ELECTION DAY IN U.S.A.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19445, 3 November 1925, Page 10

ELECTION DAY IN U.S.A.

MANY-SIDED CONTESTS KU KLUX KLAN IN THE FOREGROUND OLD AND BITTER ISSUES REVIVED NEW YORK. Nov. 1. Tuesday will bo election day throughout the nation, when many officials from city mayors to State governors anti Federal Congressmen will be elected, and by State referendums the people will decide upon the. expenditure of many hundreds of millions of dollars for various public improvements. Peculiar interest attaches to the contest in several places cither because of the old and bitter issues revived or the extraordinarily largo outlays involved for peculiarly necessary State undertakings. Detroit has lived through stirring campaigns. Mayor John Smith, canvassing for re-election, has advanced as the chief issue relentless opposition to Ku Klux Klan, while Mr John Bowties, attorney, his opponent, has refused to accept the issue, declaring '•■it. ho is neither for nor against the Klan. This contest has interested Mr Henry • ’••rd, who has issued a statement, flouncing organisations which aro di-i-.-.-tiy or indirectly undermining any •a arch, and has declared he will support Mr Smith, who is a Roman Catholic. In New Jersey, Mr Arthur Whitney, Republican, opposes Mr Harry Moore, Democrat, for the governorship. The latter’s party have kept the Prohibi- • oa issue to (he forefront, and declare hat. in this State, which is a great “wet” stronghold, the anti-prohibition rv usually brings victory. They quote the instance of Governor Edwards, who

said he. wanted to see New Jersey as ‘ 4 wet” as the Atlantic Occtiu, and was elected by a large majority. New York City will sec a traditional battle between 'l’ammany Hall and combined opposition forces in the present Mayoral contest, involving Mr James Walker (Democratic land Tammany Hall’s nominee), and Mr Frank Waterman (the famous manufacturer of fountain pens, and independent Republican.) 'flio fortunes of Governor ! Smith, who played such a prominent ■ part in the last Democratic National Convention, are involved in Mr Walk- ! er’s candidacy, for which he is actively J campaigning, while ex-Secretary of ! State, Air Hughes is also campaigning i for Air Waterman. Mr Smith is also ' sponsoring tin expenditure of four hundred million dollars for rebuilding fire trap prisons, etc., and the elimination of dangerous railway • crossings, which take an annual toll of hundreds of lives in motor accidents. Mr Hughes has greatly disconcerted * the Republicans by supporting Mr j Smith in these expenditures. : Two Federal Congressmen will be elected in New Jersey and Kentucky i 1o fill the extraordinary vtacancies. Tho Governor will also bo elected in Virginia, while State legislatures in Virginia, Kentucky, New Jersey, and Mississippi will be chosen. These contests are looked upon as valuable indications of the country's trend for tho important general Congressional election in .1926.