Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 64, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 November 1920 — GOV. SMITH PUT UP HARD BATTLE [ARTICLE]

GOV. SMITH PUT UP HARD BATTLE

New York Democrat Ran Farl Ahead of Cox and the Entire Ticket. WAS BEATEN BY LANDSLIDE Executive Set a Mark Never Before Equaled In Popular Election*— Defeated by Miller by the Plurality of 70,000. New York, Nov. 5. —Although defeated for re-election, Gov. Al Smith stands as the miracle man of American politics. Republicans and Democrats alike agree that the Democratic governor’s achievement of almost accomplishing his own election despite the more than 1,000,000 New York state landslide plurality for Senator Harding sets a mark never begore equaled In popular elections. Figures tell the tale of Gov. Smith’s remarkable run better than adjectives. For instance: Harding’s estimated state plurallty over Cox 1,200.000 Nathan Miller's estimated plurality over (Smith 70,000 Far Outran Own Ticket While Harding was carrying New York City by the unprecedented Republican avalanche of 434,130, thia same Democratic governor was lording It over Miller to the tune of 319,611. The complete figures for Greater New York show that Gov. Smith outran Cox in this astonishing fashion: Cox. Smith. Manhattan .130,007 208,602 Bronx 45,747 104,882 Brooklyn 110,120 244.582 Queens 35,270 70.022 Richmond 0,370 15,505 Total 345,535 700,740 Outside of this city, Harding's estimated plurality over Cox was 838,405, while Miller’s upstate plurality over Smith Is only 377,314. It wns only the strongly Republican rural districts that pulled Miller through. Dus to His Popularity. Much of Smith’s achievement undoubtedly Is due to his personal popularity, but there are various contributing causes, all of which combine to stamp Smith ns the acknowledged national leader of the badly shattered Democratic party. Smith already la being spoken of as the logical Democratic presidential candidate in 1024, and entern Democrats are bemoaning the fact thht ho was not the national standard-bearer this year. The governor Is the most popular political figure in New York state In many years. He is known and addressed by all as "Al.” He has come up from an orphan newsboy to governor of the greatest state in the Union. Republican papers candidly admit he has given the state a good, clean administration. His record was a great vote getter. Reasons for the Walkaway. Another great vote getter for Smith was Miller, his onponent. Millef, a former judge, maue a colorless campaign. Ho emphasized national issues; Smith kept to state Issues. Miller was accused of favoring the granting of 8 cent traction fares. He made only a half-hearted denial. Smith took the renters’ side of the housing situation; Miller held out little hope and was accused of siding with the landlords. Smith Is classified broadly as a Tammany man. But his conduct while governor has been so Independent that Tammany was not In any wise an Issue In the campaign. Smith had said Tammany had no mortgage on him. „• . There were various rumors that/ Tammany, while lukewarm on Cox, had made a secret trading deal with thes Republicans, switching Democratic votes to Harding In return for Republican votes for Smith.