Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-06
SMITH SOBR|ETY
CHARGE ST|RS ROW
Minister Alleged to Have
Made Accusation From
Public RoStrum.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
ALBANY, N. Y, october GA charge
involving the sobriety of Gov. Smith
and alleged to have been made last Au-
gust in Indiana by the Rev. Manning
e. Van Nostrand. pastor of Emmanuel
Baptist Church of this city, was a sub
ject of controversy today between Ed
ward G. Griffin, counsel to the Demo-
cratic presidential nominee, and the Al
bany minister.
In statement issued from the execu-
tive chamber at the State Capitol, Mr..
Griffin said a communication had been
received there some time ago saying
that Rev. Mr.. Van Nostrand had made
Winona Lake, Winona, Ind, that Gov.
Smith was so intoxicated when he was
trying to talk over the radio imme-
diately after he was nominated at HouS-
ton that two men had to hold him up.
Immediately upon receipt of this COM
munication, Mr.. Griffin said, the min
lister visited the executive offices, at the
governors request, and was asked, in
the presence of the governor himself
and George B. Graves, the governor S
secretary, after the letter had been read
to him, the direct question. did you
ever make any such statement about
me?"
Minister Denies Statement.
Mr.. Griffn said the minister then
asked the governor whether the writer
of the letter said that he (the minister)
had made the statement directly to the
writer" whereupon the letter again was
read and the question repeated.
II never said it," the Rev. Van Nos
trand was quoted as replying.
Since that conference, Mr.. Griffin
said, an affidavit. signed by Mrs. A. j.
Wickard and sworn to September II
last, had been received here, in which
the Signer depoSed that on August 70,
while in attendance at a Bible class at
Winona Lake. she heard zone Mr.. Van
Nosterland (affldavit spelling) suppos-
edly from Albany, N. Y" make state
ment substantially as quoted by Mr..
Griffin from the communication he re-
ceived and that the minister also said
that "the governor on another occasion,
In the railroad station where Mr.. Smith
was preparing to board train was
under the influence of liquor and was
passing it around to men and ladies IN
his party"
Made on Public Rostrum.
Mr.. Griffins statement added that
Mrs. Wickard further says that these
statements were made on a public ros-
trIIm or platform at Winona Lake, evi-
IDENTIFY with the intent Of belittling the
character and personality OF said Alfred
e. Smith"
Rev. Mr.. Van Nostrand, who has been
a pastor in Albany for 10 years, gave
his side@of the controversy soon after
he heard of Mr.. Griffin'S statement. He
said he had not made the charge that
the governor was intoxicated" the Sun
day after his nomination, but added
that at the time he was questioned
about the incident in the executive
chamber the governor did not ask me
If l had made any similar statement, or
il had made any other statement con-
cerning him to the effect that he had
been intoxicated or that he drank"
When asked specific questions in In
diana concerning the nominee, the min
lister said he did make the statement
that 1 had been informed that upon
one occasion when Gov. Smith had
broadcast he was so intoxicated that he
had to be supported by two persons"
Says Governor Drank.
"I also made the statement IN In
diana" the minister added, that
had been informed that on the Sun
day following his nomination the gov
ernor went to New York and that when
he was in the Albany station he had
been drinking. 1 also made the state
ment that in my opinion If any one
asked the governor the direct question
as to whether or not during his oc-
cupancy of that high Office he had used
intoxicating liquors or had been drink
ing man that the governor would ad-
nit that he had done So"
The minister said he further stated
in Indiana that he had never read or
heard any denial by the governor him
self that he was drinking man; but
the only denials 1 had heard of were
made by others, and l did not believe
the governor would deny it If he were
asked the direct question"