Evening star., 1925-04-06
SMITHS TRIUMPH
IS HELD NOTABLE
Governor Has Won Support
/ From Republicans for
: Administration.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, April 6-The most
significant development in Democratic
national politics since the last cleo
tion has been the triumph of AL
Smith, Democratic Governor of the
State of New York, over a legislature
dominated by a Republican majority
in both houses.
Not only are the Democrats in the
Empire State singing the praises of
AL Smith, but even in such a stanch
Republican institution as the Union
League Club one finds preponderant
sentiment for Al Smith.
The question no longer is a parti-
san one. A legislator is either for
or against Al Smith.
Won Both Sides.
All this is due to the fact that Gov.
Smith knows the State of New York
and it's problems better than any one
else in the Government, and in this,
his third term, he has conducted him
self with such skill, advocating meas
ures of Republican as well as Demo-
cratic origin, that even such Republi
can organs as the New York Herald
Tribune and the New York Sun have
not failed to support him generously.
Whether Mr.. Smiths victory, s the
legislature comes to an end, is due
to the lack of vision of the Repub-
lican leadership in the State, or
whether 1t is due to the governors
remarkable hold on public opinion,
the fact is that the New York gov
ernor is ever so much stronger to-
day than he was las November when,
in the the face of an overwhelming
vote for Mr.. Coolidge and the election
of the entire State Republican ticket,
he was, for the third time, elected
governor on the Democratic ticket.
Brought Tax Cut.
Gov. Smith has insisted that after
81 years of service to the State he
could have no ambition 20 be gov
ernor any longer, and that in this, his
last term, he was s<ting for the in
terest of all the people and not poll
ties. Using the radio frequently, ad-
dressing large audiences in person
and hol&tng the support of the press
In rost cases because of his clear
view of public questions, Al Smith has
compelled a Republican legisla ture
to follow him in many important
projects. He outaid the Federal Gov
ernment, for example, by bringing
about this year, as we'll as last, a re-
duction of % per cent in income tax.
He forced through a bill elmina ting
grade crossings.
In not all cases did AL Smith sue
ceed. He advocated, for example, the
very budget system which Elihu Root
proposed several years ago in the
New York State constitutional con-
vention. He wanted the term of
Governor changed so that the cleo
tion would not come in presidential
year.
There were many other things of i'm
portance which he vetoed, but gen.
orally speaking Al Smiths victory is
one of the most remarkable in modern
politics.
Senate Race Looms.
1t is natural despite AL Smiths
disclaimer of political ambition that
the politicians should be discussing
the effects of his achievements. Two
years hence. Senator James Wads-
worth, Republican, comes up for re-
election. If AL Smith wants the
Democratic nomination, he can have
1t, and there are already a number of
Republicans who fear that if he wants
place in the United States Senate,
he can have that, too
Mr.. WadSworth has had troubles of
his own in New York State and while
he did not have serious opposition
when he ran the last time, there was
considerable disaffection among the
women voters because of his attitude
forgotten, but it is safe to assume
that a race between Wadsworth and
AL Smith would break down party
lines.
Some of the intimate friends of Gov
Smith say he does not intend to run
for the Senate, that he must get back
to private business to take care of
his family in the future and that he
will retire from public life after he
completes his present term in Albany.
Support Is Increasing.
There are others among Al Smiths
friends who think he will be a serious
contender for the Democratic pres-
Dental nomination in 1928, despite the
friction which developed in the Madi-
son Square Garden convention last
year. They go on the assumption that
Al Smith, speaking from seat in the
United States Senate, will command
national attention. and will become