SMITH’S POLICY.

Grey River Argus, 24 August 1928, Page 5

SMITH’S POLICY.

DEFINITE STAND. On Liquor Issue. ANTI-WAR ATTITUDE. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) NEW YORK, August 22; “I will never advocate or approve of any law. directly or indirectly permitting the return of the saloon,” Governor Smith declared to-day, in a speech expressing His acee]»tarice of the Democratic nomination, fo.r* the Presidency. The sale of intoxicants by State agencies, along similar lines to those in force in Canada, he proposed as an alternative. He pledged himself to make an honest endeavour to enforce the Eighteenth Amendmcud. and all other provisions of the Federal Constitution, and all laws enacted pursuant thereto. Il e advocated an amendment of the Volstead Act to permit -States to fix their own. standard of ab'oholic content, “subject always to the proviso that, the standard does not exceed the maximum fixed by Congress.” ll e declared that his party , did ’no’, contemplate “sudden or drastic” changes in tariff’ schedules, and he reiterated that it would give the problem of controlling crop surpluses immediate attention. Governor Smith assailed the Repub]■ cafi Administration for its Nicaraguan and Mexican policy. He declared the usefulness of arbitration treaties as deterrents of war had i»ee’n materially imjtaired by reservations asserted by various nations of the right, to wage defensive wars., as those reservations were interpreted in the light cf Mr Coolidge’s record. H e pledged himself to a. resumption of real endeavour to make outlawry of war effective by removing the causes and substituting methods of conciliation conferences, arbitration and judicial determination. Governor Smith declared that the Republican claim regarding prosperity was unfounded, there being four million unemployed, and a considerable percentage of business corporations actually losing money. He also pointed t o the increased Federal appropriations; also the increased Federal taxes, lie advocated taking the tariff question out of the realm of politics, treating it on a strictly business basis. The Democrat ic Parly did not, and under his leadership, would nc.t advocate any sudden o r drastic, revolution of the country’s economic system, which would causp. a business upheaval or popular

A Good Impression. SMITH’S CANDOUR. CLOSE EIGHT NO W PREDICTED. NEW YORK, August 23. Governor Alfred Smith’s nomina* lion speech, was delivered before a, crowd of people estimated at one hundred thousand, as well as being broadcasted throughout the nation. The speech has received a mixed reception, the comment being generally divided along partisan lines. It is interesting to note, however, that Governor Smith’s opponents as well as his friends declare that his s’tand on prohibition is an Unequivocal one. There is no mistaking the meaning cf his'statement on the subject. Various individuals and newspapers, howevre, question whether, as President, he can bring the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment any nearer, and declare that the system of modification which ho advocates Would not be any more enforceable than is the Volstead Law Itself. The item of most importance in the reception, of Governor Smith's views seems to be the enthusiasm with which he is acclaimed by the Democrats themselves. Individuals and newspapers of the Democratic faithtake issue with his Prohibitieu views but they commend his honesty and his candour. The independent newspapers editorially commend the high plane on which Governor Smith and Mr Hoover are conducting the campaign, and they predict a cToso. fight.