AMERICAN ELECTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19474, 2 November 1926, Page 9

AMERICAN ELECTIONS.

arUCH PERSONAL ABUSE. BITTER CAMPAIGN ENDING, PRESIDENT'S NAME INVOLVED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. A. and N.Z. WASHINGTON. Oct. .31. It is usual in American political campaigns when an election draws near for personal abuse and mud-slinging to become rife. The present contest is no exception to the rale. Even th® name of the President, Mr. Calvin Coolidge, is being bandied about, and candidates for office are referring to each other by vicious names and insinuations itre being uttered concerning the private lives of aspirants for office. A report to the effect that Mr. Coolidge was oposfcd to the Repnblican candidate for the Senate for Illinois becjtase the latter was alleged to have received large campaign funds from interested public utilities and corporations led the candidate to reply. In spite of Mr. Coolidge's denials he said the President's own campaign in 1924 was also financed by 6teel, wool, sugar and other large corporate interests. In New York State the campaign has degenerated into the ugly spectacle of Mr. Alfred E. Smith (Democrat) and his opponent for the Governorship, Mr. Mills, both of whom are usually dignified and ablet men, making charges and countercharges against each other. Each also referred to the other's private life,, Finally Mr. Mills apologised and public affairs were again made the issue instead of personalities. Politics now dominate aO interests as the campaign nears its end throughout the country and the bitterness of the fight between the two parties promises to continue to the last minute.