Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-25
MINISTER EXPLAINS
ANTESM|TH VIEWS
Rev. Dr.. F. B. Harris Cites
Nominees Wet Stand in
Coming Out for Hoover.

Declaring that an apparent change
of heart on the part of Gov. AL Smith
of New York in 1924 on the matter of
liquor law enforcement, failed of per-
manence, Rev. DR.. Frederick Brown
Harris, pastor of Foundry Methodist
Church here. today explained why he
voted for and supported Smith in 1924
and is now aligned with the opposl-
ton.
1t was following a prohibition con-
ference of governors with President
Coolidge that Smith came back to AL
bany with an apparent change OF
heart" as to prohibition enforcement.
DR.. Harris said, but the change OF
heart, was not apparent in his an
nouncement that he would work for
the modification of the prohibition en-
forcement law Immediately after he re-
ceived the nomination from the Demo-
cratic party.
Rev. DR.. Harris statement, replying
to a statement from the Democratic
national committee criticizing him for
his attack on Gov. Smith recently, tol-
lows:
DIR. Harris Statement.
THE fact that I voted for Smith as
Governor of New York in 1924 could
not have been known. of course, had I
not willingly divulged it. One of my
Democratic friends evidently peddled
that news to the Democratic national
committee, unconscious of the fact that
it was loaded with anti-Smith dynamite.
7 presume the motive of the one glee-
fully delivering that contribution on
the doorstep of the Democratic ma
tional committee was the belief that it
would muffie the thunder of my speech
of last week. 1t was silly decision of
the Democratic national committee to
broadcast that as reply to what
said.
Lone of the leading business men of
this city told me yesterday that the fact
that voted for Smith as governor made
my statement, opposing him now, all the
more effective as it absolutely cleared
me of any possible charge of intolerance
and blgotry, when I, a Protestant
preacher and Republican, voted for a
Catholic Democrat as Governor of New
York. voted for him because, in spite
of his many failures of the past with
regard to prohibition, he had just come
back from the conference of governors
called by President Coolidge. The Pres
ident had pleaded with the governors to
get back of enforcement. Smith came
back to New York with what seemed to
be change of heart. He announced
that the prohibition law must be en-
forced, called a meeting of State officials
to MAKE positive his assertions, and de-
clared he would hold them to honest
enforcement.
Cites Wet Outbursts.
Thinking that perhaps, in spite of
his saloon record, If given another
chance, with one hand on the Bible and
the other raised to heaven as he took
the oath of governor, he might keep
his word Il voted for him. He was
elected by Democrats and Republicans.
Again he lifted his hand to take the
oath, but he did not lift a finger to
enforce the law. His outbreaks against
the whole prohibition experiment be-
came more and more violent. The
nation. He sent his infamous tee-
gram to the convention, virtually Veto
ing all that the temperance forces
had accomplished in the platform COM
mittee. Had he sent it before the
balloting he would not have been the
candidate today.
That Decentralization betrayal of
the party is now marShaling hosts of
anti-Smith Democrats in the South,
who do not enjoy being doublecross-
ed. He Immediately appointed as his
campaign manager a Republican, who
eagerly accepted the Job in order. as
he put it, to rid the country of the
damnable affiiction of prohibition
gave Smith the benefit of the doubt as
Governor of the State.
Recalls Smiths Record.
Nov the Democratic national COM
mittee thinks I am inconsistent for be-
lieving him then and opposing him now
Smith has proved that he cannot even
approach the 'onble experiment of
prohibition with the scales of moral
and economic Judgment, but always
with thirst, bottle and a Tammany
tomahawk. His record in New York
as the arch foe of prohibition explains
why, in 1926, outside of foreignized New
York City. he carried but counties
out of the 62 in New York State. And
the same record will explain why a
good many political eggs that Tammany
is now counting will not hatch on
November g."
Sixteen motor cars duly decorated,
comprise the first caravan of "a Hoover
whirlwind speaking campaign in the
East" There's nothing like whlrl-