The Washington times., 1928-08-21

" T, r &
formally launch his campaign
Declaring that his record as an
opponent of immortality is fixed
and secure. the Democratic no,ni-
nee. in formal statement charged
that White and the Republican ma.
tional COMMITTEES had pursued a
cowarlly course In attempting to
picture him as a friend of the
saloon, gambling and prostitution.
Applies To Straton
While the Governor did not, men
ton DR.. John Roach straton by
name, he told friends that his reply
to White also could be taken as an
answer to the New York city
clergyman's charge that he was the
"deadliest foe in America today to
moral progress" "
White charged that Smith. when
member of the legislature. always
voted TO protect the saloon, gam
for Europe recently the Kansas
editor retracted that part of his
charge relating to gambling and
~
Henry J.. Allen, publicity director of
the Republican, national committee,
he Withdrew the retraeti0n about
gambling and prostitutiona
My record as an opponent of
immortality is fixed and secure,
smith wrote in reply to White.
Publicity and by many letters In
my possession, the late Rev. Canon
John F.. Peters, when chairman of
the committee Of. IA. the leading
Anti-Vice Society OF New York, re-
peatedly thanked me for my CO.
operation with that organization. No
one in all of the rs years OF my
public life has ever dared to make
the vile suggestions which ena
mated from Mr. White. with the
approval of Henry 7. Allen. publicity
director of the Republican national
committee.
When the governor trained his
guns upon the Republican national
committee, he said:
what a cowardly course the
Republican national committee
pursued. 1t issued a slanderoug
statement through its official pub.
licity bureau and then after its
general publication in the press,
attempted to evade responsibility
by the childish claim that 1t had
been given out by accident. That
is NOT fair play.
The Governor asserted he was
confident that the people of New
York approved his legislative rec
ord or they would not have elected
him four times TO the Governor.
ship. something that has never
been done before in the States
history. He added:
"T cannot, however, let go un-
challenged the political attempt TO
tear down my character and repu.
ts.fion by seeking to align me on
the side of opposition to the regula-
ton OF the liquor traffic and in
fsNcr of gambling and prostitu-
tor
Whites charge that Smiths rec
orc showed him to be a friend OF
prostitution drew. his sharpest fires
He said this charge was based
upon a bill which would have pre-
vented the renting of q hotel room
twice in one night. After point
ing out that this bill, which he
voled against, was first defeated
and :hen later passed for political
expediency" by the Republican
legisla ture. the Governor wrote:
''Os this. bill and this single bill
alone, William Allen White would
have my wife. my children and
mr. friends believe that in my long
career was a. friend Of public
prostitution.
Checks All White Charges
After explaining each legislative
measure referred to by White, the
Governor concluded:
II denounce as unfair, unmanly
and un-American this slanderous at
tack upon me and my record.
have the satisfaction. however, of
knowing that it is not concurred in
by the people of my own State who
have years after years expressed
their confidence in me, notwith-
standing that a large part of this
matter herein referred TO was laid
before them in the past by agents
of my political enemies. / am sure
that / am right when l say it is
not concurred in by the fair
minded. intelligent thinking people
OF the country.
Il have been called by my party
TO the leadership in great cam
paign. am hoping to be put in 81
position to do for the people of
thiS country what have ac-
complished for the betterment of
the government Of my own State
and from now on / shall refuse to
be drawn into any further dis
cussion of these matters"
The vanguard of 1906 Demo.
Gratis, who are expected here for
the notification is due in Albany
! today. The city already is decked
out in its holiday clothes while
the east steps of the capitol, where
the notification meeting will he
staged. have been transformed into