Evening star., 1926-10-25
GOV. SMITH WEAKER.
IN NEW YORK STATE
Defeat Not Likely, But Mar
gin of Victory Will Be
Smaller.

BUFFALO. y. y. October 20
Western New York has a hunch that
Gov. AL Smith will be defeated by a
narrow margin. Coming from Il Sec
ton Of the State which in 1924 gave
young Theodore Roosevelt IL substan-
tial lead over the governor, the wish
may be father to the thought.
But nevertheless there is a certain
strength possessed here by Represent
ative Mills which is greater by far
than that of Mr. Roosevelt. All fac
tions of Republicanfsm and many OF
the independents are united for Mr..
Mills. The same cannot be said with
reference to Senator WadswOrth.
If the bitter denunciation which one
hears in this vicinity among woman
voters who dislike Senator Wads-
worth's "wet" views is any indication
of the cutting that will be done and
the votes that will be cast for Mr..
Cristman, the Independent Repubi1-
can candidate. there Is grave danger
that the Republican party will lose
United States Senator in the Empire
State.
Women Have Old Grudge.
The prejudice against Mr.. Wads-
worth dates back to the days when he
opposed woman suffrage. AS explain
ed to the writer. several of the woman
leaders concede that while the vote
NAV not be used. nevertheless he who
would have denied women the right
to vote implied belief in the in
equality of the sexes with respect to
citizenship.
Six years ago in the Harding land
slide there was little opportunity for
the women to protest effectively
against Senator WadsWOrth, though
much of the same antagonism. which
is being manifest today was apparent
then.
1t cannot be said that there is as
much apathy in New York State as in
other sections of the country. The
militant fight made by the supporters
of the out-and-out dry candidate. Mr..
Cristman, Is a surprise to everybody.
This is the part Of New York State
which counts heavily in the final reck.
oning, for it is dominated by Erie
County, which has in many State elec-
tions presented a more or less even
cleavage between the parties. If Mr..
WadsWorth cannot count on a heavy
ma jority in western New York. he
will have difficulty making up for 1t
in the vicinity of New York City,
where the tendency to vote for Al
Smith has become habit and un-
doubtedly will carry along almost as
many votes for Justice Robert Wag-
ner. the Democratic nominee for the
United States Senate.
Hope for Democratic Aid.
In this end of the State the Wads-
worth adherents are talking of the
heavy New York City vote expected to
be cast for Senator Wadsworth. There
is little doubt here that the Cristman
movement Will tend to make Demo
cratic votes for Mr.. Wadsworth.
AS matters stand now, western New
York will cut Senator Wadsworth
down from the majority he received
six years ago and Gov. Smith will not
poll as big a vote as he did in 1924.
But the election in the Empire State
will not be decided In the so-called
upstate counties. 1t Is already ap.
parent that New York City will either
elect Messrs. Smith and Wagner by
reduced ma jorities over other years
or by its apathy toward the Demo.
cratic nominees for governor and
United States Senator will bring about
the defeat Of both.
For Gov. Smith is weaker upstate
tIidil AL Illo Pl CNAO (oliPdASIAos VAAs
Mills campaign has made a profound
impression on the minds Of independ-
ent voters. The three-cornered race
for United States Senator makes it
impossible to apply the same line of
reasoning to the status Of the upstate
vote. Rather it would seem that Mr..
Wadsworth will be helped by Mills in
the western part of the State
wherever straight tickets are voted.
If the central section Of the State
shows the same detection from the
Smith standard as does western New
York Al Smith may we'll turn with
anxiety to the Sidewalks Of New
York. for that tidal wave Of votes
which again and again has brought
him victory.
(Coovrfpht 1Q2af