Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-10-17
BUSINESS DR|FT TING
AWAY FROM SMITH
Mills Making Dent in Gov
errors Strength in the
Financial District.
RY DAVID LAWRENCE.

NEW YORK. October 16.-Here In
the most densely populated areas of
| the Empire State the drift OF the
business and financial men who
hitherto have supported Gov. Al
Smith Is noticeably toward the Re
publican nominee for governor. ogden
Mills. Numerically this is a. negligible
loss. for if the business folks swing
so 900 votes away from Al Smith the
"sidewaIks Of New York" will still
be able to carry Greater New York
by big majority for their favorite
son.
But IT ia significant. nevertheless,
that Representative Mills is making a
dent. He puts the governor on the
defensive by charging milk Frauds
and although Al Smith pointed out
that milk inspection is not under his
Jurisdiction, but under a Republican
official in a bureau created by the
Republican Legislature, nevertheless
MIR. Mills attracted the eve of the
voters by taking the offensive.
Trend Toward Wadsworth.
In the New York City district the
trend toward Senator WadSworth is
also very pronounced. He will make
better run in the metropolitan area
than any Republican in recent years,
with the exception. of course, of Presi-
dent Coolidge. He will need every
bit of additional strength he can
muster. for upstate the division of
opinion in the ranks Of the Repuh-
lican party because of Mr.. Wads-
worth's wet" views is such as to
cut down the regular Republican
normal vote.
In the criss.cross Of politics, q fair
ly strong man on the top of the ticket
r..
listed below Many votes that Repre-
is the regular Republican nominee
will also be cast for Senator Wads-
worth. On the whole. Mr.. Mills IS
considered In stronger position to-
dav in some respects than young
Theodore Roosevelt was two years ago
against Al Smith. The latter rather
laughed his youthful opponent out of
court by witty jibes and characteristic
comments. but the New York COVER
nor cannot do the same with Mr..
Mills, who has managed to keep the
campaign on a serious basis.
All the newspapers are giving Mr..
Mills considerable news and editorial
space and regarding his speeches Sc
riously Also the Hearst newspaper
support throughout the State is with
counted to some extent by the knowl-
edge of the voters that previous feuds
inside the party have brought about
Hearst opposition to Smith rather
than affirmative desire for the cleo
tIon of Representative Mills.
And vet one scarcely finds any dis
interested observer who thinks AL
Smith Is in danger. IF there were
such a thing as uniformity in political
contests in New York State, AL Smith
would this year he doomed TO defeat
Elsewhere the effort TO elect man
four times would produce a reaction
on the ground that the incumbent
had had the office long enough. The
shirt of give some-one-else- "A cha nee y
would weigh heavily against the de-
sire of candidate to continue in
office.
Reluctant to Run"
Rut Al Smith knew this tendency
on the mart of the electorate long be
fore he ever ran for office. And he
has managed in each case to he
| drafted for the office. He has been
| reluctant to run-he has said ne
wanted to retire to private life. He
| has vigorously denied that he cared
about further public service in the
A
| has responded to the call of his party
on convention day.
To a large extent this call Of the
party is spontaneous. AL Smith is a
rema rkable vote getter. He helps the
candidates on the local ticket to pull
, through. If Tammany had its way, AL
Smith would run forever.
But this is the last time Al Smith
will be a candidate for reelection as
governor. II he is elected this year.
as seems certain at this writing. he
will present convincing argument
To his fellow Democrats in many other
states as a presidential candidate. He
is running for governor now. to he
sure. hut hasically he Is making
bid for 1925.
So he is campaigning harder than
ever to roll up a big majority. And
IL he should he strong enough on
election day 10 pun along with him
Robert +. Wagner. the Democratic