National Affairs: Wet and Wetter

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Manhattan on his way to Europe, proposed to publish the Smith voting record the day he sailed. The New York Evening Post (Republican) anticipated him. It, too, had exhumed the record.. While awaiting Nominee Smith's reply to the subtlest, heaviest attack he had yet suffered in his greatest campaign, voters had an opportunity to scrutinize the subject-matter of the controversy. Sample items of Assemblyman Smith's record of votes (1903-15) are as follows: Liquor A vote (1904) to except hotels from the provisions of a local option bill. A vote (1905) to except New York City from the places affected by a bill giving local option to districts where 40% of the voters might petition for it. Also, three votes against this whole bill at various stages of its passage. A vote (1906) against a bill providing local option by petition of a simple majority of the voters of a district. Votes (1914, 1915) against bills providing for the creation, by popular vote, of anti-saloon territory, and enforcement of prohibition within such territory. Votes (1915) to stifle in committee bills providing for a state referendum on prohibition. Votes (1907-11) to provide exceptions to the laws prohibiting sale of liquor within 200 feet of a church or school. A vote (1911) for extending the hours when liquor might be sold.

Gambling

Votes (1908) both for and against bills providing prison sentences for racetrack gamblers. Votes (1910) against two bills tightening the gambling laws.

Sunday Laws

Votes (1907, 1910, 1911, 1915) to legalize Sunday baseball. A vote (1909) against Sunday theatre performances. A vote (1910) in favor of letting Jews keep their stores open on Sunday. When Editor White said that Assemblyman Smith had voted for "The Scarlet Woman of Babylon," he was stretching a point. But he had some basis of fact to go on. There used to be a fine distinction between hotels and saloons. Half-saloon, half-hotel were the assignation houses which evaded the intent of an act known as the Raines law, by renting regularly a specified number of bedrooms and handing out sandwiches or "free lunch" with drinks in lieu of serving meals. The Smith record included votes to enable such establishments to continue in business. At no time, of course, did he vote for organized bawdy houses of the white slave trade. . . . Still awaiting the Smith reply, voters were reminded that Editor White in a magazine piece which he sold two years ago said: "Smith has exactly the same faults and virtues as marked Jackson and Lincoln. . . . Because Cleveland, Mc-Kinley, Roosevelt and Coolidge knew the game—the dirty game if you will—they avoided many pitfalls and were able to walk with the children of light much further than they would have walked had they not learned much from the angels of darkness. . .." "Smith took orders from Tammany until he was able to give orders . . . and when he went to the New York State Constitutional Convention [1915] he was fairly free."