Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-27
Contender for Democratic
Nomination Asked About
Chief Allegiance.
GOVERNOR PROMISES
REPLY TO QUESTIONS
Answer Expected to Make or Break
New York Executive as Pos
sibility for Presidency,
BY G.. GOULD LINCOLN.

The religious issue has been pitch
forked into the pre- convention cam
paIgn for the Democratic nomina
ton for President.
An open letter to Gov. Alfred
Z. Smith of New York, published in
the current issue of the Atlantic
Monthly, asks the governor II he
were elected President. whether he
would regard the Constitution OF the
United States as paramount in the
conduct of that office, or whether the
law of the Catholic Church would be
the final control.
Gov. Smith, according to the New
York World, one of his most ardent
supporters, has promised to reply to
this letter, written by Charles G
Marshall, a reputed authority on
canon law.
1t remains to be seen whether Gov.
Smith in his reply can pitchfork the
religious issue out of the pre-conven-
ton campaign, and if he is nomi-
mated out of the general election
campaign next year.
T:eply to Bear on Candidacy.
His answer to the questions pro
pounded by Mr.. Marshall will in all
probability make the governor as
candidate for the Democratic nomina-
ton, or break him. In a measure, the
publication Of this Marshall letter
marks a crisis in the pre-convention
campaign, even though the Demo
cratic national convention does not
come until June. 1928, more than
year In the future.
1t has been patent for long time
ever since Gov. Smith became one
of the leading contenders for the
Democratic nomination for President
that the religious issue would crop
up. Many Protestants, as well as
Catholics, have deplored, and VIII
continue to deplore, such an issue In
the coming campaign. Many Protes-
tants as we'll as Catholics would be
glad to see Gov Smith effectually
remove his church affiliations as an
issue from the campaign. In coun-
try where liberation and religious
freedom are fundamental, the idea
that because a man belong to this
or that church, or to no church.
should bar HIM from holding public
office is repugnant to Protestants as
well as to Catholics.
Questions Chief Allegiance.
The questions asked in his letter by
Mr.. Marshall go to the very vitals
of the controversy over Gov. Smiths
eligibility for the presidential nomi
nation and election. MIR. Marshall
cites the law of the Catholic Church,
of which the governor is a member.
He cites the interpretations of this
law by the Pope at Rome. He asks
whether a member of the Catholic
Church, believing in that church, can
give complete adherence to the Con-
stitution of the United States. He
asks whether the moral philosophy
of a Catholic will permit him to
give his chief allegiance, in all things
pertaining to the State to the Con-
stitution which he must swear to up
hold If he takes the office of President.
The Marshall letter is no appeal
to the inrolerant. 1t is not bigoted.
1t sets forth the situation as Mr..
Marshall sees it after study of the
church law and asks for the fullest
information.
Gov. Smith has made a fine record
as chief executive OF his State Be-
cause Of his success politically and ad-
ministratively in New York, he has
become an outstanding, perhaps the
outstanding, member of the Demo-
cratic party. Ioday Is seems likely
that he will go into the next Demo
cratic convention with bigger block
of delegates back of him than any of
the other presidential possibilities.
Friends Fighting Prejudice.
His friends are working hard to
overcome any prejudice there may be
against him because of his member
ship in the Catholic Church. and be-
cause of his known antipathy to pro-
hibition. Many Democratic leaders
believe he will be the greatest vote
getter the party can put forward.
Upon his answer to the Marshall let
ter will depend, however. the attitude
of all those who still have an open
mind as to whether a Catholic should
sit in the White House.
Mr.. Marshall says in his letter that
the American people take pride in
viewing the progress of an Ameri-
can citizen from the humble estate
in which his life began toward the
highest Office within the gift of the
Nation" Gov. Smiths candidacy for
the presidential nomination has stir
red the enthusiasm of a great body
of his fellow citizens Partisa nship
bids fair. Mr.. Marshall says, to quail
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