To-Day’s Election

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6755, 7 November 1928, Page 6

To-Day’s Election

MEWS from America on the eve of polling (which is now in progress) indicates that Hoover’s chances have consider* ably strengthened and the odds have lengthened in sympathy. Apparently even A 1 Smith’s most sanguine supporters do not hope for victory. Everything appears to be against him —the great prosperity of the country favouring the party in power; his religion; and his outspokenness on prohibition stampeding many “ dry ” Democrats without winning over as many “ wet ’ Republicans, Although he is the more popular personality h® can hardly hope to make sufficient headway against sucls handicaps.

The method of election of a President is unusual. The voters elect members to an Electoral College, who in turn vote in the following January. In voting for “ electors ” citizens are really voting for Presidential candidates, and the result is known to the public within a few hours of the closing of the 'polls. A majority in one State carries the whole of the “ electoral ” vote in that State, and the size of that vote varies with the population, York has many times the representation of some of the other States in the College, hence the importance of this and other crowded States. The successful candidate’s majority in the College may be out of proportion ta his majority in aggregate votes throughout the country.

The and Democratic candidates are outstanding figures, and consequently the rest of the world is taking much more interest in the contest than it did in 1924. Herbert Hoover was an international figure long befqre he thought of standing for the Presidency, and he has a long record of fine administrative work abroad and in his own country. Till he became the Democratic nominee, A 1 Smith was little known outside America, but there is no doubt about his ability as a public man. He has proved thiq, in his long governorship of New York State.

Both men ’ are products of that “ log-cabin-to-White* House ” spirit that so strongly appeals to the imagination of Americans. Hoover was born on a farm in lowa, and paid hia way through college. Smith was born in the lower East sid« of New York of a poor family, and started in life by selling fish and driving a truck.

Smith lacks Hoover’s education, but in 1913 so good a judge as Elihu Root praised him as the ablest member of the Convention that drafted a new Constitution for New York State, and in nineteen elections for public office he has only once bees defeated. In personality he is the antithesis of his opponent Hoover is a poor speaker and awkward in company. Smith is very much at home at a public meeting, and is what in slang is called “ a good mixer,” In personal campaigning nearly all the advantage has been with the Democrat.

One great advantage the Republicans possess is that they have been almost in permanent possession of White House. In the past sixty-five years only two Democrats (though both held office more than once) have occupied White House. In 1912 Mr. Wilson was elected because the Republican vote was split by Theodore Roosevelt. I*his time it is the Democratic Party that is divided. A 1 Smith’s opposition to Prohibition and his connection with Tammany have caused defections in the party, and it is probable that the religious issue will also affect Democratic solidity in the Southern States. His personality may overcome these obstacles, but it is easy to understand why the betting is on his opponent.