The Washington times., 1928-10-22
WILL OPEN
BIC DRIVE
FOR EAST
BY GEARGE r. HOLMES
international News Service


ALBANY, N. T., Oct. 22.-Back
home for a short breathing spell,
Governor Smith rested today for
what he has described as "the bat
tie of the Eastern seaboard," the
opening gun in which will be fired
in Boston on Wednesday.
Governor Smith will leave Albany
tomorrow night. not II return to 1t
again until he knows whether he Is
to be the next President of the
United states, or just another de-
feated candidate.
From Boston he will go to New
York on Thursday and from that
familiar base engage in a fast flying
tour Of the great Eastern centers
that are so vital to his success. The
next two weeks will see him in
Massachusetts, New York, Rhode
Island, Connecticut, New Jersey,
Pennsylyania and Maryland, seven
states in which even the Republi-
cans admit his candidacy has strong
appeal this year.
Should he win them all two weeks
hence, and should the solid South
and border States stand firm in their
normal and traditional democracy,
Governor Smith will win the presi-
dency, even though he carries not a
single Western State. But. by the
same token, any great or material
detection in the East would be fatal.
This group of seven Eastern States
selected as the battle-ground for the
climax of the 1928 campaign have a
total of 1876 electoral votes. The
solid South, meaning those 10 South
ern States never carried by any Re-
Aak hA al
dency, has ia. The four border
States of Tennessee, Kentucky, Mis-
souri, and Oklahoma have So. These
groups combine to make a total Of
302, or 36 more than the 266 cleo
toral votes necessary to victory.
Few Hope for Pa.
There are no Republicans though
and only a comparatively few
Democrats who believe Governor
Smith has much prospect of win
ming Pennsylvania 38 votes. what
ever may be his chances in these
other Eastern States.
Governor Smith himself, however,
Is not one OF the doubters. He is
going to speak in Philadelphia next
Saturday night. Democratic candi.
dates for the presidency do not
usually speak in Pennsylvania, con-
sidering it q waste of time. But.
AL Smith not only does not so
consider it-he believes he is going
to win it.
Probably no Democratic presf-
Dental candidate has ever been so
confident of victory two weeks be-
fore election as Governor Smith Is
at the end of his campaign in
the West. He fairly radiated con-
fidence in his observations at the
daily press conferences.
Ridicules Hoover Speeches
1--WE have never had any kind of
Republican candidates, but silent
ones with the exception of Roose.
Welt" he said. "Mr. Hoover is
only running true to form. il
isn't any innovation. 1t is the
stock, ordinary, everyday article
that is offered us. They are all
silent men, except Roosevelt. He
was the only one who talked out. .
One reporter said that Mr.. Hoover
had made four speeches.
"Well," said the Governor, "You
may call 'em speeches. They are
rather statistical essays"
Another questioner asked Gov.
ernor Smith whether, il he were
elected. he would continue the
Mythical White House spokesman"
under which system, established by
President Coolidge. the Executive
is not to be quoted directly in his
replies to reporters questions. Mr..
Hoover has adopted the same sys.
tenn in the present campaign.