"Octopus!"

It had been expected for weeks. Democrats had banked on it. Republicans had tried to forfend its effects. It might have been an anticlimax after so much anticipation. But the Hoover cry of "Social ism!" in New York last fortnight re charged the atmosphere. It was electric when it came last week -- the Norris cry of "octopus!" in Nebraska.

George William Norris has been a Senator from Nebraska for 15 years. Before that he served ten years in the House. So cynical an observer as Frank R. Kent of the Baltimore Sun calls him "the most honest Senator." He sits on the Republican side; he is chairman of the Judiciary Committee, but only because the Republicans have sought him, have courted his influence. Actually he is and has always been totally independent, quieter than his late friend Senator LaFollette, firmer than his ponderous friend Senator Borah. Something unbending, something chilled by logic, leads him to conclusions whither not even political hotheads will follow, such as the abolition of the "lame duck" sessions of Congress and direct popular election of the President without benefit of politics.

For one of his years-old proposals Senator Norris last year finally did get sup port. Congress passed his bill to have the United States retain and operate its power and nitrate plants at Muscle Shoals, Ala. President Coolidge killed the bill by pocket-veto. Nominee Hoover embraced the Coolidge policies. Nominee Smith's stand for government control of water power is as well known as his first name. In addition, the Federal Trade Commission discovered to what extent the power lobby had been manipulating to make water power safe for privateers. The Republican platform and acceptance speech ignored, the Democratic platform and acceptance speech denounced, these manipulations.

For Senator Norris, to whom water power was the dominant issue, there was only one course. Last week, from the same platform in Omaha where Nominee Smith was first introduced to the mid lands, he declared himself a Smith man and made the power trust a campaign monster.

"A gigantic octopus" he called it. "The greatest monopolistic organization that has ever been puttogether by human ingenuity. With its slimy fingers it reaches into every community and levies its tribute upon every fireside."

He recited the nationwide propaganda methods of the National Electric Light Association and the American Gas Asso ciation affecting commercial clubs, boy scouts, women's clubs, public schools, pul pits, colleges, the public press. "This trust is in politics from the White House down to the school district!" he cried.

"It remained for Governor Smith, a voice that reverberated from ocean to ocean and from Lake to Gulf to denounce . . . and to condemn. . . ."

Other Norris reasons were farm relief and the oil scandals. He disagreed on prohibition, but defended the likelihood of honest enforcement by Nominee Smith.

There are only eight electoral votes in Nebraska. But farmers went from many states around to hear the speech. Radio carried it still further. Republicans in the Dakotas, Iowa and Minnesota followed Norris "out of camp." President H. G. Keeney of the Nebraska Farmers Union, oldtime Republican, presided at the Omaha meeting.

Mrs. Norris said: "I am not following George in all this. I am not going to vote for Smith even if George does, and I am not going to vote for Hoover, either. . . . I have always been a dry. . . ."

Republicans said that she thus expressed what would be the most general result of her husband's speech. They took comfort from an editorial in LaFollette's Magazine by Youngest Senator LaFollette of Wisconsin, to whom Senator Norris is a political foster-father. Senator LaFollette flayed Nominee Hoover and said : "Governor Smith has made public declarations and definite commitments which are in substantial accord with the progressive view on water power, farm relief, the in junction in labor disputes, corruption in the public service and abuse of the presi dential power in Nicaragua." But he did not actually say he would vote Democratic.

Democrats, however, regarded Wisconsin and now Nebraska as won.