Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-08
PASTOR ACCEPTS
SMITH CHALLENGE
Dr.. Straton and Governor
May Debate on Record in
Formers Church.
BY PAUL r. HAUPERT.

Associated Press Stan Writer.
ALBANY, N. Y, August 8.-Gov.
Smith has thrown down the gage of bat
tie to critics of his public record, and
has embraced in his challenge those
who speak from the pulpit,
Singing out to bear the brunt of his
counter offensive. DR.. John Roach Stra-
ton, Baptist minister of New York, the
Democratic presidential nominee has
called on i IN to repeat. in his presence
and in Straton's church, statement
the clergyman made last Sunday to his
congregation that as public man
Smith is. the "deadliest foe in America
today of the forces of moral progress
ana true political wisdom The gov
ernor requested full opportunity to re-
ply.
DR. Straton announced last night that
he would accept the challenge. so today
it appeared that a debate between a
presidential nominee and a minister of
the gospel in a house of worShip-sonle-
thing new in political campaigns
might uC III tiic U1AItiS.
Offers to Answer Questions.
The governor in letter sent to DR..
Straton yesterday called him to task
for his declaration of Sunday. and sug-
gested that he and the minister meet
face to face during Labor day week IN
the minister's church. Calvary Baptist.
II will permit you. if you choose, to
conduct the meeting by question and
answer" said Smith Il will be ready to
answer any question you may put to
me which. in your opinion. will IN any
degree tend to justify your remarks"
In counter proposal DR.. Straton
suggested that he and the governor
argue things out in Madison Square
Garden or some other large auditori-
joint debating tour of the South.
Just what the governors reaction
would be to these proposals had not
been disclosed today. although 1t was
regarded as certain that he would re-
ject both. His friends pointed out that
even If he was so minded he could
not set out on series OF debates
without upsetting campaign plans and
they predicted that he would insist
on meeting his antagonist in the church
where the original charge was made.
Reply Was Unexpected.
In his letter to Dr. Straton. whose
name frequently appears on the front
pages of metropolitan newspapers,
referring TO the minister's dec
laration of Sunday, said: L do not
know why you should make state
ment of that kind. but / do know that
l will never permit 1t TO SO unehal-
lenged."
Declaring that he had spent 25 years
In the service of the State OF New
York, the governor added Il do not
feel that should charge you with
making this statement for any political
purpose, as II was made III a church
devoted 10 the teachings Of Christ,
one of which was Thou shalt not
bear false witness against thy neigh
bor'"
The governors assault ON the Baptist
minister was entirely unexpected News
papermen assigned to cover him here
had been on the lookout instead for
reply of some sort 10 the charges OF Will
liam Alien White, the Kansas editor,
who last Y ek leveled his guns at Smiths
legislative records with relation TO the
saloon. commerciali2ed vice and gamb-
ling, White, however, Withdrew his
charges regarding gambling and vice.
win Turn 20 Record.
Whether the Straton letter. SO far as
the Democratic nominee Is concerned.
will suffice as an answer also To White.
who has gone to Europe. or whether,
there is still something on the fire that
win explode in the Kansan'S direction
still remained undiscloSed today,
The governor Is carefully assessing
k.ls 80 txnN att VE .VfN.
ing straight 10 the legislative record,
which shows iii black and white his
stand ON various proposals as an as
semblyman. for his ammunition. A desk
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