30, 1928. THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 126, 30 May 1928, Page 8

Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, MAY 30, 1928. THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE

Governor "Al" Smith of Now. York was reported on Tuesday Lo liavc received a set-back in his campaign for the Democratic nomination in the Presidential election. The claims of his supporters that he was "the choice of an overwhelming majority of North Carolina Democrats" had not been confirmed by the figures for two-thirds of the counties in the State. Whatever the final figures may be, and whatever local complications there may have been to confuse the Federal issue,'it may be said with' confidence that the votes cast against Governor Smith have not been cast in favour of any alternative candidate who could possibly command the choice of the party. After the fashion of the Republicans in Ohio and Indiana, the Democrats of North Carolina may have a "favourite son" in view whose claims would not even be considered arguable in any other State. But whether the opposition to Mr. Smith in North Carolina has a rallying point of that kind, or whether it is merely taking the form of sending an. "unjnstructed" delegation to the party's National Convention at Houston, it is recognised by friend and foe alike that piractidally the choice for the party is hetween having a fighting chance with him'as their candidate and nominating somebody notyet in the running who will not leave them a hope. To squeeze' Governor Smith into the nearest possible approach to their views seems to* be the principal aim of those of his Democratic opponents who. are not prepared to wreck the v party. Despite the determined hostility of Senator Simons, who is said to be "the dominating factor in the State organisation," and of Mr. Josephus Daniels, who was President Wilson's Secretary of the Navy and is credited with "a tremendous personal following," Governor Smith's visit to North Carolina last month is admitted to have been a great success. . Its geographical aspect was emphasised by the cheerful greetings of the "Asheyille Times":— Western North Carolina saiutcs tlio political idol of Now York. The South welcomes with its warmest hospitality this distinguished product of the "SideJ walks of New York."- "Howdy, Al; make yourself at home!" "Al" took the hint and made himself at home. It is a way he has, and a way that, unfortunately for the Republicans, Mr. Hoover has not. But, writing after that visit, the "Literary Digest" did not except North Carolina from its general diagnosis of the South:— Sentiment in almost every Southern State, indeed, is still divided on the subject; but both sides note a strong drift towards tho New Yorker. The "Digest" quotes one editor in Georgia, which oddly enough has Senator George for its "favourite son," as denouncing the many who are "boosting George and praying for Al." Still more significant is the frank confession of guilt from the "Macon Telegraph," accompanied by the plea in mitigation that Now York is essential to success in tho Democratic ranks, and Al Smith is the only Democrat who -has a ghost of a chance to carry it. Personally Governor Smith' would be as excellent a choice as the Democrats could possibly make. Normally there is so strong a contrast between attractiveness as a candidate and efficiency in office that from either of them we are apt to infer the lack of the other, but it is beyond dispute that Mr. Smith combines both qualities in an exceptionally high degree. He is a native of New York; he has made his way up almost from the gutter entirely unaided; he is still proud of the days when he first earned money as an errand boy.br in some equally humble capacity; and for 28 consecutive years he lias held public office in the city or the Stale. '. What a hold he has upon the State may be inferred from the. fact that in 1924, when, on a poll exceeding 3,000,000, Mr. Coolidgc as the Republican candidate for the Presidency beat the Democrat by nearly two to one, Mr. Smith as a Democrat was elected Governor of New York State by a majority of 100,000 votes over his Republican opponent. In New York, as in Chicago and Philadelphia, many personal successes of this kind have not only been compatible with the arts of time-serving and corruption, but have been built upon them and would have been impossible otherwise. Mr. Smith's commanding position has not been won in this way., Though he entered politics under the auspices of Tammany and has never broken away, his personal integrity and the integrity of his administration appear lo be above suspicion. By common con--seht, if Diogenes were to go searching with his lantern in the not very promising field of American politics for an honest man, he would be compelled to admit that he had found one in "Al" Smith of Tammany! To show that this paradoxical statement, which, if it "staggers credibility" in Tennessee, may well excite scepticism in New Zealand, is nevertheless not exaggerated, we may quote from.Mr. J. D. Whelpley's article on "American Perturbations" in the "Fortnightly Review", for March:— He, Mr.' Smith, has been elected.. Governor* of New York. State three times, and is acknowledged by political friend and foe as an honest, capable, and politically undofeatablo gxecutive. Since he has been Governor of Now York,'although a Democrat, he has socured and still holds the friendship and

support of many prominent Republicans. Men like "Charles Evan Hughes,l Elihu Root, and Dr. Nicholas Murray Butler havo paid public tribute to his personality, his1 honesty, ability, and fairness. Even Grover Cleveland, once Democratic Governor of New York, when elected President of the United S.tajcs, attained, that position without such' endorsement as has been given to Governor Smith by leaders, of the Republican opposition. Under ordinary circumstances it would seem that tho Democratic Party had 'at last found a man who stood some chance of restoring the shattered fortunes of that organisation only now beginning to recover from the disintegrating influence of the late William Jennings Bryan.. The situation is confused, however, by -unusual circumstances. Inlo the circumstances which arc embarrassing the prospects of 'this highly-qualified candidate we have left ourselves no space to inquire, but, briefly, they arc that Mr. Smith is a Roman Catholic and a "wet," while the Southern States where his party -is strongest are Protestant and dry, and on both points the opposition is very bitter.