The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-12
GOV. SMITH DUCKS
AT 1920 BOOMING
Says His Job Is Enough With
out Thinking Of Going to
White House.
SECTIONAL LINES GONE
Believes Wilson Can Get Third
Term From Grateful Amer
lean People.
Special Despatch TO The Sun.

ATLANTA, GA, May 1.-THE politi-
cal lesson of the war has been the crea-
ton OF spirit of national cohesion.
Sectional lines have been obliterated no
far as the selection OF national candi-
didates In the future is concerned"
This statement was made by Gov. Al
Smith of New York in an interview
given to a correspondent who was In
New York last week. The interview
was carried by The Atlanta Constellation
this morning.
The time has passed" said Gov.
Smith. when geography has anything
to do with the strength or the possible
fortunes OF a candidate on the presi-
Dental ticket. The war has democra-
tixed the people of America as nothing
before. The sons Of the blue and the
gray fought side by side. The South
and the North and the central West and
the Pacific coast fought for a common
cause as a united people.
THE native American fought side by
side with the adopted Americans, and
they both and all showed the same 10y
atty to flag that united all our people
and knows no sections and no favorites.
Parties can no more dwell upon the
strength. or the strategy OF sections
than the Government could in calling
upon her people to unite in her defence,
Man Of the Street.
ut is the man and what he stands for
and his militant force In putting It over
that counts. and the viewpoint of the av-
erage thinking man Of the street must
be taken into account and must be recog-
nized.
Il am a great believer in the average
thinking man OF the streets gratitude,
and II President Wilson wants a third
term believe that the gratitude OF the
American people will give It to him.
For years we slumbered along with
the delusion that there could come to
this country no great war unless our
shores were invaded, but the past four
years have proven the futiiity of such a
belief.
III the great war has taught no other
lesson It has taught that our nation Is
vitality affected when any great prin-
ciple, which concerns every nation, Is
at stake. Germany would never have
entered this war had she realized that
before it was concluded four-ffths Of
the civilized world would be combined
against her.
II am not fully conversant with the
covenant embraced in the League Of
Nations. but 1 am convinced that an
agreement Is necessary for the future to
prevent repetition OF the recent war,
and one that viii serve to prevent such
a recurrence.
Opposition to League.
"The opposition in the Senate to the
League OF cations is nothing less than
Republican propaganda, aided and
abetted by certain members of the DEM
ocratic party. who are anxious, as
rapidly and as effectually as possible, to
discredit the Democratic marty in what
II has done during the past four years"
When II was suggested that he was
being referred TO as a possible candidate
for the Presidency or Vice-Presidency,
Gov. Smith emphasized again that he
was convinced the gratitude of the
American people was such that they
would give to President Wilson a third
term IL he wanted It.
Pressed once more concerning the
suggestions which were being made with
reference to his being nominated for
President or Fice-President, Coy. Smith
declared that at present he had a job
which In point of work was second only
to that OF the Presidency and that he
was not giving any thought to removing
his headquarters TO Washington.