Evening star., 1928-12-31

since the Civil War to be named on a
presidential ticket by either of the
major parties. and his selection was
regarded as a wise, strategic move.
Gov. Smith, on receiving word of mis-
nomination, rather upset the conven-
ton by a telegram in which he de-
clared he had not changed his opposi-
ton to the present prohibition laws
and methods of their enforcement. John
j. Raskob, chairman of the finance
committee of the General Motors Cor
poration, was made Democratic ma
tional chairman, and under his leader
ship the party, for the first time in
many long years, obtained ample funds
for the campaign.
Both candidates made several speak
ing tours, and for the first time radio
was used extensively in the campaign.
The people were thoroughly aroused,
and the religious issue, though depre-
Gated by the leaders of both parties,
would not down. 1t and also the pro-
hibition issue cut both ways. In the
Middle Western and Western States
the question of farm relief was played
up, but in the end it was overshad-
owed by the fact that the country in
general was exceedingly prosperous, and
the voters did not care to make an ex-
perimental change. Nor did most If
Government to q Tammany man and
his friends All in all, the prosperity
issue probably was the deciding factor.
Voters Go to Polls.
The American people, men and wom-
en-, went to the polls on November s
III unprecedented numbers, and when
their ballots had been cast Hoover and
Curtis carried 40 States with a total
of 444 electoral votes, and Smith and
Robinson had carried States, with 81
votes in the electoral college Hoover's
majority exceeded even that of Will
son in 1912. Moreover, he smashed
the solid South, winning Florida, Mary
land, New Mexico. North Carolina and
Texas. Smiths States were Alabama,
Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Massa-
chusetts. Mississippi. Rhode Island and
South Carolina. He failed to carry
New York, though Franklin Roosevelt
tDenocra) was elected governor of
that State. When the popular vote was
considered. the defeat of Smith did not
seem so humiliating. The total vote
cast was approximately $4,000, 900,
and of these Smith received about
$4,000, 900.
The Republicans made important
gains in both houses of Congress, so
that Mr. Hoover Is assured of legislative
support for his measures for at least
two years. Three more women we're
elected members of the lower house,
bringing the total to seven The only
Socialist in Congress, Representative
Berger of Wisconsin, was defeated.
Oscar de Priest, who ran as a Repub-
lican in Illinois, was the first negro
elected to the House in 35 years.
Two weeks after the election Mr..
Hoover sailed from San Pedro Calf, on
a, good will tour of the republics of
Central and South America that was
to last about two months, and he an
that he would not select his
cabinet until after his return. On his
trip he was received everywhere with
by the officials and people |
of the countries visited and it was be- |
lieved the tour would do much to ce-
ment the friendly relations between |
the Latin American nations and the
United States
Legislation for naval construction, |
flood control and farm relief occupied
much time in Congress from the first of I
the year. The first, as finally passed, |
provided for the construction of Is |
cruisers and one plane carrier and car |
ried $364,000,000. In the matter of flood |
control President Coolidge insisted that |
the States especially interested must |
share the COST. and the measure. adopted.