Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-07
OPINION IS VARIED
ON SMITHS GAINS
New York Frankly Divided on
Result of Nominees
Western Trip.
ep.ci,l nlspatch 70 rn. stAr.

Special Dispatch to me Star.
ALBANY. N. Y. october 6.-The
eject of Gov Smiths FIRST speaking
campaign in his fight for the presi-
6ency was the chief topic Of conversa-
ton In political circles here this week,
following his arrival back in Albany,
after swing as far west as Denver.
The sum and substance of the whole
discussion seems TO be that there is a
decided and honest difference of opin-
ion. Democratic politicians and news
papers throughout the State profess q
belief that the governor sold himself
to the West and Middle West. and in
fnitely increased his presidential stock.
Others See Cause Hurt.
On the other hand. there are many
who are open in their declaration that
the governor did nothing to help him
self and many others go so far as to
express the belief that he even injured
his chances in some sections and by
certain of his speeches. A number of
the Republican or Independent Re-
publican papers have expressed the idea
editorially. -,..t
The adverse critics of the governors
frst presidential swing say serious
mistake was made when Smith turned
his Oklahoma City speech into an at
tack on bigotry This was pretty gen.
orally conceded to have been done con-
trary to the urging of some of the
governors advisers and general re-
action was Immediately felt here in
New York. where thousands listened in
on radio sets
Frankly. the governors handling of
the whole subject Of religious bigotry
and "the whispering campaign" has
been q feature of his personal campaign
that has been very strongly criticized
here.
Many Regret Course.
He has given far too great attention
to this sort of campaigning" many
believe. Mailing lie" was the title
of n1ineographed document issued by
the governor which brought into the
light Of full publicity letter by some
unknown woman concerning the gov
ernor'S alleged condition at the State
fair at Syracuse this Fall. The story
was palpably false. At best it would
have had very limited circulation so
far as this woman was concerned
until the governor sent it broadcast to
the Nation. Those who would believe
such a tale would believe it any way
regardless Of the governors denial.
His critics say and his denial simply
probably would otherwise have heard
anything about it.
Whispering campaigns are by no
means new IN presidential years-or
other years, for that matter, where
Presidents are concerned. And one
student of politics in the Capitol the
other day brought out from an authori-
tative biography Of Cleveland that
Presidents bitter remarks on a calunny
spread about him by Tammany Hall
When 1t comes to conducting a
whispering campaign" this man said,
"tlla governors own political organiza-
tien has shown itself to be past
master in the art"
AS recently as Thursday of this week
: Gov. Smith criticized his Republican
opponents in New York State as being
= Salways on the defense" Their talk, he
said, was music to his ears" for it was
defensive talk. This is exactly why the
governors critics say they are opposed
to his unusual attention to the "wi1is-
pering campaign" 1T puts him continu-
ally on the defensive.
But 20 return to the Western speak
! ing trip and its reception here in the
governors State, Republican newSpa-
pers sum up the results In this on some
of the larger issues:
Farm relief: The first speaking trip
brought out nothing new from the
governor on this and left the farmers
Just as much In the dark as to what he
would actually do as ever.
Prohibition: A hopeless argument for
him, even if he were to be elected be-
cause of his powerlessness to do any,
thing personally to change the situation
in any way.
Holds State Party in Hand.
That the governor remains the actual.
all-powerful leader of his party in his
own State was ably demonstrated by the
Democratic State convention last Mon
day and Tuesday The delegates and
even the leaders we're completely up in
the air as to the person they would
select as candidate for governor until
Gov. Smith arrived to indicate his
choice. In the face of repeated declara-
tons that he could not possibly serve as
a candidate because of his health-he
Is slowly recovering from an attack of
ir1fantile paralysis-Franklln D. Roose-
welt. former Assistant Secretary of War
under Wilson, three times 1lomtnatoT of
Smith for President, stanch supporter
of the governor in all hts policies, finally
agreed to take the nomination, If it
came by reclamation.
Smith sent out the word that the cam
didate was to be Roosevelt, Two-thirds
of the delegates went home right away
and the other third went through the
forma1ity Of naming Roosevelt.
= There probably could have been
selected no candidate to head the State
ticket who could b1 calculated to lend
better strength to Smiths presidential
run in New York.
one more sideligf1t on the national
convention is slowly poking its CLEAN
out from under the bushel here. That
is the increasing by evident fact that
Gov. Smith is becoming more and more
disturbed over Mr. Hoover's method OF
campaigning. Candidate Hoover" pune
tuated all Of the governors campaign
speeches at frequent intervals, but Can
didate Smith" has never heard from the
+; @. o. P. standard bearer. 1t Is a method
of campaigning that Is evidently new u
Tamnany Hall and the governor is said
10 feel increasingly as If he we're talk
ing against a stone wall"