Rubuta ci gaba ga wannan sakin layi - Smith ya kasance memba na Jam'iyyar Democrat. Ya yi nasara ba tare da nasara ba ga Babban Shari'ar Wisconsin a 1879. Ya kasance wakili a 1880 Democratic National Convention
da kuma 1888 Democratic National Convention. Daga baya, ya yi aiki a Majalisar Dokokin Wisconsin a 1892.