TIGER-HUNTING SON

Perhaps for the first time in history the Republican Party, George Jean Nathan, and H. L. Mencken are in approximate agreement. For some years ago, when the latter announced their platform as nominees for President and Vice-President of the United States, in Smart Set, they advocated that all living members of the Roosevelt family be sent to Leavenworth. It would seem that the big-wigs of the Grand Old Party to a man would wish at least one were safely there now, for Trotsky preaching Bolshevism on the White House lawn could scarcely produce stronger consternation or disapprobation than that occasioned by Colonel Roosevelt's recent tirade against Governor Smith at the Republican State Convention in Rochester, New York.

Colonel Roosevelt led a typical attack on Tammany graft and Governor Smith as the leader of Tammany, who had allowed "the Red Light District to crawl to the very steps of the State Capital." His charges were almost wholly unfounded, but that is to be expected in any political utterance of the kind. Its relative lack of truth was not what caused Republican leaders hastily to wipe their hands of the whole affair.

Colonel Roosevelt's sin was not belittling Smith but in the crudity of his tactics. Smith can always be trusted to give back more than he receives in an open fight. Opponents of his presidential candidacy only defeat their own ends by giving him a chance to hit back. A successful fight will not be directed against his governorship--he has done his gubernatorial duties too well. It must rather deal in obscure appeals to racial and religious prejudice; if it hopes to attract either vigorous denial or assent.

A half dozen speeches violently critical of Governor Smith's record at Albany, might, if anything, rather tend to strengthen his cause: or at least they would not be of more worth than a few double-edged remarks as to the functions of the Apostolic Delegate in Washington. The public knows that in spite of the assertions of Messrs Mills and Roosevelt New York is a well-run state, but a certain portion of the voting public will always exult a mention of the vague menace which might somehow be said to emanate from the Vatican.

No, Colonel Theodore Roosevelt's tirade against the Tiger of Tammany and the ghost of Tweed incarnate in Governor Smith was not only untrue, it was political blunder of the worst kind. It is better for the opposition not to meet Smith face to face but rather to direct Fabian warfare on his friends, relations, and religion.