Evening star., 1927-04-19
SMITH REPLY HELD
AID TO CANDIDACY
Commended by Democrats
and Republicans, but
Criticized by Foes.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

iii u, GUILD LINJOLN.
Gov. Alfred Il. Smiths emphatic
declaration that his membership in
the Catholic Church In no way can
interfere with his support OF the Con-
stitution and the laws of the United
States has aided his candidacy for
the presidential nomination materially
in the opinion of political circles, both
Democratic and Republican, in Wash.
ington.
The governors reply to Charles G..
MarshaII's open letter to him In the
Atlantic Monthly was the subject OF
much commentator, in which mem~
hers of both parties concurred On
the other hand, Senator Hefiin of Ala
bama, an opponent of the nomination
of Gov. Smith by the Democrats and
an open critic OF the governor and
of the Catholic Church, was prompt
to come forward with a statement
that the Smith reply was evasive and
unconvincing. Upon the following
which Senator Hefiin and others who
are traditionalfy opposed to the cleo
ton Of "a Catholic to the presidency
may have will depend in large part
the fate Of the Smith candidacy.
Aid to KIan Held Possible.
Gov. Smith has made a strong ef-
fort to take the religious issue out of
politics, to remove it from the coming
campaign. But the Hef1in statement
is proof that he has not succeeded en-.
tfrely. 1t is early yet to say what
may be the measure of his success in
this attempt.
The stronger Gov. Smiths candi-
dacy becomes. the more determined
will be prejudiced opposition. Here
and there the comment is heard today
that nothing could operate TO revive
and add to the strength of the Ku
klux Khan more effectively than the
probability of the nomination Of a
Catholic for President on the national
ticket of one of the great political
parties.
The interjection of the religious
issue into national campaign is re-
garded with disfavor and reluctance
| by many Protestants as well as
Catholics. They believe it has no
place in a political contest in the
United States. But it is already in
che preconvention campaign of the
Democrats, and bids fair to be in
| jected into the general election cam
paign If Gov. Smith is the nominee
| of the Democrats next year.
Commended at Capitol.
Communications of Gov. Smiths
statement have been made by Sena-
tor Norris of Nebraska, Senator Borah
of Idaho and Senator Curtis Of
Kansas, Republicans, and by Senator
| Walsh of Montana, Senator Bayard
| of Delaware, Democrats; by Repre-
| sentative Fish of New York, Repre-
sentative Knutson of Minnesota, Re-
| publicans, and by Representative
| Bloom of New York and Representa-
| tive Howard of Georgia, Democrats.
| Some of these Democrats frankly say
that they are opposed to the nomina-
| ton Of Gov. Smith, while at the same
time giving praise to the governors
| reply to Mr.. Marshall
| Sooner or later the religious issue
as it applied to his nomination for
President had to be met by Gov.
Smith. When the letter of Mr.. Mar.
SHALL a New York attorney and mem
ber of the Episcopal Church, challeng-
| ing the governor to state his views of
| the relations of his church and the
State was published a few weeks ago
| in the Atlantic Monthly, Gov. Smith
promptly accepted the opportunity to
deal with the matter in the open. The
questions propounded by Mr.. Mar
| shall, given wide publicity In thls
country, were such as demanded an
answer if Gov. Smith was to continue
a presidential possibility.
Norris Praises Reply.
Senator Norris of Nebraska, Repub,
lican, voiced the sentiment of many
men in public as well as private life
In his comment on the Smith letter.
Gov. Smiths statement is vigor-
Gus, straightforward declaration of
principles which should help many to
dispose of the religious issue in the
Democratic party" he said. Il believe
it is possible for a man in public office
to separate himself from his religious
beliefs, and to some extent Gov. Smith
has done that as exemplified by his
appointments in New York"
Gov. Smiths record as Governor
of New York Is looked upon by his
supporters here as an answer TO the
Marshall questions no less important
than the letter written by the Gov
ernor and made public yesterday.
They point out that during his long
service as chief executive Of the en-
pire State there has been no charge
made against him that he favored
Ibis church or the members of his
church in appointments or In matters
of legislation.
| Representatives McclIntic Of Okla.
CONTINUED 6hyPage 2. Column ~