Evening star., 1922-10-09
Performance, Not Promise, Will
Shape New York Campaign.

The success Of AL Smith at the
democratic state convention in New
York will make the campaign for the
governorship extremely interesting.
in the opinion of the editors of the
country. His record as a high ella SIS
executive is matched they think. by
that of Gov. Miller, who is also a
candidate to succeed himself. and
with national issues out Of the con-
test the fight must prove well worth
watching. There is very distinct
difference of opinion among the edi-
tors regarding what can be expected
from the followers of w. \. Hearst,
who has announced his support Of
Smith, and in many quarters the mo-
tive for this Endorsement is believed
to be the desire on Hearst's part to
secure the backing of the New York
state democracy for his presidential
ambitions in 1922.
"a choice between Miller and Smith
will be embarrassing to many voters
of both parties" the Nashville Ban
ner Independently thinks, because
there is the possibility, to put it no
stronger, that New York state. along
with many others. may reverse its
vote of two years ago. The country
is given to a feeling of interest in
the politics of the big state. Even
d Tammany and anti-Tammany con-
test in the city for the spoils of of
flee creates almost as much general
concern as a world base ball cham
pionship, or a war in the Balkans"
The nomination of Smith is charac-
terized by the Milwaukee Journal (in-
dependent) as a victory for de-
cency," insisting that 'ft is one OF
the hopeful things of year in which
there has been SO much muddylng or
politics and soft-pedaling of prin-
ciple that Smith declared from the
first that they could not nominate him
and Hearst, too-that he could not
represent a party which could be rep
resented by Hearst. There is hope of
government on principle when a man
who wants a nomination does not
want 1t 80 much that he Will 1ake II
with any sort of promise that is Of
fered on the ground of political ex-
pediency" The opinion Of the Spring
field Union (republican) is also about
the same. in holding that Hearst is
q man without party except In Call
fornia, where he trains with Senator
Johnson. 1t was victory for de-
cency in politics. due to Smith ana
however, that "Mr. Hearst will sup
port the ticket" is, in the opinion of
the Buffalon Times (democratic). EN-
tirely in line with the very dignif1ed
position he has taken all through the
campaign" and showed also. that he
is more anxious to be consistent than
to continue a fight against the former
governor" -,
The New York Tribune (republi-
CAM argues that the support of
Smith is predicted on the fact that
"Hearst hopes and expects to be the
choice of the New York democrats
for the presidential nomination two
ability keep his promise to be reg
ular," at least to the extent of not
denouncing Smith in the campaign.
The situation that now has been
created convinces the New York
World (democratic) that in the state
party cleavage" and both parties
"are under heavy obligations to AL
fred E. Smith and Nathan l. Miller
for their work in re-establishing the
only kind Of leadership under which
the political institutions of the United
conclusively demonstrated that Smith
and Miller are masters of their
parties" the st. Louis Post-Dtspatch
independently insists, and the adop-
ton of the beer and wine platform
by the democrats has resulted lin IN
Jersey putting the question OF modi-
flying federal prohibition to a praeti-
cal test at the ballot box" The
worcester Gazette (independent) ts
another paper which feels that
presidential ambitions Influenced
Hearst in deciding to support Smith
and believes that II this fs 50 voters
in this and other states have plenty
Of time to study the political morality
that can make possible candidate
for the greatest Office IN the Worio
give aid and comfort to q candidate
Tor governor whom he accuses OF dis
loyalty to his people" Distinctly
the opposite in their character are the
views of the Chattanooga News
(democratic), which says that the
sentiments do Mr.. Hearst credit. We
cannot approve Of much that Hearst
stands for. Yet at any rate he makes
an issue with the type that nnds
itself comfortable in republican
ranks.>> A year or two further away
from the war and its deadening OF q!
demands for social legislation ana
a sharper limo Of cleavage win divide
the old parties, or, II Il doesn't We
shall see a new orEanization formed.
II win be possible to shape the cam
nai9n. tha IYttoa Ob10ryof.D1spaIcn