The Washington times., 1928-06-29

accorded hifn-and this at time
when Coolidge was carrying the
State by a million votes. In such
a manner did New York voice its
resentment at what ii considered
the unfair treatment accorded its
favorite son.
The effect of this overwhelming
tribute, and another election in 1926.
made Smith again the outstanding
candidate for the nomination in
1928.
McAdoO blamed
Meanwhile, McAdoo's political sun
had begun to set. Rightly Or wrong.
", McAdoo was blamed BY the smith
cohorts for injecting the religious
issue into the Madison Square Car
den convention. and with keeping
open some Of the wounds that the
| party experienced there. In any
event. McAdo5 slipped slowly out Of
the Democratic picture after 1924.
and with Smith In office In Albany,
conducting a successful admIristra-
ton, 1t was but natural that he
should become the cynosure Of Dem
ocratic eyes in 1928.
L
ways to stem the tide of the Smith
advance during the last year. but
every effort resulted m failure Re-
alizing his own weakness al con.
| testarft Mc4Aclo0 got behind Senator
| Thomas III Walsh, or Montana, the
famous oil prosecutor but Walsh re-
tired shortly after his defeat in the
California primary by smith, It
l. InT4 I4saA
Democrats wanted none other but.
Smith.
The professional prohibition forces
have. conducted unceasipg warfare
against Smith throughout his politi-
cal career, and since 1924 1t has
been practically continuous, day
to-day barrage
The Anti-Saloon League. the w. G.
n. u. and the score OF affiliated dry
organizations of various names, have
daily and weekly flooded the country
with attacks on Smith and his
record They have delved back into
his early days as an assemblyna
ait Albany to show that he consist
emily voted Tor the liberalization Of
the liquor laws from 1903 onward
and that since 1920 ne has just as
consistently advocated the modifica-
ton Of the VoIstead Act
Dppores Prohibition
THAT Smiths record Is one 81 con-
sistent opposition to prohibition no
one can deny, although at the same
time he has just as consistently
urged enforcement 81 the present
laws, so long as they are on the
statute books. He has however,
contended that 1t Is the duty OF The
Federal Government and not speci.
ffcalIy the duty Of the States TO en-
force the VOlstead act.
IT was in his admin !stration that
the New York legislature twice
peti toned Congress to hberalize the
Voistead act 10 permit the sale OF
light wines and beer, and II was
under his. admin stratson that the
legislature repealed the Mullan-
Gage state. enforcement law which
the previous Republican admins.
tration had enacted.
His annual messages to the leg
islature have regularly called e;
tention TO the prohibition situation.
with the advice that it be corrected
bv the enactment Of hberalizing leg.
isiation.
s a
had held a referendum on pro-
hibition and voted wet, Governor
smith said In his message 70 the
legislature:
II believe that the DUTY now
rests upon the legislature to pass
suitable resolutions conveying IN
formal manner the result OF that
vote for the referendum so-called 70
the Congress Of the United States
and memoraIizing 1t in behan OF
the state of New York to enact at
the earliest possible moment, 2 sen.
sible reasonable defenae OF what
constitutes an intoxicant under the
Eiehteenth Amendment so that
harmless beverages which our peo.,
ME have enjoyed for centuries may
be restored to them.
For this and similar advice 70 -
legislature, Governor smith nas
been termed '.nullificationist
tina professional prohibition forces.
They have charged him with trying
10 nullify the Eighteenth an1enas
Inent by enactment of legislatloh
in conflict with the spirit OF the
amendment"
Subtle Attacks
The attack on Governor Smith
on religious grounds, while It mas
not been as open as on MS We
record" has nevertheless been suoele
and far-reaching. -.
It eliminated a year and nan
ago when Charles G. Marshall, an
Episcopalian lawyer in New YORK
published a remarkably frank open
letter to Governor Smith, asking
him how he could reconcile his duty
10 his church with his fealty to the
American Constitution.
Marshall pointed out that a tenet
of tie Catholic faith was the ON.
impotence of the Church, and ne
asked whether as a President OF the
United States Smith would recog-
nize the supremacy of the Constitu.
tion or that of his Church in case
of conflict. Marshalls letter was
no piece OF demogoguery.
1t was a sober, dignified. and In
telligent inquiry. and Governor
smith took immediate cognizance OF
the fact.
His reply constituted one Of the
of the most remarkable contribu-
tions to religio-political discussion
on record. He avowcd his complete
faith in the absolute separation of
the church and state, and declared
there was nothing in his Catholicism
that would initiate against his
faithful adherence to the Constitu'
ton.
81 recognize no power in the In
stitution of my church to interfere
with the Constitution of the United
States or in the enforcement OF the
law of the land" he said.