Evening star., 1928-04-01
OIL STILL STICKS
TO SMITH BANNER
But Friends See Him Victor in
Nye TiIt-Governor En-
ters South Dakota.

SNFCiRi jhsnHEtEi w thF GkAi'
ALBANY. N. Y, March si.--Having
at last thrown his hat definitely in the
presidential candidates ring, Gov Smith
is quietly seeing that 1t stays there. BY
his own act he implanted himself in
the presidential primaries in one more
State during the past week-South
Dakota
In the meantime last weeks linking
of the governcr'$ name with the Tea
not dome oil scandal investigation In
Washington. whether justified or not
has left an oil Smudge that ike the
famous spot in Lady MacBeth's hand
simply will not out" 1t certainly mas
been a lively topic OF conversation IN
political and general circles for days
and. more than that. 1t has occasionally
broken out In public addresses. How
ever. the governors friends profess to
be highly elated over the situation.
Senator Nye and Senator Robinson
ought to send the governor a good stin
bill for splendid publicity" was the way
one of them here expressed himself.
The governors skirts are so PAL
pahly clean and the attempt to drag
him into the scandal SO palpably weak,
that nothing but good for Smith can
come from 1t all"
Replies to Senator.
When Senator Nye refused to accept
Smiths original reply TO the allegation
that Harry F. Sinclair had contributed
literally to the governors 1920 State
campaign and instead sent a rebuke to
New York's chief executive for attempt
ing to undermine public confidence In
the vital work OF an important COM
mittee, the governor felt called upon TO
reply. It was a typical Smith answer
and soiemnly warned the Senator that
the Craftsmanship Of Senate committee
"exempts no man from the obligation
not to make reckless and irresponsible
statements"
And there the correspondence Is
likely to end. at least for the time be-
ing. according to dispatches reaching
Albany from Washington. But not so
the general comment, Representative
Fish paraded the matter publicly
early in the week in an address before
church club In Brooklyn. Mr.. Fish
deplored the personal attacks recently
made on the governor by certain Re-
publicans. but expressed belief that the
governor has much to explain regarding
his connection with Sinclair and the
appointment of the oil man as State
racing commissioner He took the op-
portunity to criticize the waste and
extravaganza" of the governor in public
ONCE and his saving at the spigot and
letting out at the bung-hole." Other
wise. according to Mr.. Fish, Smith has
made a good Democratic governor.
IF nominated for the presidency" he
added. Gov. Smith will be beaten, not
through personal attacks or abuse. but
because Of the record and achievement
Of the Republican party for peace,
progress and prosperity for the last
70 years"
Signs Legal Form.
The governor had to sign and swear
TO q legal form in order TO enter the
South Dakota primaries May %. The
document was forwarded to the secre-
tary Of state at Pierre.
An interesting feature OF the pro-
ceedure developed from the fact that
the party pledge and principles empha-
sized especially agriculture and farm
aid. Smith is. as every one knows a
city product. He is in no sense OF the
farm
His political enemies declare this will
be one OF his weakest points. If nom
mated. What does Smith really know
of the farmer?" they ask. "and how
can he speak of farm needs sincerely"
But here is what the South Dakota
party pledge and principles contained:
We annunciate as the paramount
national issue our demand for ma
tional policy designed TO promote the
welfare, happiness and prosperity OF
the people as whole. with the imme-
date and most urgent requirement do
ing justice To agriculture"
THOMAS G. STOWELL.