The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1926-10-08
NEWS REVIEW OF
CURRENT EVENTS
New York's Interesting
Campaign On-Sinclair
Loses Teapot Dome.
BY EDWARD w. PIckARp

D~S~S . 49, - ~S~~~~
BY EDWARD w. PlCkARD
0NE Of the most interesting Of this
~ falls election campaigns-per-
haps the most interesting-formally
opened last week with the meetings
Of the New York RepublicanSand Dem
ocratic conventions. The outcome of
the spectacular contest Is Of great i'm
portance not only to the state but also
to the nation, and it may decide the
political fate Of two men Of outstand-
ing prominence. And at the time Of
the election, November 2, the New
Workers will hold their referendum on
modification of the Volstead act.
Heading the Republican state ticket
are James w. Wadsworth, Jr., for re-
election to the United States senate,
and Representative Ogden L. Mills for
governor. Both of them are million
aires. and Senator Wadsworth is an
out-and-out opponent of prohibition.
Should Wadsworth win, his strength
in the party councils would be vastly
increased and he might become po-
tential candidate for the Presidential
nomination.
Gov. AL Smith had only to signify
his willingness to accept a fifth NOM
ination for governor to be given that
honor by the Democratic convention,
and the rest Of the state ticket was
picked by him. Justice Robert F.
Wagner was named to oppose Wads-
worth for the senate. It is admitted
that victory by Smith would aid tre-
mendously his aspiration to be his
party's nominee for the Presidency in
1928. Despite his wetness and his re-
ligious affiliations, the national con-
vention that year would find 1t difficult
to turn him down as 1t did in 1924.
Should he be defeated in November,
however, his opponents in the party
could invoke the unwritten rule for
bidding the nomination of candidate
who could not carry his own state.
Justice Wagner, 1t may be said. is as
wet as AL Smith.
Naturally, the Democratic platform
is strong for modification of the prohi-
bition act. At the insistence of Gov
ernor Smith, 1t also indorses the Torld
court conditionally. The Republicans
were In something of dilemma when
1t came to drafting a platform. but
the vets won out to the extent of in
sorting a plank which, after calling for
enforcement of prohibition so long as
1t is In the Constitution, added:
'The people of the state are rightly
alarmed by the lack of observance and
enforcement Of the federal law rela-
tive to the sale of intoxicating liquors.
From this has resulted the pending
referendum to obtain the opinion of
the people upon the question of the
modification of the law. The referen-
dunn gives all opportunity to express
themselves. We urge full express
sion at the polls on this matter"
This was too much for the extreme
drys. and they are now rallying to the
support Of Franklin w. Christman for
senator and F. w. Seward for gov
ernor, the candidates selected by the
Anti-Saloon league and other dry or
CARNATIONS. The regular Republican
leaders say they do not fear this bolt,
but the Democrats believe 1t will ac-
complish the political destruction of
Wadsworth and the election of Wag-
ner.
ILLINOIS also Is to have three
1 cornered contest for the senator
ship. With the support of number
Of civic reform leaders, Hugh S. Ma
gill of Chicago has come out as an
Independent Republican candidate. He
is former state senator, we'll
known educator and at present general
secretary Of the National Council of
Religious Education. Though he is
notably dry, the Anti-Saloon league OF
Illinois is strongly supporting Frank
L. Smith, the regular Republican nom-
inee, thinking him the best bet to de-
feat Brennan. the wringing wet Dem
ocrat.
Democrats Of Massachusetts, in
nominating Walsh for the senate and
CASTOR for governor. pronounced
strongly against prohibition. The
New Hampshire Democrats, however,