The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-06-11
Al SMITH TAKES SWING AT BRYAN
 0N DRY QUESTION.
Issues Reply To Long Article On Prohibition As Cam
 paign Issue

ALBANY, N. Y, June 1o.-Gov. Al Smith of New York swung at Will liam Jennings Bryan, with prohibit statement issued here Sunday night on the eve of the governors de- parture for French Lick. Ind.
 The statement was Smiths reply to long article by Bryan published Sunday in which the commoner an- swered five questions concerning prohibition as an issue in the next presidential campaign. It was the first grapple or two Titans of the democratic party on the matter of state rights" prohibition.
 MT. Bryan shows that he has conn pletely missed the point stressed in my memorandum op the repeal of the Mullan-Gage enforcement law of New York state," Smith said,
 The first question put to Bryan was, Will prohibition be leading issue at the next democratic con- vention?" After tracing the course of prohibition from the beginning, and claiming that the democratic party had an honorable part in bringing prohibition" Bryan con- cluded that the vets must prepare for a colossal struggle if they ex- pect to obtain control of the demo- cratic party.
 "Runs True To Form.o
 Regarding Bryan's answer to the first question, Smith said that Bryan was running true to form when he
 used 1000 words in replying and said nothing"
 No person could answer the sec ond question, Smith said, that ques- tion being: What strength will the vets and drys be able to command?" Of Bryan's answer to it. Smith said: MT. Bryan attempts 1t and says less than he did about the first ques- tion."
 The third question to Bryan was: Do you believe prohibition will con tinue to be an issue in national
 Rlitics? Bryan replied that he be-
 Eed it would "as long as there re-
 ned organized opposition to the
 lnith's comment on that answer
 as: Bryan could answer this ques-
 on by saying prohibition never was
 h issue in national politics. and that
 The question of repeating the eight |eenth amendment probably never will be-"
 A Possible Issue.
 But" Smith added, "it Is quite possible that sane and sensible def milton of what constitutes an intoxi- eating beverage might be promi- nent issue"
 The fourth question. which had to do with the effect of Governor smiths signature on the national sit uation, Bryan answered by saying it had put the friends of prohibition on their guard. Smiths comment on making a general reference to King Alcohol and woman suffrage"
 The great commoner rises to heights of absurdity' said Smith in referring to Bryan's answer of the fifth question, which dealt with tion in the memorandum on the re- peal. Bryan called this assertion a "laughable farce" calculated to de- ceive not even the south.
 According to MT. Bryan." con- tinued Smith. there Is apparently no not fair inference to take from his remarks. one must take the only other possible. and that is, that MT. Bryan himself does not understand what state rights means" Calls Bryan F.nafics1.
 Taking up Bryans public career, Smith says: He belongs to the class of fanatical drys about whom I spoke in my recent memorandum. who will never admit anything.
 The inherent dishonesty in the Volstead act" said Smith, "tends to promote dishonesty in it's enforce ment.
 Mir. Bryan knows as we'll as | do that the Volstead act is a dis honest and hypocritical interperta- tion of the Eighteenth amendment. lie knows as well as I do that the fanatical drys in control of Congress wrote that law to accomplish their narrow and bigoted purpose, and not to give honest expression to a con- stitutional amendment.
 "Mr. Bryan, throughout the article, speaks about my candidacy for pub lie office. Unlike himself. I am not a candidate. When I have been in the past I have usually been elect ed by the people. but in Mir Bryan's case wife and discriminating elec- case wise and discriminating elec- MT. Bryan stays at home" ment regards the revolution as an internal Bulgarian affair, but it feels | that 1t cannot remain indifferent to l