MR. SMITH’S PROGRESS

Wairarapa Age, 22 May 1928, Page 5

MR. SMITH’S PROGRESS

PROSPECTS OF NOMINATION BY ACCLAMATION. JARRING NOTE IN SOUTHERN STATES. POWERFUL BAPTIST CHURCH OPPOSITION. United Press Association. —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. (Received Monday, 7.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, May 21. With an apparent victory for Governor Smith in the Oregon primaries, thus adding ten delegates to the impressive following of which he was already assured at the Democratic National Convention, efforts are being renewed to bring about arrangements by which he will be nominated by acclamation. This intense optimism, so characteristic of American political campaigns when a favourite aspirant for nomination seems headed for victory, has, however, another side to it. Mr. Smith must have the solid support of the Southern States to obtain tho nomination. Yet yesterday, the South ern.Baptist Church, with a membership of 3,700,000, and with immense political influence, at its annual convention, held at Chattanooga, pledged itself to break party lines rather than seen an “unnamed friend of the liquor interests” become President of the United States. A tremendous discussion occurred before this decision was taken, but the threat to holt from the Democratic Party is no small menace and Mr. Smith has yet to overcome it, before he obtains the nomination.— (Australian Press Association.)