The Waikato Times. With which is Incorporated. The Waikato Argus. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1928. THE AMERICAN ELECTION.

Waikato Times, Volume 104, Issue 17503, 10 September 1928, Page 6

The Waikato Times. With which is Incorporated. The Waikato Argus. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1928. THE AMERICAN ELECTION.

The election for the Presidency of the United States is becoming keen and excitement grows. There is about the contest much of the same fighting spirit that manifests itself in a Tunneylieeney fight. An announcement was made some time ago that expenditure on both sides would he limited to moderate sums. Now we hear of heavy expenditure and the engagement of special trains. There may he men whose fortunes will be affected by the result of the election, but the money will chiefly be spent by those who have become excited as the contest proceeds. The candidates are notable men, and whichever may be elected there is likely to be a change in the politics of the United States. It is clear from other evidence that opinion is pretty equally divided. At present the Democrats control the Senate, but 35 members have to submit themselves for re-election this year, and of this number 20 are Democrats. It is prophesied that a Republican President may find himself faced with a Democratic Senate, or a Democratic President with a Republican Senate. Such a position has arisen before now, and when it occurs legislation comes to a standstill. For some years past politics in the United States have been quiescent. President Harding did not attempt to have a mind of his own, and President Goolidge has kept studiously free from anything out of the beaten track, lie met the views of the financial men, hut not those of the farmers, who in several States control elections. We have heard much about the prosperity of the United Slates, but that prosperity has been confined to certain trades. At the same time it is strange to hear of so much unemployment. Immigration has been greatly restricted, and it might be thought that for that reason labour would be in demand. It must be remembered, however, that restriction cuLs two ways. The arrival of large numbers, of whom some have a certain amount of money, creates demand for a number of things; more houses, more food, more clothing are required. The people in this country who call out about immigration might remember these facts. The numbers of unemployed in the United SLatcs has been quoted at various figures, hut it is now stated to he about 3,000,000, which would show about the same percentage as Great Britain. These 3,000,000 will prove to -bo a great factor in Ihe decision of the election, and another factor is said Lo be the increasing interest taken by negroes and by women. The negro is entitled to the vote by law, hut In the Southern States he is defrauded of it by various means. There has, however, been a great movement of negroes to the Northern States, where h <3 can ex.ercise his vote. Hitherto his

sympathies have been with _ the Republican party in consequence of the part it played in the civil war, but it is said that this is changing. The negro, like the unemployed, probably sees no cause for gratitude to whatever party is in power. The effect of any greatel* interest taken by women is hard to foresee, but it may be that the interest will be divided between the two parties. Women may be expected to differ in their opinions in the same way as men. Elections have a habit of bringing to the front the questions that really occupy men’s thoughts, in spite of the efforts of politicians to keep live interests in , the background- In this country transport is a burning question in several electorates, and will decide the fortunes of candidates. In the United States the burning question is prohibition. Both candidates began by the orthodox declaration that they would enforce the law, although Governor Smith said he wished to see it altered. This was supposed at the time to be a bold statement on his part, but although it is not long since it was made we are told now that prohibition will be the deciding factor in the Presidential vote. The decision does not lie with the President but with the States, who carried prohibition by a two-thirds vote, and would require a similar vote to rescind the decision. They could, however, modify the percentage of alcohol permitted by a vote of Congress, and an attempt may be made to do this. Meantime the prohibitionists are busy in the lobbies, employing the same methods by which prohibition was carried. Americans have an opportunity of seeing in Canada how license may be operated satisfactorily. . In that country no license is granted to a hotel or saloon; the license is granted annually on payment of a fee to anyone who applies. This entitles the person who holds the license to purchase liquor from a Government store, the only place where it can be obtained. Any improper conduct or wrong use of the license is endorsed upon it and a second ■ offence may cause the cancelling of the license. Prohibition was tried in Canada and abandoned in favour of this system, which one part of the country after another has adopted. Americans cross the border, holidaymaking in very large numbers, and have an opportunity of seeing how the system works, and it is quite possibla that many of them have taken note of it. Perhaps if the question of prohibition were settled the Americans might become interested in other questions. Protection injures themselves, as well as other countries, and there is, therefore, some interest in the statement that Republicans desire a majority in the Senate in order to deal with the tariff directly after the election. We arc not told whether the intention is to raise it or lower it. It is not ihe custom of the Republican party to lower tariffs, but cn the other hand it is hard lo see how it can be raised any higher, although this may he attempted.