Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-09-20
Smith FORCES
LIBEL MONCER
into THEOPEN
Drunkenness Charge
Used in Whispering
Campaign Is Nailed
BY Dem Nominee

Mailing a lie in the whispering cam
paign, BY Alfred <. Smith.
On Sept. 5. 1928, w. A. Heenan
OF the firm Of Hays a. Heenan. In
come tax specialists at Parkers-
burg. W. Va.
cuse n. Y.-Gentlemen:
You are. Of course. familiar with
the underground whispering cam
paign which the political enemies Of
Governor Smith are waging against
him. You possibly noted that Sen
ator Robinson referred 70 1t in
his Dallas speech n few days ago.
This same program seems TO be IN
effect in West Virginia Coming from
unknown sources one would be in
clined to ignore such tactics. but il
has come 20 my attention in the fol-
loving manner
Anti-Smith Allegation
"A lady or this City. formerly q
resident Of Syracuse and very promi-
nent socially here. has a letter from
Mrs. Florence Sanford, whom she ad-
vises is the wife Of n. ID. Sanford
OF Syracuse and who Is reported to be
prominent there. In this letter the
lady sets out the statement on the
occasion Of Governor Smiths visit 10
the State Fair al Syracuse. he oc-
cupied a box next TO the one occupied
BY Mrs. Sanford, and the story is that
Governor Smith was disgustingly IN
toxicated. 80 much 80 that when he
attempted 20 arise 20 make an address
he had to be helped 10 his feet by
two persons. one on each side. the
contents Of their letter was dis
cussd az a social gathering and inn
possibility of the truth of such a
statement was questioned. am.
therefore, taking the trouble 70 ask
your organization 70 furnish me a
statement from someone. preferably
a member Of some other political
party than that Of Governor Smith.
70 brand this as a political lie Of
the dirtiest sort. | wish this state
ment TO show to the persons present
when this woman made the contents
OF the letter known. MS ! am sorry
70 advise that IL not corrected. Gov
n Smith will lose many votes he
would otherwise receive. Wish 10
advise that West Virginia is a battle
ground this year and every voto
helps.
Thanking you in advance for this
information at once, am very truly
"w. A. KEENAN,.
"Box 672, Parkersburg, W. Va"
Smith Has Suggestions
The above letter reached William
ri. Kelley. president Of the Mer-
chsnts' Bank of Syracuse. who is
democratic leader Of that city, and
in the late afternoon OF the same day
he called me on the telephone and
acquainted me with the contents OF
the letter.
I suggested that he forward the
original 70 me, keeping a cops in his
office. and that he secure the sta.e-
ment from a member of the opposite
/. political party 20 mine, as suggested
y hy Mr.. Heenan IN his letter. Accord
inEiy. on Saturday morning ] received
IN the mail the original letter from
Mr.. Heenan and the following letter
from Senator George r. Fearon,
chairman Of the judiciary Committee
Of the state senate and a prominent
republican:
The Senate Of the State Of New
York, Albany. tState.) tSeal.)
GEORGE X. EEARON.
Thirty-Eighth District chairman,
committee on judiciary, Syracuse,
NJ. ", Sept. = 1928.
The Hon. William II. Kelley.
Syracuse. n. Y.--Dear Sir: Il have
read the letter which you sent me
dated Sept. ., 1928, and signed BY
w. A. keenan, Of Pa~rkersburg. w.
Va, in which he quotes a resident
Of this city as stating that on the
occasion az Governor Smiths visit
to the State Fair at Syracuse he was
so disgustingly intoxicated while oc-
cupying a box in the grand stand
that when he attempted 10 arise 70
make an address he had TO Be helped
70 his feet By two persons, one on
each side.
POLITICALLY, ! am opposed 20 Gov
ernor Smith, but ! believe in a square
deal ever for political opponents.
at 50 happens ! an a member of
#he advisory board Of the State Fair
and that together with Henry Nor
ranthau Jr., / was designated by
Commissioner Pyrke 70 act as the
governors escort while he was at the
fair. BY reason of this assignment
was with the governor substan-
TALLY all of the day in question from
the time he left the Onondaga hotel
IN the morning until he boarded his
train for Albany in the late after
noon. occupied an adjoining box
to the governor while he vas visiting
the races. He made no speech from
the box. He was not intoxicated. lie
showed no evidence Of wen having
had a single drink, nor do ] believe
that he had.
Quotes George X. Fesron
fsThe Governor made two addresses,
one from the band stand in the En-
pire court about 1880 in the morn
inr and the other az the dedication Of
the agricultural museum at about 3
o'clock in the afternoon. / was next
TO him on both occasions. On neither
accession was there anything which
would indicate that he had been
drinking.
aThe statement which Mr.. Heenan
ouotcs as to the governors condition
"a ~ manifestly unfair and untrue
That / would not feel hat | was act
me the part Of a man II | did not
write YOU this letter stating the facts
@r i know them 70 be with respect 20
i accession IL question. Very truly
vourx. GEORGE r. FEARON."
Immediately upon receipt Of the
nhovc. telephoned 70 Mr.. Kelley
M Syracuse and suggested that he
~sII mon Mrs. Sanford at her resi-
@eree and ask her IL she wrote such
letter 10 any woman in Parkers-
burg. NJ. Va. Mr.. Kelley carried out
~ Suggestion and called to see Mrs.
sanford. Following is the report Mr..
KelIev makes 10 me of his converse
tion with Mrs. Sanford:
aAfter introducing myself to Mrs.
sanford. I informed her that | had
letter from Parkersburg. W. Va.
che IN turn without letting me 20
further said. Yes. Il Is from Mrs.
Rauer.' | said. NO, It is from a Mr.
keenan,. and the letter came TO the
democratic headquarters yesterday
ma / have forwarded it TO he gov
ernor. who in turn has asked me 70
see You and inquire whether or not
Won made the statement referred 20