PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

Waikato Times, Volume 104, Issue 17533, 15 October 1928, Page 7

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

CANDIDATES' CHANCES. ANTI-SMITH ' CAMPAIGN. .•4 • THE RELIGIOUS ISSUE. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright) I Australian Press Association). (Received October 15, 9.30 a.m.) , ; • NEW YORK, October 13. With the election less than foul weeks off the presidential campaigi - with its often tortuous and sometlmea i tragicomic trends, has become indicative of the forces that will make for \ Mr Hoover's success and Mr A. Smith's ' failure. Mr Smith has fought a rousing battle and Mr Hoover has displayed an appealing poise of calm and detachment from the ulterior political manoeuvring. The so-called "whispering" campaign against. Mr Smith because of his Catholicism has now become a "shouting" campaign and is costing him many votes in many states, where his viewson prohibition, farm relief, and water power would otherwise attract support. Mrs Willie Brandt, easily the most important woman now engaged in politics,, has led the movement againsi Mr Smith and is asking for the help of the churches to defeat him, resulting in much bitter feeling. The prosperity issue has been a priceless jewel in the crown of Republican ambitions. Republican orators from Mr Hoover down, say that the late President Harding and Mr Coolidge brought prosperity and Mr Hoover will continue it. They indict the Democrats upon two grounds—first, that the . latter finally admit the advantages of protection, and secondly; that it would be folly to permit the Democrats to tinker with the protection system created and maintained by the Republicans.