New-York tribune., 1919-11-06
Miss Smith, Assemblynnaz,,
Won on Her War Record
Many Soldier, Recalling Her as Community Camp
Hostess. Got Out and Rusted Up Votes; Red
Gross and Girl Scouts Also Lent Their Aid

Red Cross bandagc maker and has
ketball champion has been added to
the personnel of the New York State
Legislature III Marguerite l.. Smith,
who was clctccd to the Assembly on
the Republican ticket from tho 10th
Assembly District She is Twenty-Five
years old and lives at u West 122d
Street.
Miss Smith ran on her war record
and on promise of legislation for
remedying the housing congestion and
rent scandals of Harlem Soldiers who
danced IN the War Camp Community
Headquarters which she established in
Mount Morris Church, Girl Scouts who
assisted her i'll the Allied War Drive
and women who helped Aer roll ban
dages at Red Cross Auxiliary Sc. of
which she was chairman, all got out
and worked for her.
Her support also came 10 a large
extent from the negro women Of Har-
lem. organized in the Roosevelt Me
mortal League, of which Mrs. Pauline
Dempsey is president. In the Repub-
lican primaries she defeated the Rev.
Il. NJ. Bolden. q negro minister. One
OF the largest meetings Of her cam
paign was in his church. where Miss
Mary Garrett Hay. Of the Republican
State Committee, made ii speech for
her.
Miss Smith Delighted
Miss Smith WAS informed of her VIC
tory over the telephone at , O'Clock
yesterday morning. after she had re-
tired believing herself defeated. Her
lead over her Democratic opponent in
the wee sma' hours was 400 votes, ana
this grew 20 634 last night. She de
NO, ,lNl
tin J. Hcaly
u am delighted that my friends and
neighbors in Harlem have honored me
with their votes," she said last night
Il attribute my election to the patri-
otic work did during the war when |
canvassed the district from house to
house in the various drives. Every
body got to know me then, and every
body knew my father, president Of the
Harlem Chamber Of Commerce, who has
always worked hard for the welfare of
the neighborhood.
Il had no campaign manager, and
my only adviser was my father. He
helped me get out the necessary let
ters TO the voters and the advertising
matter and posters. spoke at a grea{
many clubs and churches, where there
We're both colored and white voters,
but never addressed street meet
ing
kurtz discovered" Her
The happjest man in the 18th Assem-
bly, District last night, next to Dr. }.
Gardner Smith, father Of the candi
date. was Irwin Kurt, the man who is
credited with having discovered Miss
Smith politically. It was he who sent
her the famous telegram last summc r
when She was teaching swimming at a
girls' camp at Thetford, W., with never
a thought Of politics; a telegram which
read merely: You have been nomi-
mated for the Assembly,"
Mr.. Kurtz was chairman of Draft
Board 10, and Miss Smith. who Is not
doctors daughter for nothing. helped
him gauge the blood pressure Of pros
pectivc soldiers. He was so impressed
with her ability that he offered her
name TO the Republican leader of the
l9th District, John Lyon, as the best
vote getter IN the district And so she
was nominated.
Miss Smith is q graduate of Teachers
College, and is now teaching physical
education at Horace Mann Scnool The
authorities Of the school have granted
her a leave of absence during the
period of her service in Albany.