Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-24
HELM DEFIANCE
HURLEDAT PARTY
AIabaman Renews Attack on
Smith and Catholics.
Raps Reporters.

BY the Associated Press.
Another Hefiin broadSide has sped il
booming course at the Alabama Sena
tors favorite targetS-Al Smith and tn,
Catholic Church-and into its echoins
lenge to his party men to take hin
to task for it.
Keeping his promise of few day:
ago. Heflin gave his subject expansive
treatment for more than two hours IN
the Senate yesterday, elevating his YER
bal guns TO throw explosive bursts De-
yond the New York Governor and his
church into the ranks of Alabama and
other newspapers and at political OPP
ponents in his State. A few specially
selected shells were dropped in the
Senate press galleries. whose oweliers
he charged with having given undue
prominence to certain Of his utteranceS.
Didn't Mean II.
That last voiley concerned publica-
tion of Heflin'S recent challenge TO ms
party leader. Senator Robinson OF
Arkansas. 70 make his religlous toier,
ance speech in Alabama. and his added
a
red and feaihered if he did. The
Alshaman explained yesterday that his
statement was made in the heat OF
debate and that he hadn't meant It.
He said he had intended to strike
that part of his speech from the official
record and added that ''of course they
won't tar and feather Senator Robin.
soy, II he goes to Alabama" He offered
"a accompany his party chief to Mont
ron,ery and into Arkansas for joint
debate on the subject.
Swinging full tilt into his attack on
Gov. Smith and the Roman Catholic
Church. Senator Hefin shouted again
his warning that the White House must
never shelter Catholic Presioent ana
concluded with this defy:
Call a conference and nave TON
call on that. challenge YOU.
Attacks Newspapers.
His reference was TO the recent action
of his Democratic colleagues In giving
a caucus vote of confidence in the lead
ersl,ip of Robinson. who had reoukeo
Hefiin for his anti-Catholic TRADES.
Parad;ng a new string OF targets,
Helm attacked the Montgomery Adver-
tiser. which recently editorially declared
for Gov. Smith He said that curing
the World War the German allies ano
brewers furnished the money to buy IL,
and he attacked the Birmingham Age
Herald and the Birmingham news as
.whisky sheets" that were afraid 10
criticize the Catholic Church because
of fear of boycott"
He attacked also Paul Block. pub
Usher of Newark, Toledo and PITTS
burch papers. as the ''scoundrel" In
pittsburgh, who printed an attack on
Professionals by the Roman CathollcS ana
then refused TO publish as news or ad-
veytisenent the ProteStants' reply. Inc
New York World and Robert Barry,
newspaper correspondent. also were as
sailed
A grea. portion Of his fire was re-
served By Hefin for Mayor w. A Gun
ter of Montgomery, who has invited SEN
ator Robinson to make speech In the
Alabama capital Helm said the may
or's sister had married Roman Cath
Ole. whose sister was Mother Superior
Senaple of Mexico, and that Gunters
brother had married the sister OF q
Catholic priest
Challenges Mayor.
$50 now you are getting the environ
ueut Of Mayor Gunter." he observed.
He challenged the mayor 70 run Tor
governor In 1880 If he wants 70 speak
for the people of the State, and during
the night the challenge was accepted
BIZ Mr.. Gunter. From Montgomery. he
sent the Senator telegram announcing
his candidacy for delegate at large 70
the Democratic national convention.
and challenged Helm to do likewise.
The mayor said the gIbernatorial
race was too far OF" and he proposed
the earlier test TO give the loyal Demo-
Gratis Of Alabama this opportunity 70
speak their views on your efforts 10
dynamite free speech and free religion
out OF the Constitution"
Hefin dwelt at length on telegram
from citizens Of Admission. Ala, asking
Senator Robinson 70 make speech
there He said one Of the telegram's
sinners was a lawyer named Willett,
who, he declared, was attorney for Pat
rick O'Connor, Catholic priest who
committed felony at Admission.
Giving the Senate details OF the case,
Helm charged that the priest had killed
his own child and almost killed the
mother, married woman. and then
had fed 20 Canada.
Bruce Makes Reply.
That phase Of the speech was replied
10 later by senator Bruce OF Marylan0s
who said his information came from
Catholic sources. He denied that O'Con-
ssor was guilty. and said the priest had
fed from Alabama because he believed
q fair trial impossible because Of Ku
KiuZ Khan domination.
OF Smith. Helm said the governor
vas more than a Tamnlanyite. he IL
q wringing vet, nuiiifer. and Roman
Catholic"
He cannot be nominated" he said.
'"rkere is enough 10 defeat him with
out his being a Catholic. but being a
Catholic that ends IT.
Richard v. Taylor. member Of the
Interstate Commerce Commission, has
sent a telegram 70 Mayor Leon schwarz
OF Mobile. cofgfat'ilat.ng him upon his
Telegram 10 Senator Robinson. Mr. Tay-
l0r'g telegram follows;
MY congratulations 10 you and col
leagues upon telegram 10 Senator Rob-
3ns0n A great opportunity Is about
10 be- presented 10 American people OF
demonstrating 10 the world that the
principles Of religious liberty. declared
by Thomas jefferson and embodied In
our Constitution, EtIli 1--we and that no
mans pathway, be he Jew or GENTLE.
Catholic or Protestant, even 70 the
White House, shall be barred on ac-
count Of the manner in which he hum
by worsiips God"