The New York herald., 1922-10-30
CITY VOTE TODEC|DE
M|LLER-SMITH RACE
in TOSSUP ELECTION
Republicans, Satisfied With
Upstate Conditions, Cen
ter Drive Here.
SUSPICIOUS OF FRAUD
Managers Doubt That Hy-
Ian Smith Pluralities
Were True Index.
COUNT ON INDEPENDENTS
COUNT ON INDEPENDENTS
Last Week Of Drive Opens
With Only Regular Machine
Vote Assured.
ny LOUIS sEIBOLD.

The fight for the political control OF
the New York State government, u
United States Senator and forty-thres
members Of Congress will be decided
by the 1.1S0,3S5 citizens who are quail
fed to vote in the five boroughs OF
New York city. That both the Re-
publican and Democratic party man
ayers appreciate this fact is clearly
established by their plans for contest
ing every inch of debatable ground in
the metropolis. The only feature on
which there Is a concurrence of part-
san views is that all maneuvers. cam
vases, straw votes and the like have
failed to throw any conclusive light on
the state Of the municipal mind.
The rival leaders know that s3,16S
citizens who voted last year will not
avail themselves of their privileges a
week from tomorrow. And that is
about all they do know. The issue
will squarely turn upon the personal
fitness and administrative efficiency OF
VT. MllleT ana MI otnltD.
There is lacking in the Democratic
claims the definiteness which distin-
guishes the assertions of the Repub-
lican leaders regarding the trend of
popular thought In the rural sections
of the State.
Beyond the optimistic opinions and
personal preferences of Democratic
leaders above The Bronx there is OBJ
tainable no concrete or solid informa-
ton as to conditions in the rural sec
tions of the State to support the
claim of Mr. Smiths managers and
supporters that his admitted personal
popularity has alienated any consid-
cradle percentage of the normal Re-
publican advantage.
Suspicious of Fraud.
The Republican managers are OBJ
viously satisfied with the conditions
prevailing in sections above The
Bronx. Otherwise 1t is not considered
logical that they would decide to stage
the final scenes in the political drama
IN the city where the Democrats
manifestly enjoy the advantage as
established by the tremendous vote
given Mr.. Smith two years ago and
Mayor Hylan last year. 1t is the Re-
publican theory that these majorities
did not accurately reflect the exact
decisions of citizens who voted in
those two events. How they were
obtained is n matter of opinion, and
the differences in this respect un-
doubtedly explain the determination
of the supporters of Gov. Miller to
exercise the utmost diligence in
scrutinizing the processes for assem-
bling and tabulating the vote.
This is just another way, OF course.
of asserting that Tammany Hall
pulled some rough stuff in the
Smith and Hylan contests either by
trading votes for individual candidates
or in the amiable indulgence of Repub-
lican inspectors toward their Demo-
cratic associates. How much founda-
ton there Is in the reports has not
been actually determined. But the
fact remains that the managers of the
Republican campaign hold the opinion
as the result OF an analysis Of the
Smith-Hylan votes that neither was
obtained BY strict compliance with the
law.
The activities OF the Republican
State and the local organizations in
the five boroughs justify no other in
ference. The fight for the advantage
In the city will therefore be vigorously
contested as long as there remains
ground to justify Republican sus-
pjcion that the Democratic managers
are determined to secure every pos
sible advantage regardless of the legal
-