The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-06-28
SMITH ON EVE
OF VICTORY is
SHY, RETICENT
JoviaI Smile Gives Way to
Air of Responsibility in
in New Role.
CONFIDENT, SHUNS TALK
Governor Ignores Farley
Publicly, Burying Self
in Duties.
BY PERCY B. SCOTT
limited Press STAFF Correspondent

United Press STAFF Correspondent
ALBANY, N. Y, June 28.-The
flush of victory has made a new
man of Governor Alfred E. Smith,
marked chiefly by shy reticence,
hardly in keeping with the legend
Of the happy warrior"
Governor Smith is as jovial as
ever, but as the hour approaches
when the former New York news
boy is to be elevated to the high
est honor his party can bestow, he
takes on new dignity and diff
dence.
Close friends ascribe the change
to realization by the Governor of
the immense responsibilities that
are about to become his as the
standard bearer of his party.
Waited for This Honor
Governor Smith has waited a long
time for the prize that is again
within his grasp. This time he
knows he will not lose, and that
very realization seems to have
changed his outlook.
Victory is nothing new TO the
man who has set a precedent by
winning the New York governor
ship four times in ten years. But
victory which carries him into what
may be the last great fight Of his
political career leaves the Governor
with a quiet determination, con-
trasting sharply with the eXuberant
confidence that has marked his en-
try into former battles
He goes about his duties as chief
executive of New York State work
ing harder than ever before. He
has buried himself in work at the
executive offices during the past
few days, and only in the evening
has he taken notice of the conven-
ton, when he would listen to the
proceedings by radio.
Shuns Convention Talk
He will talk about anything and
everything but the convention. He
confldentially chats with newspaper
men, many of whom he has known
for years, but his remarks are few
and brief.
His one relaxation seems to be
the company if his elder daughter,
Mrs. John A. Warner. She has
been with him almost constantly
since the opening of the Houston
convention. She is at the execu-
tive Office during the day, and at
the home of the Governor in the
evening.
Smith is affected by the situation
as he has never before been af-
fected. This was shown Wednes-
day night when he listened to the
speech of Franklin D. Roosevelt,
former assistant secretary of the
Navy, who placed him in nominal
ton, as he did four years ago.
The Governor sat within three
feet of the radio, with Mrs. Warner
by his side as Roosevelt delivered
his talk His facial expression was
unchanged during the entire talk,
but a cigar he lighted as the speaker
began was chewed rather than
smoked. At times he pulled furi-
ously and at other times he chewed
it with fast working jaws, shifting it
from side to side in his mouth.
AS Roosevelt cited his record and
praised his ability, his nervousness
was demonstrated by his thirst. In
the half hour that Roosevelt spoke,
Smith drank four large glasses Of ice
water.
When the nominating speech was
ended, the Governor left his seat and
walked into Inc reception hall of
the mansion. He did not resume his
seat in the ballroom of the mansion.
where the radio was installed. until
the demonstration in his behalf had
neared its close.
Returns to Work Today
Mrs. Warner, however was visibly
affected by Roosevelt's talk. At
times it appeared that she was
about to cry, and several times she
reached over and laid her hand ON
her fathers knee.
With the Governor at the man
sion were the twenty newspaper
men who are covering him, and Mr..
and Mrs. Warner, Representative
and Mrs, Parker Corning, DR.. and
Mrs. Henry Moskowitz, Charles M.
Winchester and William A. Hum
phrey, the latter two close friends
of years standing.
Today Smith again planned on
spending most Of the day in his
Office at the Capitol. If the ballot
ing for the nomination does not
take place until this evening, he will
Lno,- the rnc,nIt Of The ,,nnnrin..