National Affairs: Miscellaneous Mentions: Feb. 28, 1927

Republicans in the New York State legislature have a majority in both houses. They have used it to vex Governor Alfred Emanuel Smith on every possible issue. Last week they adopted an amendment to the state constitution for a four-year term for Governors with elections in presidential years. This amendment will go to the voters for ratification or rejection in November. Governor Smith, knowing well that a Republican candidate for governor has a good chance of defeating the most potent Democrat in presidential years,* says he will take the stump next autumn to fight the amendment. He wants the elections for Governors held in nonpresidential years, demands that national and state issues be separated. Assemblyman Hutchinson, Republican, replied to him: “The Governor, in his rich barroom voice, has been appealing to the people of the State on a national issue, Prohibition. That rich barroom voice of the Governor makes the people of the State thirsty, and I must confess that it makes me thirsty, too. It is just as appealing as the voice of the hog callers. The hog caller calls and the swine come running to him.” Snarled Assemblyman Bloch, Democratic leader: “Never having lived with pigs, I don’t understand how pigs work.” Dry Senator William Edgar Borah of Idaho challenged. Wet Dr. Nicholas Murray Butler of Manhattan accepted. They will debate on Prohibition at the Roosevelt Club of Boston April 8.

*For example, in the Harding landslide of 1920, Nathan L. Miller defeated Mr. Smith by a few votes, even though the latter ran 1,000,000 votes ahead of the Democratic national ticket.