The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-10-25
KEEPING UP
With
THE NE WIS
BY LUDWELL DENNY


WASHINGTON, Oct. 25.-De-
w lection of Senator George w.
Norris of Nebraska, leader of the
La Toilette progressives, is the
worst thing that has happened To
Hoover in the campaign.
Norris swing cannot alone carry
the doubtful grain states for Smith.
But it has given AL a fighting
chance in that territory for the
first time.
If Smith should decide unexpect-
edly to follow through this initial
advantage with a flat statement
favoring the McNary- Haugen equal
ization fee method of farm relief,
Hoover would be hard pressed in
perhaps a half dozen states.
The terms of election, the farm
revolt states are only of secondary
Importance because of their rela-
lively small electoral vote. But if
Smith should make a clean sweep
of the large-vote doubtful Atlantic
seaboard states-which does not
now appear probable-the farm re
volt states then would become the
determining factor.
There is one more Slight posi-
bility, which as yet is in the stage
Of sheer rumor, that might add to
Norris detection and make the
situation really serious for Hoover.
Senator Hiram Johnson, progressive
I Republican of California and author
of the Boulder Dam bill, is reported
displeased by Hoover's failure to
commit himself on that bill.
If Unexpectedly johnson should
bolt Hoover he might be able in a
close election to swing California
and put a Democrat in the White
House, just as he kept Hughes from
the presidency in 1916.
All these offs" and "buts" simply
restate what has been known and
repeated from the beginning Of the
campaign, that Smith to win must
get all the breaks and defeat the
law of averages.
A L has got the two "breaks" so
[ N far. He has the popular Frank
lin D. Roosevelt, the Democratic gu
bernatorial candidate in New York,
which will help him materially to
carry his own state with its forty
five electoral votes. And now he
has won the support of Norris in
the west.
No one familiar with national
politics will discount the value Of
Norris support. First, he has the
affection and confidence Of the vot-
ers in his home state of Nebraska
to an almost unique degree. In the
last campaign he tried to retire from
the Senate, but the voters literally
would not let him do so.
Second, he is the unchallenged
heir of the late Senator La Toilette
of Wisconsin in the leadership Of
the bi-party progressive group in
congress and their followers. Scouts
of all parties, including Socialists,
report that Smith already tends to
have a stronger hold than Hoover
on the 100000 voters who sup
ported La Toilette in the last cleo
ton.
Undoubtedly Norris position win
confirm many La Follettites in their
inclination to vote for Smith, and
pull many other doubters in the
same direction.
Third, Norris will join with Smith
during this remaining fortnight in
fighting Hoover on the ground Of
the latter's New York speech at
tack on the alleged Socialism" Of
certain progressive measures. This
will tend to spread the effect Of
Norris detection beyond the linn
tied farm belt, where he is most
influential.
DESPITE these and other factors,
~ which show beyond doubt the
real value of Norris support of
Smith, it is highly improbable that
they car put Smith into the White
House with additional factors not
now in sight.
For Hoover roughly has 200 as
sured electoral votes to little more
than 100 for Smith, and the doubaul
western states where Norris infiu-
ence is greatest are overwhelmingly
dry. The exceptions are Wisconsin
and Missouri. In those two states
and in Nebraska and Montana, Nor
ris probably has given Smith
slight edge. But Kansas, Iowa and
Oklahoma will not be shaken.
Minnesota and the Dakotas are
more doubtful Most neutral OBJ
servers report a strong reaction
away from Smith because Of his
alleged equivocating stand on the
farm relief equalization fee. 1t is
as yet too early to gauge the full
effect of Norris bolt in those three
states. At the moment it appears
that Smith to win them must add
to his Norris strength by coming
out fatty for the equalization fee.
Naturally, that side of Wall Street
backing Smith and his other east
ern supporters will not let him tie
up to the equalization fee if they can
help it.
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