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

ALBANY, N. Y, Sept. 20.-P)-The
following statement was issued BY
Governor Smith Wednesday night:
Mailing a lie in the whispering cam
palgn, by Alfred L. Smith.
On Sept. S, 1928. w. A. Heenan
Of the firm Of Hays a. Heenan, IN
come tax specialists at Parkers-
burg. w. Va.
cuse ". Y.-Gentlemen.
You are, az 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 to IL in
his Dallas speech a few days ago.
This same program seems to be in
effect in West Virginia. Coming from
unknown sources one would be in
clined 20 ignore such tactics. but IL
has come to my attention In the fol-
loving
Anti-Smish Allegation
"A lady OF this city. formerly q
resident Of Syracuse and very promi-
merit socially here. has a letter from
Mrs. Florence Sanford. whom she sd-
vises is the wife Of n. d. Sanford
Of Syracuse snd who is reported to be
prominent there. In this letter the
lady sets out the statement on the
occasion Of Governor Smiths visit TO
the State Fair AT Syracuse. he oc-
cupied q box next TO the one occupied
by Mrs. Sanford, and the story is that
Governor Smith was disgustingly IN
toxicated. 50 much 80 that when he
attempted 20 arise 10 make an address
he had 70 be helped to his feet BY
two persons. one on each side. The
contents Of their letter was dis
cussd at q social gathering and inn
possibility of the truth of such .
statement "a questioned. | am.
therefore. taking the trouble 10 ask
your organization to furnish me a
statement from someone, preferably
a member Of some other political
party than that of Governor Smith.
to brand this as a political lie Of
the dirtiest sort. wish this state
ment 20 show to the persons present
when this woman made the contents
Of the letter known, as | am sorry
70 advise that il not corrected. Gov
ernor Smith will lose many votes he
would otherwise receive. Wish TO
advise that West Virginia is a battle
ground this year and every vote
helps.
Thanking you in advance for this
information at once. am very truly
yours,
Box 672, Parkersburg. vi. Va"
Smith Has Suggestions.
The above letter reached William
III. 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.
suggested that he forward the
original 10 me. keeping a copy in his
office. and that he secure the state
ment from a member Of the opposite
political party 70 mine, as suggested
|. b. Mr.. Heenan in his letter Accord
ingly. on Saturday morning ] received
in the mail the original letter from
Mr.. Heenan snd the following letter
from Senator George II. Fearon.
chairman Of the judiciary Committee
OF the state senate and a prominent
republican:
The Senate of the State Of New
GEORGE K. FEARON.
AnlAAA~LlkMAM AArtIfAA ANaAA maui
committee on judiciary, Syracuse,
The Hon. William II. Kelley.
Syracuse. N. Y.-Dcar Sir: II have
read the letter which you sent me
dated Sept. 8, 1928, and sighed By
w. A. Keenan, of Parkersburg. W.
Va, in which he quotes a resident
Of this city as stating that on the
occasion Of Governor Smiths visit
to the State Fair at Syracuse he was
so disgustingly intoxicated while DC
cupying a box in the grand stand
that when he attempted TO arise 70
make an address he had to be helped
10 his feet BY two persons, one on
each side.
POLITICALLY. I am opposed 70 Gov
ernor Smith. but | believe in a square
deal even for political opponents.
at SO happens ! am q member Of
-the advisory board Of the State Fair
8hd that together with Henry Nor
ranthau Jr.. was designated by
Commissioner Pyrke TO act as the
governors escort while he was at the
fair. By reason Of this assignment
| was with the governor s~ubstan-
TALLY all Of the day in question from
the time he left the Onondaga hotel
in the morning until he boarded his
train for Albanys in the late after
noon | occupied an adjoining box
to the governor while he was visiting
the races. He made no speech from
the box. He was not intoxicated. He
showed no evidence Of even having
had 3 single drink. nor do | believe
that he had.
Quotes George X. Fearon
s.The Governor made two addresses.
one from the band stand in the En-
pire court about 1880 IN the morn
ing and the other az the dedication Of
the agricultural museum az about 3
o'clock in the afternoon. was next
"a him on both occasions. On neither
occasion was there anything which
would indicate that he had been
drinking.
"The statement which Mr.. Heenan
quotes as 10 the governors condition
Is so manifestly unfair n untrue
that I would not feel that ! was act
Knr the part of s man Il did not
5urr;te Won this letter stating the facts
.as / know them 70 be with respect 20
4 ~ occasion in question. Very truly
u GEORGE X. FEARON.r
Immediately upon receipt Of tho
.hovr. tclephoned to Mr.. Kelley
~ Syracuse and suggested that he
~rll mon Mrs. Sanford at her resi-
Lance and ask her IL she wrote such
letter 10 any woman in Parkers-
hurg. W. Va. Mr.. Kelley carried out
h~ Suggestion and called to see Mrs.
sanford. Following is the report Mr..
kelley makes to me of his CONVERSE
fien with Mrs. Sanford:
aAfter introducing myself 10 Mrs.
sanford. 7 informed her that had
! letter from Parkersburg, w. va
she in turn without letting me 20
further said. Yes. il Is from Mrs.
Rnuer.' I said, NO. II is from a Mr..
keenan,. and the letter came to the
-s~ Ln~I,uowfor Yesterday