New Britain herald., 1928-09-21
WHISPERING ISSUE
 ! ! SMITHS SUBJECT
@1tlnor 1uks of Religious
 S Issue in Oklahoma

Oklahoma City. Okla. Sept. 2l OuP)-Governor Alfred E. Smitf be&an and closed the whispering calhpaign" chapter in his battle fol th{ presidency here in Oklahoma vi ere the religious issue admitted ly4 a strong factAr.
 e told his huge audience las nj Int, gathered inside and outside thkgcnaiSaasasshere. that his speecf ell @ed the whispering campaign dis cu kion for him., and that hereafter hd would turn his attention to ma tidA bal issues.
 Interchangeable candidate and hi patty le4ve here at II o'clock fo Denver. Colo. where Smith vii mike the third speech of his cam patgn. It is expected 10 be devoted to- water power generally and. 1T particular, to the Boulder Dam pro iect in which Colorado and si, other states in this section are vital ly interested.
 Meanwhile democratic and repub licpn leaders here set about meas urfng the effect of Smiths denuncia tidh of the whispering campaign al "t&asonable" and "un- American uH bn the political complexion of thi' std e in November.
 0Osts His Chances
 9em Fats claimed it enhanced hi chakes greatly in this state sd he wTtkxa-far as to say it would mi Ian victory here. They said hi' bddness in bringing the issue into tha open would clear the atmos phkre. f4hxy admit privately. how eNfr, tlat they face very real figh hefe, ar tho religious issue is dominant one and added to this i' a factional dispute which smitl sought to heal in conferences witt letders of both sides.
 tome observers claimed tha snkith's speech, while bold ane characteristic move, would change fe3 votes.
 tRealizing the work necessary her' Representative James McClintock, democratic leader, is beginning nex wick q careful campaign of organ izStion in which he will foster meet infs and conferences in every coun tHof the state. '
 live are soinR4o the grass roots h( said. s%
 smith's speech&%as well received ItE was interrupted repeated b! cheering. His first mention of thu KS Klux Klan. which once domin add Oklahoma politics. and figured ia the impeachment of former Gov eihor "Jack" Walton. anti-klaI lsAder. was received with silence but later the crowd cheered hlm al h{ denounced the organization. Wal td sat on the platform.
 Dr. John Roach Straton. Calvar! Bhptist minister of New York city wto is campaigning in this stat aAinst Smith, also was on the plat fd m. Witt his wife. he listened quietly to .smith'l speech. He will stcak in the CoAssutn tonight.
 The <f,eA Ass a climax , to a aa |, ca andidatx &EytA1cnga of democrat wso had dfk11Sftsd from all parts o the statAs town had a carniva atmosphe <
 IA fewS7}ltiots Tn Smiths audience left bef1s4ss M lad completed ht speech, SAs,2sf because they de e4ed to avoid lAe crowds or becaus' they did nS approve of the speech ctlld not hes1snertained.
 At(lgekss Issue
 LaunchtH6a mtb -discussion O Il relis sl.pde ltn connection w th his Ssde against the whis p tins ca&1ttn the governor de q red th6EN 4uy Catholic in thi' d nntry, G$Hases that the welfare tAe well-betng. the prosperity. th' g&Dwth and the expansion of thu United States Is best conserved ant bkst promoted by the election O Hoover, I want him to vote fol Hoover and not for me"
 ;f'But, on the other hand" h. continued. "I have the right to say tlat any citizen of this country wht bflieves I can promote its well bling, that I am capable of steerin, t4e ship of state safely through thu mkt four years and then voteI a1ainst me because of my religion hD is not a real. pure. genuine Aperican.
 Fl can think of no greater disas t% to this country than to have tn. V ters of it divided upon religion! If es." Gov. Smith continued. 1T iacontrary to the spirit. not only O te Declaration Of Independence bit of the constitution itself"
 tThe whispering campaign" tn, d&nocratic candidate said disclose: such activity" on- the part of it. promoters "asv*o constitute, in my opinion. menace not alone to tht party. but to the country itself.
 ,'There is abundant reason" tn, governor charged. flor believing that republicans high in the councils of the kpahy have countenanced . large pprt of this form of campaign i6theyHhave not actually prom oted .s"Pour it on them. All was shout eE from tks audience which repeat edly greeted; the Speakers asser- tiNns with. loud .sapplause.
 stsi cf. Omission
 TA sin of omission is sometime. aR erissions <ss 3 sin Of commission shIth., :, eeiYfanued They ma, tfoysh| Gfti@fai spokesmen dlsclain a ln.Fh as they piease tesponsibil x fotMeragsins Ar inte national cam p gn Ae question of religion s& &nethinE.. thAt, according 10 oul c41sulutfop. our, history and oul t8ditioas. has no part in any cam. ppign for public. office ..-.... D5overnor smith condemned a! fishonest campaigning what ht ct t1r 1 l. .I,I