The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-07-31
WHITE tones
down ATTACK
ON AL SMITH
Withdraws His Charges as
to Candidates Record
on Gambling Bills.
SALOON POSITION HIT
Kansas Editor Declares He
Wants to Be Fair in
His Fight.
SALOON POSITION HIT
BY THOMAS L. STOKES
United Press Staff Correspondent

NEW YORK, July 3l.-William
Allen White, Republican editor of
Emporia, Kan, today withdrew his
charges against the legislative rec
ord of Governor Alfred E. Smith "in
so far as they affect his votes on
gambling and prostitution. but not
his position as to the saloon"
Governor Smith certainly is en-
titled to fair treatment" White
said. II always have tried to fight
fair"
The Kansas editors statement
follows:
Yesterday, talking to Walter
1ippmann of the World, friend of
Governor Smith and of mine for
many years, I learned that Gov
ernor Smith was deeply aggrieved
that I should charge him with pro-
tecting gambling and prostitution in
his assembly record.
Credit for .Iotives
Il can undersii 4, after consid-
ering what MIR. ppman said, that
the Governor, in fasting those votes
against those reform bills, honestly
might have felt that the bills we're
unconstitutional or we're not en-
forceable or infringed upon personal
liberty or encouraged police black
mail.
These bills did not so impress
others who voted for the bills, but
Governor Smith certainly is entitled
to fair treatment.
''I always have tried to fight fair.
I never have consciously questioned
any mans motives and so this
morning before the morning papers
have come and before I know what
if any reply Governor Smith has
made to my statement yesterday, I
desire to withdraw the charges
formally, in so far as they affect
his votes on gambling and prostitu-
ton, but not his position as to the
saloon.
Saloon Is Issue
ION the question of the menace
of Tammy and of Governor Smiths
Tammany record for the open sa-
loon, the whole issue of the cam
paign is coming. Organized pro-
tected prostitution quickly is passing
out of American life and that issue
is not vital. But vital or not, I
could not in good conscience press
this issue, realizing that Governor
Smith, whom I greatly admire for
his many high qualities, feels that
my charges question the purity of
his motives, which always should be
granted in any political controversy.
$50 the ten or a dozen votes on
gambling and prostitution come out
Of the record.
"I hope now American news
papers, and particularly Republican
newspapers, will give the same con-
sideration to this statement that
they gave my statement yesterday"
Cites Early Vote
White in his attack last night
cited Smiths votes as a young as
semblyman at Albany a score of
years ago in an effort to prove his
charge that the present Governor
then was subservient to Tammany
in protecting the saloon, the pros
titute and the gambler.
Whites activity has stirred up
considerable excitement in the rival
political camps here. The editor,
who is known also as a magazine
writer and novelist, but prefers the
title of country editor" issues his
statements from the quiet seclusion
of the National Arts Club along the
edge of Gramercy Park-a calm
pool, away from the frenzied eddies
of Manhattan.