The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-09-12
KEEPING UP
With
THE NE WIS
BY LUDWELL DENNY


WASHINGTON, Sept. 12.-For
the next month the politicians will
be busy arguing about the old
wheeze that "as Maine goes, so goes
the Nation"
To DR.. Work, Hoover's major
domo, the seventy thousand odd Re-
publican majority in the Maine
State election Tuesday means a ma
tional Hoover landslide in Novem-
Der. 90
To AL Smith it means nothing Of
the kind. Il Niever was optimistic
enough to believe that Maine would
go anything but Republican" Smith
remarks.
Behind the conflicting Growing
and alibis, the fellows who claim to
have the low-down on all things
political will tell you that there is
nothing much but hokum. Hokum,
however, as has been noted fire.
quently, is most important CAM
paign commodity.
Indeed, there are times when cleo
lions have been won on hokum and
lost on realities, it is said.
According to the sages, the catch
in this particular political myth is
that there is no reason whatever
why this manifoldly varied and far
flung country should vote in ma
tional election for one party be-
cause that party happens to go
over with a bang on local issues
in one untypical, isolated State.
There is no reason, that is, unless
the people in other States can be
persuaded that the myth is true
To the degree DR.. Work can con-
vince the milkman in Omaha and
the men on the street in other States
that the Maine State election fore
casts a Hoover landslide nationally,
the hokum becomes a reality, driv-
ing the bandwagon ladies and
gentlemen to get aboard
THUS behind the Maine myth is
Il the secret slogan of the CAM
paign managers, voters prefer win
ners." If enough ballot-casters
throughout the country, especially
in doubtful states, can absorb in
their suggestive minds that the
election is getting better for Hoov-
er day by day, then the jinx will
be on Smith-because the voters
will put it there.
This sort of plotting the curves
Of the voters, which some call num-
o-jumbo and others designate as
the science Of politics, is said to ex-
plain campaign in Maine which end
ed Tuesday evening and the cam
paign about Maine which began
Wednesday morning.
Here was a Republican State AS
Al observes, he never expected 1t
would go anything but Repub-
lican." No one else did.
Nevertheless, the Republican Ma
tional Committee poured money
and men into this walkaway State
contest. Almost all the available
G. o. P. moguls-except the presi-
Dental candidate himself, who per-
sonally is making a semi-silent cam
paign-favored this sure State with
their tongues while doubtful States
were craving their presence.
CHARLIE CURTIS, vice presi-
~ Dental candidate, stumped
Maine. So did Senator George Mo-
ses, chairman of the national con-
vention, commandment of Hoover
forces on the eastern sector, and
would-be secretary Of state.
So did Senator Watson Of Indi-
ana and Representative Tilson Of
Connecticut, G. o. P. leader in the
House of Representatives. Even DR..
Work himself deserted Washington
to fight among the pines in the
battle which was won before 1t
started. Why?
And why did the Democrats, who
really needed to fight, fail 10 send
in any national speakers?
In line with this hokum theory
of political action one learns that
the Republicans wanted to double
their already safe State majority,
to stun and hog-tie the voters in
doubtful States who want to pick
a winner.
So the Democrats, knowing they
would lose anyway, figured it would
be a better alibi to be able to say
to the nervous in other States, I'VE
didn't even think Maine important
enough to fight for-we are sailing
away the money for the real fight
in the doubtful States"