The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY. APRIL 14. 1928.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 April 1928, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY. APRIL 14. 1928.

an election problem. The Presidential election in tlie United States is sure, period by period, to excite a tremendous amount of interest in America, while all round the world much interest is centred in the event because of the months of boosting: Ptivon the election bv the cable news detailing every aspect of the occasion. The present contest promises to be a greater problem than usual because of the many side esues brought to the surface. America promises to be well thrilled before the event is finally concluded, and the country should receive much for its money in the great cost of the event alike to countiT and parties, to determine the very complex issues which are being from time to time unfolded. As a contemporary puls ft, the American political world is convulsed just now by the preliminary struggles over the Presidential nominations, and the

careful analysis of, the situation recently cabled from New York may help' our readers to comprehend the principal points at issue. The general impression produced by the summary is that the outcome of the contest is still entirely problematical. One able American critic lias said that “it all depends which party will blunder most” during the next few mouths, and >o far neither Democrats nor Republicans can claim that their tactics

have been irreproachably sound or well calculated to inspire confidence in their ultimate success. So far as the Republicans are concerned. Mr Goolidge, in -spite of his somewhat forbidding and unattractive personality, was undoubtedly the party’s strongest candidate. As lie is now “out of the picture,” the choice seems to lie hetwee* Mr Hoover. Mr Dawes. and M Hughes. Of those Mr Hoover, though

nil able administrator and organiser, is neither impressive nor popular; Mr Dawes, though he is the Vics-Presidcni is too closely connected with the great financial interests to carry much public support; and Mr Hughes, who lias a splendid public record, is too exclusive, too “doctrinaire." and too much of a “high-brow” to appeal to the masses. There is a chance for Mr Lowden, of Illinois, who appears as “the farmers’ friend,” and is supported by Mr Dawes himself. But the rival population of the Middle "West is not strong enough politically to carry an election against the Eastern States, and Mr Lowden a present is no more than a poxsihilit Meantime the indefatigable Mr Borah has disconcerted friends and enemies alike by forcing Prohibition to the front, and the Republicans resent just as much as the Democrats the inter- | volition of the senator from Idaho with his test question for “wets” and “drvs,” cutting across all th'e vital is-

sues of the campaign. On the Democratic side the situation is in one sense much clearer, for there is only one candidate who on his political merits has much chance of holding the party together and securing solid supprt. Governor A. Smith, of New York —known to the whole American nation as “Al. Smith”—is incomparably the ablest and most experienced of the Democratic candidates in a political sense. But he is a “wet” and a Roman Catholic apd therefore in the eyes

of millions of Americans be is impossible; while though lie is personally honest and incorrigible, his long a-so-oiation with Tammany Hall lias injured lii.s reputation. His strongest o]>poiient, Air AleAdoo, who is “dry,” has been to some extent involved in the recent, oil scandals. Air Walsh, of .Montana. who has keen foremost in the onslaught on “tainted money,” is another “dry,” but lie is also a Catholic. Altogether, the general impression in America is that Al Smith is the only man who can save the Democratic party from defeat and possible.destruction next June.