Finale

National figures were few in the closing days of the Democratic campaign. John William Davis kept at it over the radio. James Middleton Cox strove along the Border. George Herman ("Babe") Ruth, famed baseballer, repeatedly told Midwesterners to disregard the Wall Street odds. "Don't forget Wall Street bet 3 to 1 against the Yankees in the World Series. Wall Street will be wrong again."

Newton Diehl Baker, a different type of speaker, was the man upon whom the Democrats had originally counted to persuade Missouri. But Mr. Baker, on his way to St. Louis three weeks ago, was stricken with acute neuritis and nervous fatigue. He had to get off his train, at midnight, and return to Cleveland where, last week, he was still abed.

Water power, plus farm relief, minus Volstead modification, was the pro-Smith formula of Senator Norris of Nebraska (TIME, Nov. 5). He followed through with it strongly last week throughout the Northwest. He converted his Dry wife but earned the pious fury of the Anti-Saloon League.

The other Smith Progressive Senator, John James Elaine of Wisconsin, added his voice to the confused excitement in Chicago (see p. 12). He accused the Republicans of "whispering their anthem of 'Rum, Rags and Romanism.' "

In New York, chief campaigners were Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and Mayor James John Walker. The latter dropped in at a hotel where Mrs. Smith was being given a banquet and a diamond-studded vanity case by 1,000 civic-minded women. Mayor Walker kissed Mrs. Smith twice and before hurrying away, cried out: "I leave behind my congratulations for this recognition of the most beautiful flower in this garden of womanhood, Mrs. Alfred E. Smith."

The Walker campaign technique was to assail the Whispering Campaign and to make insinuations about the Hoover "Britishness." He referred to Hoover's not voting in the U. S. until after he was 40. "They talk about me being late. Well, there's one thing, anyway, I wasn't late at," said Mayor Walker.