7 JULY 1928, Page 6

True, he is a Roman Catholic and he is "

wet," but though these facts would have told decisively against any other man in a Democratic Convention, they were consumed in the blaze of Mr. Smith's popularity. It is hardly likely, however, that Mr. Smith will become President. Even if he can count on the " Solid South " and on his own State of New York, he must somehow or other get about 100 votes in the Electoral College from representatives of the East and the West, and he can hardly do it. One is tempted to think that there will be a succession of Republican victories till some principle which really divides the two great parties is discovered. It may be the tariff or drink or agriculture or the negro question, but at present not one of these problems has been elevated into a really dividing issue.