Evening star., 1926-10-29
MILK ATTACK PUTS
SMITH At BAY, BUT
HE SEEMS WINNER
Assault Shifts New York In
terest From Liquor in
Vigorous Campaign.
GOVERNOR GETS SAVAGE
OVER PERSONAL CHARGE
G, 0. P. Candidate Retracts Such
Inference-Sees Victory in
Tuesdays Election.
BY G., GOULD LINCOLN.
Staff Corresnondent of The Star.

staff Correspondent of The star.
NEW YORK. October 29.-Milk,
not booze, is the big talk in the hot
rest gubernatoriai campaign New
ork has witnessed for number OF
years. The Empire State just has
TO be wet one way or another.
Following a Republican State con-
vention. which left the G. 0. P.
shrouded in gloom, amid tales of all
kinds of detection on the part of dry
Republicans, Representative ogden
Mills, the party's nominee for COVER
nor. launched his milk attack against
Gov. Al Smith, seeking his fourth
term as governor People began to
sit up and take notice.
This was the first time in years
that any Republican candidate had
had the temerity to assail Gov. AL
himself. 1t had been expected that
Young Mr.. Mills would discuss state
finances and State issues relating to
government in a learned way. But
that he would seek to trace alleged
graft and corruption to the COVER
nor's doorstep was totally uneX-
pected.
Asserts Poor Milk Is Sold.
The charge made by Mr.. Mills was
to the effect that skim milk and
Rdulterated milk were being sold in
Greater New York and that the milk
inspectors were winking at the prac-
tice. He charged that Gov. Smith
had failed to do his full duty in not
bringing about a thorough inveStiga-
tion and prosecution of the alleged
sales of milk which did not come up
to specifications.
It was a wallop from the shoulder.
Mr.. Mills has followed it up with
other attacks. The result has been
10 rouse the fighting spirit of the
Republicans until some of them actu-
ally insist they have a chance to de-
feat the idol Of the sidewalks of
New York. <s~s-~ -'---7-a--' a~-' $500
Whatever the result OF the cleo
ton, there is no question about the
change in the atmosphere here COM
pared to that during and Immediately
following the Republican State con-
vention.
Gov. Smith is not given to receiv-
Ing blows and not returning them.
Al first he made light of the charges
regarding milk sales in New York. He
pointed out that the milk story was
an old one, brought to light first by
newspapers, now supporting Mills;
that the health commissioner Of New
York City, DIR. Harris, had investi-
gated these charges last Winter, and
that through proper channels prose-
cutions were being had of any cases
that showed milk adulteration.
Kept Right at Attack.
But this did not stop Mills milk
barrage. Every day and several
times a day Mr.. Mills reiterated his
charges and called upon Gov. Smith
to take immediate action to throw
'he attorney general of the State
into the case and bring the rascals
10 justice" no matter how high they
might be. 1t was charged that the
graft in the alleged milk authorizations
would run to $34 900 900 and that the
babies and the sick of New York City
We're getting skim or adulterated
milk.
When even TammanV Democrats
were beginning to wonder how in
furious this milk attack was going
to be to the Democratic ticket and
there was uneasiness about the stu
alton in Democratic quarters under
the surface, the governor jumped
back TO New York City. This was
only a few days ago. With his re-
turn to his native heath the Demo
cratic hosts began to shake their
fists again and get ready for action.
With Al in the city the whole at
titude of the Tammany bra yes
changed. Where there had been NUT
terings and even suggestions that the
governor had become high hat" and
not a few of the Democrats would
like to see him Just squeeze
through" or even be defeated, there
are now confident smiles and reports
that "cverything's all right now"
Smith Becomes Aroused.
At his apartment in the Biltmore
Gov. Smith is breathing defiance at
his enemies and courage into his sup
porters. Mr. Mills. during the course
of one of his speeches a couple of
days ago. said that there was no
truth in Gov. Smith and that d man
in whom there was no truth could
not be trusted either in public or
private life.
Never before had any one reflected
IN any way on the private life of Gov.
Smith. 1t took him just long enough
TO read the report of Mills speech
and get red in the face before he made
r. savage reply. Addressing one of
his meetings. the governor demanded
that Mr.. Mills retract his statement
or face the consequences" adding
that he had been holding in leash
for weeks his supporters who desired
10 attack the private life Of Mr.. Mills.
And Mr.. Mills retracted. AT least.
re declared that his statement had
been misinterpreted. and he had not
sought and would not seek to cast
any reflection on the private life of
the governor. The incident has been
given wide publicity in the New York
newspapers. and Gov. Smith appears
TO have won by the interchange.
When his attention was called to
Che statement of Mr.. Mills that he
had not meant to reflect upon his
trivate life Gov. Smith said:
Sees Mills Losing Head.
II am ready to concede that the
Sourg man lost his head. The retrac-
ZION is satisfactory. Let him go
along.
If Mr.. Mills has had his fighting
clothes on. Gov. Al is apparently now
stripped for action himself. Right
on the heels of the private life in
cdcnt the governor delivered blast
IN the shape of letter to Mr.. Mills
which threatens to blow the milk