The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-09-21
AL ASSA|LS
KLAN IN SLAP
At WHISPERS
SANDERS Treason, Nominee
Says in Address at
Oklahoma City.
NEXT STOP IS DENVER
Religious Issue in Election
DepIored as Stirring
Hate and Bigotry.
NEXT STOP is DENVER
BY THOMAS L. STOKES,
limited Press star Correspondent


OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla, Sept.
Ex-Governor Alfred E. Smith be-
gan and closed the whispering
campaign" chapter in his battle for
the presidency here in Oklahoma,
where the religious issue admitted
ly is a strong factor.
He told his huge audience Thurs
day night, gathered inside and out
side the Coliseum here that his
speech closed the whispering cam
paign discussion for him, and that
hereafter he would turn his atten-
ton to national issues.
The Democratic candidate and
his party leave here at IL o'clock
for Denver, Colo, where Smith will
make the third speech of his cam
paign. 1t is expected to be devoted
to water power generally and, in
particular, to the Boulder Dam pro-
ject in which Colorado and six 9TH
er States in this section vitally are
interested.
Meanwhile, Democratic and Re-
publican leaders here set about
measuring the effect of Smiths de-
nunciation Of the whispering cam
paign as "treasonable" and "un-
American" upon the political COM
pleXion of this State in November.
Speech Well Received
Democrats claimed it enhanced
his chances greatly in this State
Some went so far as to say it would
mean his victory here. They said
his boldness in bringing the issue
into the open would clear the at
moSphere. They admit privately,
however, that they face a very real
fight here as the religious issue is a
dominant one, and added to this is
a factional dispute which Smith
sought to heal in conferences with
leaders of both sides.
Some observers claimed that
Smiths speech, while a bold and
characteristic move, would change
few votes.
Realizing the work necessary here,
Congressman James McClintock,
Democratic leader, is beginning next
week careful campaign of organ
ization in which he will foster meet
ings and conferences in every coun-
ty of the State.
eve are going to the grass roots"
he said.
Smiths speech was well received.
1t was interrupted repeatedly by
cheering. His first mention Of the
Ku-Klux Klan, which once domi-
mated Oklahoma politics and figured
in the impeachment of former Gov
ernor Jack Walton, anti-Klan
leader, was received with silence, but
later the crowd cheered him as he
denounced tn organization. Walton
sat on the platform.
DR.. John Roach Straton, Calvary
Baptist minister of New York City,
who is campaigning in this State
against Smith, also was on the plat
form. With his wife, he listened
quietly to Smiths speech. He will
speak in the coliseum tonight.
Issue Of Religion
Launching into a discussion of the
religious Issue in connection with
his broadside against the whisper
ing campaign" the Governor de-
clared that IF any Catholic in this
country believes that the welfare, the
well-being, the prosperity, the
growth and the expansion of the
United States is best conserved and
best promoted by the election of
Hoover, I want him to vote for Hoo
yer and not for me.
"But, on the other hand" he con-
tinued, II have the right to say that
any citizen of this country who be-
lieves I can promote its well-ebing,
that I am capable of steering the
ship of state safely through the next
four years, and then votes against
me because of my religion, he is not
real, pure, genuine American.
''I can think of no greater disaster
to this country than to have the
voters of it divided upon religious
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