The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-11-07
KEEPING UP
With
THE NE WIS
BY LUDWELL DENNY

BY LUDWELL DENNY
Copyright. Scripps-Howard Newspapers.
1929
WTASHINGTON, Nov. 7.Prosper-
w ity, prohibition and Protest.
antism have triumphed over Alfred
E. Smith. He lost the bitterest and
most devastating presidential cleo
ton since the Civil war.
1t was not so much a personal
victory for Herbert Hoover. nor
Democratic party defeat, as it was
popular uprising against the wet,
Catholic New Yorker. 1t broke the
solid south.
Hoover'S election haG been dis
counted by political prophets and
Wall Street a month ago. but such
a sweep was unforeseen.
The whole significance of this
election is in the distinction between
the anticipated Hoover victory and
that great unexpected undertow
which made it deluge.
For Hoover could have won fairly
easily on his own popularity and on
the prosperity issue-as was demon
strated repeatedly III the pre-elec-
ton surveys. But Tuesdays crash
ing returns can be explained only
by adding prohibition and Protest
antism as the drive of millions of
voters.
The proof of this is that many
Democratic presidential candidates
notably John w. Davis, four years
ago-have battered unsuccessfully
at the same Republican prosperity
wall, but not one of them was struck
from behind by the south.
THIS unique experience is all the
Il more significant because it
happened to one of the most dra-
matte figures in American history.
One of the ablest campaigners, one
of the greatest executives, and a
born leader Of men against whom
there was no personal reproach.
But more.
Not only was Smith personally
considered by the Democratic con-
vention but by his Republican OPP
ponents as the most widely popular
candidate the Democrats could pick.
There was the equally impor-
tant factor of campaign organiza-
ton and money. Never before have
the Democrats had such an effective
and far-reaching organization.
Never before have they had such a
large campaign fund. Never before
we're they able to utilize the brains
and ability Of so many financiers
and big industrialists.
Lump together Smiths extraor-
binary personal power and political
skill, his support by Republican
business conservatives like Raskob
and by Republican progressives like
Norris and Blaine, and then add his
superb organization and huge cam
paign chest. Only by measuring
that great Smith strength can one
conceive the magnitude of the coun-
ter force, which crushed it almost
without effort.
Making every allowance for ex-
aggeration on "the morning after"
the most skeptical must admit that
something revolutionary has hap
pened in our national life when
Richmond, Va, the capital of the
Confederacy, strikes down the
Democratic candidate; when At
lanta, Ca, does likewise; when half
the states in the south try to do
the same.
XTHAT was this force, this popu-
wv lar uprising? There can be
no doubt that it was prohibition and
evangelical Professionalism. But no
one ever will know-least of all the
voters themselves, perhaps which
was the greater force, the protest
against Smith the wet or the fear of
Smith the Catholic.
Two such issues, which have
proved themselves so fundamental
in the lives of many millions OF
Americans, are expected to con-
tinue as basic political factors in
the congressional elections two years
hence and in the next presidential
election.
But the politicians of both parties
will do all in their power to side
track the religious issue as thing
far too dangerous for any party or
for the country to raise.
That leaves prohibition. 1t looks
now as though that has become the
popular national issue. Neither the
Democratic nor Republican poll
ticians wished to face that issue in
this election, because both parties
are divided hopelessly on it. But
with the aid of Smith, the people
wet and dry-made it major cam
paign issue, despite the politicians
and party platforms. 1t is difficult
to see now how that issue longer
can be disguised.
For the vets today are not will
ing to admit that Smith was buried
because of his modificationist views.
They think a Protestant wet as a
presidential candidate next time can
win.
The war is not over, this is only
the first battle and tomorrow is
another day-so say the vets.