New Britain herald., 1927-04-27

1 fFesldeEt O. the united states belN : q member Of the Catholic religion They will vote against Al Smith foI no other reason should he be nom mated by the Democrats.
 The recent declaration 0. Gov crnor smith has made deep i'm presson, but no doubt they stll harbor m.sgiyings.
 To all such 1t would be easy -o come ta d better understanding of the situation. although i. would he an experiment requiring four years.
 IL would be worth while to find out whether the pope in Rom 0 actually had any influence whatever with the White House during four years. It would be worth while to know whether the cardinals and the bishops. Or any other officials of the Sd'IIoi!e IAI4i Il l4etLA L!IS s!le nest M fluence upon the actions of an American Catholic executive. The Protestan's who distrust Catholic president might reply that there is q certain risk in such an experi- ment: but surely the risk is not so rl n h ~ .ot,
 this end being a definite knowledge regarding something which now is q football Of prejudice.
 Our guess is that the experiment would be similar Tn all respects to a similar eXperime ent made in Canada years ago. No one ever heard of Canada going over 10 the pope.
 Several decades ago gentleman Of Quebec. by name, Sir Wilfred Laurier, aspired 10 be Premier Of the Dominion Of Canada. The pre- miership In Canada is the highest elective office, somewhat similar to being president of this republic. But Laurier was a Catholic. and exactly the same arguments were brought forth against him as have been brought against Al smith on ac- count Of his religion.
 Laurier was the idol of Catholic Quebec; in the remainder of Canada he was looked upon as being too much of an idol Of that providence. Everyone knows the influence and power Of the Catholic church in Quebec. and 1t was claimed that to elect q Catholic premier simply would mean handing over the Ca nadian government. to the pope. The same argument, as We said before. which obtains against Al Smith.
 The Liberal party Of Canada-in policies and principles pretty much the same as the Democratic party in the United Sta'es-after due. de- liberation and weighing of all the possibilities, risked the future by nominating LaUrier. Of course. every Catholic in the Dominion voted for him, perhaps for religious reasons partly and perhaps partly because most Catholics at that time were Liberals. Laurier was elected.
 Did the Pope have any influence in the government of Canada as result? Did the Catholic Lauricr look to Rome for instructions? Did he lend his influence toward combining church and statoo Whenever the emergencies Of government arose, did he decide in favor Of questions on q basis of religion? Certainly not.
 Since that time 8 mans religion is not regarded as important enough to consider when he runs for office in Canada. The bugaboo of religious influence was effeciually dispciled through the election of Laurier, who gave 10 the Dominion one of the finest administrations 1t ever had. according 10 Canadian com mentators. Laurier was esteemed and loved to his death by all classes.
 We have hunch the same thing would occur in this country if Smith were elected president. Those of us who are of an adventurous spirit would welcome the risk" we would just as lief see once and for all just how much influence, if any, q church could exert upon presi- dent Of this republic.
 And it is well not 10 overlook this important fact: That if the possibil- fly of handing government over 10 9 church exists in any modern state inhabited by sedate northern races, Canada could be much easier hand d over than the United States. We have certain constitutional draw backs, including powerful Senate the most powerful deliherative body in the uorli--and q Congress usually composed Of vast pre- ponderance of Protostan's. We have if SO arranged that T president can have his way in nothing to which Congress says nay.