The Washington times., 1936-10-03
SMITH BUILDS
LAND0N HOPES
|NNEW YORK
6. 0. P. Sees States
At Electoral Votes
Won for Kansan
BY EARL GOODWIN

Alfred E. Smiths speech indors-
ing Governor Landon for Presi-
dent, the most dramatic stroke Of
the campaign SO far, may be the
stroke which gives New York'S At
electoral votes to the Republican
candidate.
New York State is distinctly not
"in the bag" for President RooSe-
welt, and it is certainly not in the
same receptacle for Governor Lam
don. According to the political
sharks it is anybodys game up in
the Empire State and therefore
the Alfred E. Smith following may
be just the number of votes needed
to take the State away from
President Roosevelt.
Otherwise, political observers
around Washington are not so sure
that the Smith Endorsement of the
Republican candidate will have
widespread effect. But if it hurts
Roosevelt in New York State there
will be great rejoicing in the camps
of Governor Landon and former
Governor Alfred E. Smiths entour-
age where there is no love at all
for the New Deal.
Says Roosevelt No Regular"
The job Governor Smith had
was to show as many OF his old
faithful followers as possible that
the thing to do is to shut their eyes
and vote Republican. That's a
tough thing for a regular old-line
organization Democrat in New
York city to do, but Mr.. Smith led
up to this sacrificial duty by his
argument that President Roosevelt
is by no means a regular" Demo-
crat; that it would be no political
crime against Tammany this year
to ditch the So-called Democrats in
favor of Governor Landon.
If former Governor Smith has
been able to make dent in the
Democratic arnor up there in the
State where he was four times Gov"
ernor he will have done the thing
for which he was put forward. In
addition, Smiths voice may have
had considerable effect in Massa-
chusetts and in New Jersey.
Surprise to Public
The fact that he came out for
Governor Landon is the biggest
piece of political news so far in
the campaign. 1t is the first time
that the oldtimers here can re-
member a former presidential can
didate indorsing the candidate of
the opposition party. Observers
here believe that John w. Davis,
once a Democratic presidential
nominee, is heart and soul for the
Republican ticket right now-but
has so far refrained from saying
so. Should Mr.. Davis also put in
stroke for Landon-it certainly
would constitute record.
Some of those close to the
American Liberty League say that
while they expected Mr.. Smith
to indorse Landon sooner or later
they had not expected it to come
Thursday night. That last sem
tence Of Governor Smiths sur
prised nearly everybody. Most
people had expected him to lam
baSt the Roosevelt Administration
but did not expect a former
Democratic presidential candidate
to join hands with a Republican
presidential nominee.
Gossip has it that Smith was
trifle irritated because former
Senator James Reed of Missouri
had not gone all the way and in.
dorsed Landon and that he,
Smith, wanted to have no one
misunderstood that he is so OPP
posed to President Roosevelt that
he will lead procession Of
Democrats to vote for the opposi-
ton.
VOTE AMERICAN
William Gambler Killed
VALDOSTA. Ca, October 3.
William Gambler, A, youngest son
of Asa Gambler, ST.. the late At
lanta coca-cola millionaire, was
killed instantly last night in an
automobile crash ii miles east Of
here. En- route from Waycross.
Ca, to Valdosta, Chandler was
killed when the car he was driving
struck the edge of a culvert.
George Spence, of Atlanta, a pas
senger in the car, was injured.