MR SMITH'S CANDIDATURE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 13 August 1928, Page 5

MR SMITH'S CANDIDATURE

PROFITING FROM OPPONENTS' TACTICS . ■ NEW YORK, 11th August In Missouri the Democratic' nomination for senator has gone to the "dry" advocate Hay, thus rebuffing the present Senator Reed, a "wet" supporter, and Governor Smith. The nomination for State Governor, however, went to a "wet',' advocate, Wilson. Thus Prohibition is not the deciding issue in Missouri. '■ '■• , . , «,, Many things, thus far have combined 4 io assist Governor Smith's candidature without effort on his part. Irony of fate or the stupidity of his opponents. has brought him a succession of advantages, and recently several representatives of big business interests have declared for him, so, that a Republican victory in'November is far from certain. The attacks on Smith have largely comprised asper-. sions on his moral standing, but .thus far these have, rather .reacted 3 against,, his opponents'. ' *'. f-?. ■. .- Senator Owen, who for a long time has been a Democrat, announced that he would support \ Hoover Smith's connection with the reprehensible Tammany organisation must make him persona non • grata with all fight-, thinking people. Smitn, in a brief rejoinder regretting the loss of Owen's support, added that in 1324 Owen begged him'to obtain support for Tammany delegates so that Owen could secure the Democratic pre; sidential. nomination. A leading Republican editor, White, of Kansas, alleged that Smith's conduct early in his legislative career was such as to render him morally unfit to be President. Before Smith could act on White's invitation to -refute the state.ments the latter recanted abjectly. The last incident occurred on Sunday, when a clergyman named Stratton said in a sermon that Smith was the best friend of the forces of reaction, immorality, vice, and crime in the land today. Smith immediately wrote to Stratton a remarkable letter saying;— "I do not feel I should charge you with making this statement for any political purpose, as it was made in a church de-1 voted to the teachings of Christ, one of which was Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.'. He asked permission to answer Stratton's statement in the Litter's i own church, and will have an opportunity in September., , •<s"'. '■•' Republicans regret that Smith is getting these chances to answer critics and so gaining countrywide attention. He is an able orator,. and_handles the two- 1 ' edged sword of politics- well. He will score votes out of his detractors' faulty tactics. .' ■'■' ■■'■'■'■ .';.■"-■'■