Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-23
HUNDREDS CHEER
AS SMITH SPEAKS
Cry of "AI Is Greater Than
Them All" Reflects Albany
Crowds Sentiment.
Continued from First Page

! President. and Senator Pittman of Ne
! vada. chairman OF the notification COM
mittee: Gov. Ritchie of Maryland and
/ Chairman John j. Raskob of the Dem
ocratic national committee. whose duty
/ it was to preside. The great majority
/ Of the Democrats there gathered had
never seen the new chairman before,
and there was much craning of necks to
! get a look at him
A few minutes later in came Gov
Smith himself, dcbonairc and friendly
| The band struck up The Sidewalks Of
| New York" the crowd howled and
| hoWlcd. He was escorted by Col. Edwin
| A. Halsey. sergeant-at-arms of the
| Democratic national convention. and the
governor smiled and threw them kisses.
Finally after the demonstration had
been under way several minutes, in pam
| tomime as amusing as 1t was effectual
| Gov. Smith hushed the throng much rs
! he might have quoted child.
Many Leaders Present.
| Many members of the Democratic ma
! tional committee were present, as well
| as members Of the notification commit
| tee. Among the Senators who put i'll an
| appearance. in addition to Robinson and
! Plttman. were Senators David |. walsh
! of Massachusetts, Wagner of New York
| Gerry OF Rhode Island and Tydings OF
! Maryland Almost as many women were
| in the Assembly chamber as there were
| men.
| Half hundred cameramen trained
| their outfits on the governor and other
| distinguished Democrats. Gov. Smith and
| Senator Robinson obligingly posed be-
/ fore the instrument which was to flash
| their likeneSSeS on screens miles away
ion y In
| the accent of the sidewalks of New
| York" ,as he read his address. particu-
| larry when he became most earnest, But
| II his "firSts' sounded sometimes like
'foisted" and he said Itch no man,
never once did he lack dignity and never
| once did the auditors lose the impress
| sion that they were listening to an out
! standing character in public life oi
! America today.
! His address was frequently interrupte
| by cheers and applause. The most pro-
| longed applause he received came to-
| ward the close Of his address when he
| declared that he owed his nomination
| to no man or to no set of men and that
| he would not be influenced by wet or dry,
! wealth or church in making his APP
| pointments to office il he were elected
| President. The crowd recognized in a
| those who haze charged he was merely
a Tammany tool and that he would be
| influenced in his administration by his
| church.
| Promise Brings Applause.
Just before he tackled the prohibition
question. the governor reached over and
| took large drink of ice water. The
crowd followed his discussion of the
wet and dry issue with kceneSt attcn-
! ton His declaration that If elected he
would rigidly enforce the dry laws was
received with louder applause than his
| plan for the amendment of the eight
zenith amendment and the modification
OF the Volstead act The real Signiii-
canoe OF the proposal TO amendment OF
the Constitution seemingly did not Sir9
in at once. No one applauded more
vigorously the governors declaration he
would enforce the dry laws than did
Senator Robinson, his running mate.
The crowd sensed hit at Herbert
Hoover when Gov Smith. discussing
Mississippi flood relief. said he would
tackle the problem of flood prevention
and added, An ounce of prevention Is
worth pound of tirSt-aid relief, There
was laughter as well as applause.
AT the conclusion of his formal ac-
ceptance address. Gov. Smith went 20
the platform OH the Capitol steps To say
| few words OF appreciation to the
| thousands who had stood in the raiE
and 10 thank them. He was greeted
with tremendous cheers
The comments of leading Democrats
on Gov. Smiths speech gave him much
praise. Some of the most prominent
dry Democrats of the South however
were conspicuous by their absence last
night One dry. however. not only was
present but had much to say in praise
of the party candidate, though he did
amend the dry laws. II was Charles
NJ. Hay. Democratic nominee for the
Senate from Missouri He said in part
the speech presents Gov. Smith "a
the country as a big, broad progressive
Democrat II Is shot through with the
spirit Of Woodrow Wilson.
Disagrees ON Prohibition.
Gov. Smiths discussion of the
agricultural problem should enthuse
every advocate of farm relief III the
country. His presentation of the water
power and utilities questions should be-
a rallyiug cry to every progressive citi-
zen. His views on international Issues
should command the support Of all who
love peace and who believe i'm preServ-
ing Americas time honored policies In
international affairs He shows a
masters grasp OF the practical workings
| Of government,
While / do not agree with his pro-
poSals TO modify the prohibition policy,
| respect him for his frankness and
straightforwardnesS in dealing with the
questions ! was particularly impressed
with his manifest sincerely and earnest
ness In declaring his determination, IL
elected To enforce the law and to stamp
out ruthleSSly the corruption now pre-
venting honest enforcement. In my
Judgment If the present administration
had approached and discharged the en-
forcement task in that spirit there
would be no liquor issue in American
politics today. Gov Smith rightly and
frankly recognizes that the question of
amendment Of the present policy is up
to Congress and the people while him
self recommending some changes in the
law He pledges honest and vigorous
enforcement Such enforcement will
In my Judgment solve the whole prob
lem
Norman T. Mack. national commit
tecman for New York, one OF the wet
test of the vets, also gave his hearty
approval To the governors speech.
1T was fine said Mack; 1t was
clear and understandable To every one.
lie deals with the Issues tcarlesSiy
agree lt0 per cent with his views and
proposals u, the dry laws. What we
want is temperance We do not want
the saloon back"
Harper Lauds speech.
Col Robert NJ Harper of Washington
assistant treasurer of the Democratic
national committee. said
Gov Smith has demonstrated a real
grasp Of national affairs and issues, lie
has shown he IS not provincial He
has proved himself man of broad
analytical mind His proposal for local
| option, MS ! interpret his recommended
| tons with regard To the dry laws. Is