New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1928-11-07
City's Biggest Celebration
Ever Would Have o.
cured IF Smith Had
Won" As Stage Was All
Set for Great Political
Jubilee.
(By G. d. SEYMOUR.
Associated Press


New York, Nov. Z R-Election
night on the Sidewalks of New York.
Bonfired at dusk in Oliver street
Al Smith tonfired. Skyrockets as
darkness deepens in Chinatown-Al
Smith skyrochets. Searchlights
playing at 10 p. m. over $4,000 faces
upturned in Times Square to scan
returns on screens and bulletin
boards Silence at midnight in City
Hall park, where thousands stand
watching results in front of the
World building and become too
bereft of hope even to groan as ad-
ditional efforts show Smith farther
and farther behind.
Crowds at Times Square
From a dozen streets the crowds
sprawl into Times Square, buckling
into pillows the mass Of humanity
that packs the triangle. Few can
see the big screen hanging from the
Times annex. on which is paraded
steady succession of figures. Flash
light flares and the glow of power
full torches keep the throng half
blinded as it mills between Fortieth
and Forty Seventh streets along
Broadway and Seventh avenue. The
familiar contour of the Aston hotel
is blurred with banks of guests at
every window and balcony. gazing
through field glasses toward bulletin
boards. Mounted policemen clatter
hack and forth in narrow lanes try
ing in vain to keep the crowd IN
hand. 1t fills the streets and stops
all traffic.
Across Forty Second street troop
Of ragamuffins blares its way, bear
ing an effigy aloft. Down Fourth
avenue, crowds mass around the
armory where Tammany Hall Is
gathered to get returns. In Canal
street a parade of urchins forms
behind a drum and a flag.
Down In Chinatown
Tn Chinatown a telegraph Key
ticks in the center of a group OF
Bowery flotsam, at the doorway OF
the old Chinese theater in Doyer
street, now rescue mission. Chinese
children in Mott street bend over a
popping toy cannon. more interested
in its percussions than in preslden-
tial politics. Roman candles throw
balls of green and purple fire
against the red brick walls.
Now up every angling sidestreet
a dozen bonfires blaze, and children
lug timbers and papers from dark
alleys to swell the flames. In Oliver
street high shadows flicker against
tenement walls, revealing Smith
posters hanging from every fire es-
cape. At No. 25, where Smith used
to live, a street cleaner has been
pressed into police service to keep
celebrants from ringing the bell and
disturbing the undertaken who now
occupies the house.
High over the street, from the
Brooklyn side of the East river.
rides a beacon light Of red. THAT
means Smiths ahead" Someone
shouted. and the cheer that rises
echoes down the street for blocks.
Thousands At City Hall
Thousands stretch across the lawn
Of City Hall park. scanning the
Worlds bulletin screen. Before
them rises the shining dome Of the
Pulitzer building. and high behind
them the glowing shaft Of the Wool
worth tower. In the early evening
the crowd groans whenever a bulle-
1t shows Smith to be tagging. Then
1t grows sullen and quiet.
Back uptown, the conductor on
the elevated buttonholes a passenger
at every station and asks: "How's
Smith coming?" If the answer is
that he still has a chance the con-
ductor says: Il hope he is,' and
adds fervently, hes got the nerve.
New York boy!"
Times Square again. 1T Smith
WINS" somebody exclaims, this
town will go crazy"