News of the Week
EVEN the most recklessly hopeful of Mr. Hoover's friends had not expected such a smashing Republican victory as has been gained in the American Presidential election. Mr. Hoover scored 444 Votes against the 87 for Mr. Al Smith. The Democratic vote was the lowest on record. The solid South was broken up ; the Pro- gressive States returned to the Republican fold ; even New York State was unmoved by the frenzied worship of Mr. Al Smith as practised in New York City. It looks as though the Democratic Party will not return a President again until the tide of American prosperity ebbs to low water, or until some truly dividing political question con- vulses the country. Prohibition might have been made that issue at the election of this week. But although Mr. Smith daringly proclaimed himself an anti-Prohibitionist, he did not persuade the Democrats, as a Party, to declare against Were lob -itilch .afraid of the whole subject. Mr. Hoover, again, though he is reckoned a Prohibitionist, dick not take a strong line. He described Prohibition as a noble experiment (which many anti Prohibitionists would agree to call it) and he added some- thing about the law being the law—to which sentiment all good citizens would subscribe. The women's vote, however, is believed to have been distinctly Prohibitionist.
