The Wilmington morning star., 1944-10-05
Alfred E. Smith

Alfred E. Smith. the man with the brown
derby and cigar, who was elected governor
of New York four times and piled up con-
siderable popular vote against Herbert Hoover
when the Republican party was in the national
saddle, who was close adviser of Franklin
D. Roosevelt many years only to break with
him later, died yesterday after weeks illness
in New York.
| Probably no man, with the single exception
tant part in the political drama of our times
as he, a fact the more remarkable because
of his lowly origin and lack Of preliminary
training for the high position he attained in
the countrys affairs.
With personality that appealed to the mass
es, Mr.. Smith, after he became governor, often
was likened to Theodore Roosevelt because of
the powerful hard-hitting fighter he was when
once aroused. Another of the Rooseveltian char
acteristics which the governor possessed was
ability to readily answer nearly all questions
put to him and his habit Of coming epigranas
that caught popular fancy.
In the presidential campaign OF 1928 the
country at large had its first opportunity to
get a glimpse of the New York governor in
action. On his speaking tours he was received
by large and enthusiastic crowds everywhere
the demonstrations being similar to those with
which William Jennings Bryan was greeted
during his campaigns for the presidency.
Although Governor Smith was defeated for
the presidency by Herbert Hoover, political
M h,%n al 10 %ho
precedented vote that was polled in 1928. Mr.
Hoover's popular vote was approximately d.
943 900, while that given to Mr.. Smith was 49,
430 0O0 The total of more than 81, 900, 600 votes
was nearly 900 above the combined popu-
lar vote of Coolidge, Davis and La Toilette in
1924.
Governor Smith rose to the high place he at
tanned in his native state and in the nation
by his own initiative and through opportunities
that were Of his own making. 1t often was
said that he had little or no education. That
is true if educa alton be measured by the number
of days of actual attendance in the class room
But in the work and subject to which Governor
life-the science of government-none in his
OWL state was better versed and few states
men of the country had a wider knowledge of
national affairs.
| Like hundreds Of boys native to New York s
East Side, Governor Smith began his LIES
battle with no particular goal in view. His
father was in the trucking business and his
family was living in the moderate circum-
stances of most of their neighbors. Alfred was
10 when his father died and at that early age
necessity compelled him for the first time to
look upon life a serious business. He was
obliged to leave school, suddenly confronted
with the task of assisting in the support of
his mother and sister.
The boy just entering his teens, sold newspa-
pers on Park Row for a time. Then he got a
regular job, which he changed from time to
time, always with the object of getting the
most money for his labor in order to be of
greater help in his home.
Through those years of struggle Alfred Smith
maintained the CHEEKY disposition which mark
ed his entire life He took an active part in
the social life of his neighborhood, attracted
some attention in amateur theatricals staged
in the parish hall of his church and mean
while became one OF the most popular young
men OF his district. Tom Foley. the Tammany
district leader, recognized him as a political
asset of value and added strength to his own
leadership when he had young Smith appointed
as clerk in the office of the commissioners
of jurors
That was in 1895. The former governor con
tinued in his first political position until 1903,
When he was elected to the lower house If the
state legislature He was re elected year
after year until 1915, becoming democratic
leader OF the house in 1911 and speaker in
1913 He was one of the outstanding figures
IN the state constitutional convention of 1915
and the same year, having terminated his
legislative duties, began his three year term
as sheriff of New York County.
Ineligible by law to succeed himself in the
latter office, he was elected in November, 1917,
president of the Board of Aldermen of New
York City and held that office until his election
as governor in 1918. In that campaign Smith de-
feated Charles S. Whitman, who had served
two terms. Two years later Governor Smith
met his first political defeat when Nathan L.
Miller was carried into the governorship with
the Harding landslide, but the Democratic can
didatc ran 100000 votes ahead of his ticket.
AS Democratic candidate for president in
1925 Governor Smith made his 21st run for
public office and his defeat by President Hoov.
nr