America’s Big Day

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 504, 6 November 1928, Page 1

America’s Big Day

VOTING FOR PRESIDENT

Women Exercise Leap-Year Right

THIS is America’s big day. ~ . J’lie election of President—already productive of one a al exercise of gun-play—closes this evening on a trail of political bitterness and intense personal feeling. America elects a President every leap year, and for ve \e months before the final polling date a heated battle is waged throughout all States, and world-wide interest is displayed m the contest.

I'HE system upon which the President is chosen is exceedingly complicated. Actually, the people in each State appoint electors to a “college of electors,” and this college in turn votes for the Presidency. Theoretically, the college posseses unlimited powers of choice, but in practice its members only reflect the voice of the people, because they are appointed to the college on a pledge to support a definite candidate for the Presidency.

j Long before the election a “straw,” or preliminary, ballot is taken throughout the country on behalf of the parties, and an indication—usually fairly accurate—is gained as to how the people will vote when the election date arrives. These “straw” ballots are surprisingly informative, and are implicitly relied upon by the people as Indicative of the result. In the present contest there are two aspirants to America's highest administrative office—Mr. Herbert Hoover, the nomine- of the Republican Party, the “Grand Old Party,” originally formed by George Washington, and Mr. Alfred (“Al”) Smith, the Democratic Party’s candidate. The parties differ very slightly In their fundamentals, though on this occasion the questions of tariff, prohibition apd religion have assumed grotesque proportions in the fight and have separated the people into two j distinct groups. WOMAN’S VOICE | Since 1920 there has been more than ordinary, significance in the fact that the presidential elections are held In leap year. Women the world over have claimed the right to express themselves—more so than ever during leap year, when the feminine privilege Is universally recognised—and the women voters of America are expected to play a prominent role in to-day’s poll. Approximately 58,000,000 people are eligible *to vote, of whom 28,500,000, or 49 per cent., are women, and it is forecasted from the various States that the exercise of the women’s suffrage on this occasion will reach an unprecedentedly high figure—particularly on the prohibition issue. Reviews of the campaigning which have trickled through from America in the past few days indicate favouritism for Mr. Hoover, one estimate giving him 63 per cent, of the votes. The supporters of Mr. Smith are claiming equal chances of a win, how-

ever, and the issue must be in doubt till to-day. The president, who must be elected by a majority of 266 college votes to retain office, receives 75,000 dollars (£15,000) a year, and an allowance of 25,000 dollars a year for expenses. Each Minister —called a secretary—receives 12,000 dollars (£2,400) a year.

NO PREDICTIONS AL. SMITH “ALL RIGHT” GUARDS IN CHICAGO (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) (United Service) Reed. 10.5 a.m. NEW YORK, MonGovernor Al Smith feels “all right” about the outcome of the Presidential election on Tuesday, but he is not making any predictions. Two women are included in the 122 candidates who will contest the 37 Senate seats in 33 States. Four hundred and fifty members of the House of Representatives are to be elected from 950 candidates, including 18 women, while 124 candidates will contest 34 States for governor. It is estimated that the total popular vote will be 35,000,000. The Chicago Board of Election Commissioners, with a view to preventing “ballot stuffing” and other untoward incidents at the polls on Tuesday, are mobilising 15,000 official and volunteer watchers to guard the election. JUDGE SHOT DEAD FATAL ELECTION DUEL KNIVES AND REVOLVERS (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) NEW YORK, Sunday. Judge R. Thomas, of the City Court at Jesup, Georgia, was shot dead by the deputy-sheriff, Madray, at the end of a duel with knives and revolvers in the street. The encounter was caused by the judge calling Madray an “Al. Smith man.” Both men were supporters of Mr. Herbert Hoover, the Republican candidate for the Presidency, and Madray took exception to Judge Thomas’s aspersions upon his loyalty as a fit manager in the campaign on behalf of Mr. Hoover. Madray was slashed in the duel, but his wounds are not serious. I The incident indicates how badly j split the Democrat Party is in the j Southern States, where hitherto Re- ; publican sentiment has never been i known to exist.