The Daily Alaska empire., 1927-10-17
New York World Calls and Challenges Col.
 Roosevelt.
tNew York World

tNew York World.)
 Col Roosevelt would not have made his attack on Gov Smith as ally of the underworld un- less he had been advised to do so by the Re- publican politicians with whom he associates most closely. For in politics the young Colonel has neither initiative nor convictions of his own and he would never have dared to do what he has done unless he had been egged on to it and told what to say
 Wno, then, told him to do it? It was not the local Republican bosses and office holders Tor they are extremely frightened by the Coonel's outbreak. They know perfectly we'll that any attack on Gov. Smiths integrity, particularly any attack touching his personal morals is instantly dlsbelleved and resented by New York Demo- crats and Republicans alike Assuming that the local Republicans were wholly interruptions which they are not, they know from long and bitter experience that the one way not to beat Smith in New York is to attack his character. The experiments of Mir Hearst and to lesser extent MT Ogden Mills, proved conclusvely that the Governors reputation for personal integrity is invincbe in New York To attack it is therefore thoroughly bad politics
 Having exonerated the local Republican, ma chine, we must then look to the Federal politi- clans for the source of the Colonels inspiration. There too, however, we find much consternation over the Coonel's performance. The Republicans who express it are the shrewder and more experi- enced politicians who have made up their minds that Gov. Smith will be the Democratic nominee and realize that campaign laid out along the C0loneis lines would guarantee a Smith victory in New York They know enough of human nature to realize that the Colonel's attack smells strongly of Buchardism and that it's effect can only be to local pride to the boiling point For while Gov. Smith is not absolutely sure to carry New. York in orderly campaign on national issues, he is absolutely to carry it if there is evidence of foul tactics. The wiser Republicans know that the Colones strategy is suicidal in New York.
 But there is a group of national Republicans, of whom the Colonel is one, who are out to de- feat Gov. Smith for the nomination They are so they hope and pray that Democratic prejudices to defeat Smith in the Democratic Convention and the Republicans the trouble of hav- ing to meet him in the campaign. This is the idea behind the Colonel's attack This is the strategy of his little crowd They hope to stop Smith before June of next year, because they do not believe they can stop him in November. It is this crowd who will have to be watched should Gov Smith be nominated. For in all campaigns there is an undercurrent of malicious whispering; it directed at Wilson, at Hard ing, at the Colonels own father. But with Gov Smith the nominee we may be sure that the temp tation to resort to underground propaganda will be stronger than it has been before The Colones speech is warning of what may pect. We therefore challenge him and his friends right here and now. Is it their intention to play the. game like gentlemen and Americans, are they going to have campaign of malice and insinuation. of bgotry and blackguardism ill order to defeat Smith? We warn them here and now that if they start this sort of thing they will get than they give.