The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-06-22


up. I will vote for AL Smith. In
my mind he is the greatest states
man and political leader of the
day. After debating the question
with myself for some weeks, I've
decided to cast my lot with Smith,
especially since the Republicans
have nominated Hoover.
To my mind Smith is Hoover's
superior in every conceivable way.
Hoover first came into public
prominence under the admilistra-
ton of that great patriot, Woodrow
Wilson, and I am convinced that
Wilson would turn over in his
grave if he knew that Hoover was
now being supported by such men
as Ware, Dawes, Mellon, Hayes ard
Goodrich.
Things have come to a pretty
pass when the Republican party has
to reach over into the ranks of the
Democrats and select one of thciS
erring members as the G. o. ?,
standard bearer.
cannot understand how The
indianapolis Times, a supposed lib
eral newspaper, can support the
Republican candidate, especially IL
he is opposed by that great adVo-
cate of liberty and freedom-M
Smith.
Smith is a Give and-let-liveA
Democrat of the old school. Con-
trasting with Coolidge, Hoover,
Watson, Norris and Helm, he be-.
lieves in individual freedom Of
expression, no less when we dis
agree than when we agree.
His action in giving police protec-
ton to Heflin's wild speeches is one
Of the grandest gestures of the day.
Helm expected to start a riot ana
then blame it on Tammany Hail..
Instead Of doing this he added TO
the ever-increaSing sentiment for
Smith and just about assured his
nomination and election.
Smith is a builder instead of
destroyer. There is no room in his
makeup for petty bigotry. He leaves
the reforming Of the people to
those whose mind is no broader
than their heads.
Although a total abstainer, he
does not believe that drinking beer
and wine will send you to Hell. He
is a supporter Of State rights
against the tyranny of the Federal
Government. In a nutshell, he is
"The Democratic partys best and
only bet.p
The fact that Smith is a Catholic
will do him no harm. America.
despite such organizations as the
X. K. K. and men like Heflin, is
too liberal and too broad-minded
to discriminate against man on
purely religious grounds.
AS stated above, if Smith is
nominated, I will vote for him and
work for his election with every
ounce of my 200 pounds. If he is
not nominated, will fold my tent
and silently steal away.
Who but Hoover?-SMITH.
A. j. BENTON.
900 FIT Wayne Ave, Indianapolis
Editor, Times-It seems to me to
be an exhibition of Grass stupidity
on the part of the Anti-Saloon
League and the amalgamated drys
of the country to be prating con-
tinually about the impossibility of
the election Of Governor AL Smith
to the presidency if it is fact
that he is as unpopular, with the
people as they say he is.
Common sense teaches the aver
age man that if Governor Smith
can not be elected, the plan of the
Anti-Saloon League would be to
encourage his nomination at Hous-
ton, to have him badly beaten and
thus put an end to the attempts of
the liberals to elect a man who does
not agree with the drys about pro-
hibition, the Eighteenth Amendment
and the Volstead law.
Naturally, it is impossible to be-
lieve these drys are so intensely in
terested in the, welfare of the Demo-
cratic party that they do not want
to see the party sacrificed and party
success jeopardized by the nominal
ton of man like Governor Smith.
1t has been proved over and over
again that the Anti-Saloon League
has no regard whatever for any
party that does not do its bidding.
Then, if Governor Smith should be
nominated they can all vote the
Republican ticket without the least
conjunction of conscience and if
in the majority, as they so boldly
profess to be, there will be no ques-
ton about his defeat.
The plan, therefore, should be to
encourage his nomination instead Of
eternally fighting it, as they have
been.
think the fact that the Anti
Saloon League has fought the nomi-
nation of Governor Smith so bitterly
betrayS just the opposite feeling and
belief. They fear that he will be
elected, but will not admit it.
And l really think that this kind
OF opposition to Governor Smith
has been largely responsible for the
tremendous success he has achieved
in getting delegates in dry States as
well as wet. The Democrats can see
clearly that the Anti-Saloon League
and its followers are very much ex-
ercised over the situation.
They fear that the nomination OF
the New York Governor may result
in his election ana therefore be the
beginning of the overthrow of this
whole prohibition mess which has
kept the country in a perpetual up
roar for almost a decade and will
continue to bring that confusion as
long as this un-American policy is
pursued. EDWIN G. BROWN,
Indianapolis.