New Britain herald., 1928-08-08
smith CHALLENGES
JOHN R. STRATT0N
Governors Request to Be
Granted BY Minister

Albany, N. Y. Aug 5 ~
Governor Smith has thrown down
the gage OF battle to critics of his
public record, and has embraced in
his challenge those who speak from
the pulpit :?
Singing out to bear the hrunt of
his counter offensive Baptist min
lister Of New york-Dr. John Roach
Straton-the democratic presidential
nominee has called on him TO re-
peat, in his presence and in STRAIT
on's church, statement the clergy
man made last Sunday TO his con-
gregation that as a public man
Smith is the deadliest foe IN
America today of the forces Of NOR
al progress and true political MS
dom" The governor requested full
opportunity to reply.
To Accept
DR.. straton announced last night
that he would accept the challenge,
so today it appeared that a debate
between a presidential nominee and
minister of the Gospel in a house
of worship-something new in poll
teal campaigns-might be in the
otfing.
The governor in letter to the
Rev Straton yesterday called hlm 10
task for his declaration of Sunday
and suggested that he and the min
lister meet face to face during Labor
Day week in the minister's church,
Calvary Baptist
Il will permit you, if you choose.
to conduct the meeting by question
and answer" said Smith. Il will be
ready to answer any question you
nut to me which. in your opinion.
will in any degree tend to justify
your remarks"
Suggests Garden
In a counter proposal Dr. Straton
suggested that he and the governor
argue things out in Madison Square
Garden or some other large audi
torium, and also that they embark
on a joint debating tour through the
south.
The governors reaction to these
proposals had not been disclosed to-
day, although it was regarded as
certain he would reject both. His
friends pointed out that even II he
was so minded he could not set out
on a series of debates without upset
ting plans for stumping for the
presidency and they predicted that
he would insist on meeting his an
taEonist in the church where the
original charge was made.
In his letter to Dr. Straton. whose
name frequently appears on the
front pages Of Metropolitan news
papers. Smith, referring to the min
ister's declaration of Sunday, said
II do not know why you should
make a statement of that kind, but
! do know that l will never permit
IL to 20 unchallenged." Declaring
that he had spent IS years in thu
service OF the state of New Yorl
the governor added:
Not Political
II do not feel that I should
charge you with making this state
ment for any political purpose, as i
was made in a church devoted Il
the teachings of Christ. one O
which was Thou shalt not beal
false witness against thy nelghbor.
The governors assault on the
Baptist minister came unexpected
ly. Newspapermen assigned to cove1
him here had been on the lookou
instead for a reply OF sort to tbs
charges OF William Allen White. the
Kansas editor. who last week levelec
his guns at Smiths legislative RECORD
with relation to the saloon. CONNER
cialized vice and gambling. White
however, withdrew his charges re
garding gambling and vice,
Whether the Straton letter, so IA
as the democratic nominee is con
also to White who has gone to Eu
rope. or whether, there still i
something on the fire that will ex
plode in the kansan's direction, re
manned undisclosed today.
The governor Is carefully assess
ing details OF the White attack, anc
is going straight to the Legislative
record, which shows in black ant
white his stand on various proposal
as an a.ssemblyman, for his ammu
milton. A desk in his private offic
is covered with official volumes, re
cordlng past proceedings of the New
York legislature, and an overflow
surrounds it on the floor each bool
with slips of paper marking TIL
places to look for quick reference.
An Analy1e Attitude
In the event the governor Shout
decide TO reply. to White, it is ex
pected here to be more than an an
swer. Smiths friends are of III
opinion that he would analyze hi
attitude toward social legislation i
sweeping fashion. probably coverin
more ground than that em"raced b
the White charges
AS he is surveying the record an
making a decision as to a pC.slhl
reply TO the EDITOR. the governo
also is under the compulsion c
whipping his acceptance speech int
shape. His notification comes tw
weeks from tonight. and he want
to put the finishing touches on hi
address by this time next week. II
still has q long way to go.
CnIr01kIIi u|lk1C