Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-29
SMITH HITS BACK
AT POLITICAL. FOES
Candidate Retorts Sharply to
G. O. P. Claims and RaDs
Democratic BoIter.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
ALBANY. N. Y. July 28,--The YER
bal fireworks have begun to snap their
warnings of the approach Of presi-
Dental campaign, During the past
week Gov "Al" Smith. Democratic
hope and standard bearer. paused Ions
enough in the preparation of his speech
at his formal notification Of nomina-
ton to answer attacks from both Re-
publican and Democratic sources.
Optimistic statements from Senator
George H. Moses OF New Hampshire
head of the G.. o. P. campaign in the
East. were met with brief scorn by the
Democratic candidate. When Sena-
tor Moses predicted a breaking up OF
the solid South and the carrying of
New York by the Republicans. the gov
ernor merely remarked that II was an
OLD story--that he was used to Repub-
lican predictions of all sorts Of things
before election and was not at all con-
cerned over this latest of the crop.
Retort to Owen.
A member of his own party drew a
more formal and more biting retort.
This was former United States Sena-
tor Robert l.. Owen of Oklahoma, who
came out fatty for Hoover for presi-
dent. The governor was all set for
newspaper men i'll their daily confer
ence the next day with a brief mimeo-
graphed statement in which he laid
Senator owens action virtually to
sour grapes"
Senator Owens expressed hostility
to Tanmany Hall, according to the
governor. appeared to furnish basis for
questioning his sincerity. In 1924. the
governor declared, when the Demo-
cratic national convention was dead
locked in New York City. Senator
owen asked Gov. Smith 10 use his
influence TO swing Tammany Hall be-
hind Owen as a compromise candidate.
Another display Of the governors
campaign fireworks came in his charge
that the Census Bureau of Secretary
Hoover's Department of Commerce
was playing politics for effect In the
national campaign. This display came
with the publication of an analysis of
New York State expenditures. made by
the Census Bureau. showing huge in
crease since Gov Smith first took Of
fice. The governor declared the fig
ures "garbled" and added that who
ever got them up must have done so
for the purpose Of making political
capital without bothering to get the
facts straight"
With the date for his formal notifica-
ton settled as August %, the COVER
nor got down in earnest to prepare
ton of his notification speech. And
Albany got down in earnest to prepare
ton for handling one of the biggest
crowds in its experience and another
epoch making event In the history of
the old Dutch city. Until then the
governors campaign strategy calls for
allegiance of an active drive until after
his opponents have fired the opening
guns.
The governors plans call for an I'M
usually late start Of campaigning. His
notification takes place / days after
Hoover's and four days after that OF
the Republican vice presidential cam
didate. Senator Curtis. The late
start, however, is characteristic OF the
governors campaign methods. He
usually prefers to let the opposition
shoot its wad" FIRST.
The Republican campaign In the
East got definitely under way during
the week with the establishment by
Senator Moses of headquarters IN the
Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York
City. 1t was marked by harmony
which Senator Moses declared to be
at least foot thick" Senator Moses
was not explicit as TO his exact duties
in the coming campaign. but said that
one of his aims would be 10 "pry out
Of their seats" the seven Democratic
Senators up for reelection in the Sea-
board States.