New Britain herald., 1922-11-04
NEW YORK STATE
 ELECTION CLOSE
Miller-Smith Contest OutclasSeS
 All Others

New York, Nov 1.-The keen race between Governor Nathan l.. Miller. who Is seeking recollection on the re- publican ticket, and Former Governor Alfred F, Smith. his democratic ops tests In the November elections in the Empire State from the point of popu- lar interest
 The contest between William l.. Calder, for reelection to the United States senate on the republican tick ct. and Health Commissioner Royal g. Copeland of New York, the demo- cratic nominee. Is slow In comparison to the pace set in the Mlller-Smlth encounter.
 The struggle between Governor Miller and MT. Smith Is a continua- ton of the contest two years ago, when the governor was swept into office on the republican presidential landslide, over MT. Smith.
 In the last two years the governor has made, In the eyes of his friends and the republican press, the best chief executive the state has ever had. He is being put forward by his friends as possible candidate for president two years hence.
 MT. Smith went into political retire. ment, after almost lifetime in pub lie life and entered business. Some said he was through with politics. but when 1t came time for the party con- ventions in September the lure of the game overpowered him and he be- came candidate.
 Hearst Enters Fight.
 At the state convention in Syracuse William Randolph Hearst, the pub fisher, was a potential candidate for the governorship. MT. Smith. who did not conceal his dislike for Mir. Hearst, fought him tooth and nail. But the battle never reached the floor of the convention for MT. Hearst an- nounced that he was not candidate, and MT. Smith was nominated unani- mously.
 Governor Miller started campaign tour upstate and trained his big guns on MT. Smiths record as governor; meanwhile claiming for himself econ- omies in administration, through the reorganization of many departments. MT. Smith picked up the trail soon af- rewards and fired back broadsides at the governor, asserting that his fig ures claiming economies were juggled and that the reorganization of depart ments was made at the expense of starving the human element in the administration.
 Personalities soon entered into the campaign arguments. The governor was accused, of being "czar," and MT. Smiths campaign was character ized as one of Hung power" Both being seasoned campaigners and able speakers, the state resounded with claims and counter-claims.
 Notwithstanding the usual claims of victory by both sides, it is held by unbiased observers that the result for the governorship prot kably will be very close, with much splitting of both tickets.
 Mir. Smith. who was born on the lower East Side in New York under the shadow of Brooklyn Bridge, is affectionately known to almost every one as Al" He rose from newsboy and worker in the old Fulton fish market to the governors chair. He still lives in his old home, in a dis trict now populated by many of the foreign born.
 Politics attracted him early In life and he became an active worker in Tammany Hall. His rise in the field of politics came when he was elected to the assembly at Albany, after hold ing a clerkship in the office of com missioner of jurors. Then he became democratic leader and finally speaker in the assembly, later being elected president of the board of aldermen in New York city, in addition to other municipal and county offices.
 State Govt Is His Hobby.
 State government is his hobby, and few men in this state are considered better informed. At the state con- stitutional convention to which he was a delegate, along with Elihu Root, George w. Wickersham and other dis tinguished men, question concerning certain legislation came up, and MT. Smith volunteered to give an outline history of all public service legisla- tion in the state for. sixteen years. His offer was accepted and, without a moments preparation, he spoke for more than two hours, reeling off sta- tlstics and dates without an error, to the amazement of the delegates.
 He received the votes of the New York state delegation at democratic convention in San Francisco that James M. Cox for Presi-