The Washington times., 1928-06-21
OFFEN DED,
SMITH BREAK
LOOMS

~ international News Services

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HOUSTON. Tex. June 1.-The
first rumble 81 the prohibition tain.
der that may rock the Democratic
national convention reverberated
about Houston today Il Offered
4 prelude, perhaps. Of what Isl to
come and incidentally what may
change this convention from q
Smith ratification meeting into q
noisy. controversial and bitter com
panion-piece to Madison Square
Garden.
GOV. AL Smiths managers took
prompt measures to squeich It. But
they were not entirely successful,
nor did they succeed before the cur
tain was lifted bit to afford an
insight into the feeling Of the New
York delegation.
Mack's First Gum
Norman X. Mack, veteran natiun9l
committeeman from New York. and
one OF Gov Smiths closest personal
friends, fired the opening gum in .
statement in which he gave IN
stinted praise 70 Gov. Smith. and
included these observations:
Gov. Smith has, and always WA,
stand for liberty and States rights.
He is opposed to prohibition. He h
for temperance
'aThe trouble with the American
people Is that they do not appre-
ciate what prohibition has meant
and does mean today. III they only
realized what hardship IL Is to
the business Of this country they
would not stand for il.
Gov. Smith believes that X any
State desires a certain alcoholic
content OF beverage, that State he's
the right to determine that content.
IL the State desires to be dry, then
1t Is the right of that State to pe
dry"
Slaps Foreign Loans
Mack said: ut is absolutely Grim
lnal for American business to
allow foreign countries to take 20
much money out OF this country for
LIQUOR. And he referred to people
in the States of Michigan, Ohio.
Indiana, Illinois, and New York
spending the greater portion OF their
time and money imbibing the
liquors so easily obtained in Can.
ada
Macl's bombshelI coming from
the source it did and on the eve
Of the convention was immediately
taken up by grim-faced drys who
are here to do battle with the
Smith forces. It created q first
class sensation among the arriving
delegates.
FRANTIC friends of the governor
started looking Immediately for
George II. Van Nance, the Smith
pre-convention manager, who may
be the next chairman of the ma
tional committee.
1t was long past midnight when
they found him. The lateness Of
the hour and the then inpossibilitv
Of recalling the statement dis
tressed Van Nance not a little.
Did you say that, Norman" asked
Van Nance
Yes said the veteran New
York leader, somewhat embarrassed
Il said it. but want it distinctly
understood was expressing my
own personal views and that I was
not talking for Governor Smith =
My God" exploded Van Nance.
you are the national committee.
man from New York. You are the
first Democratic leader down here
from New York and people will
think You are speaking for the
governor"
II was only speaking for my.
self, repeated Mack.
Van Nance Very Sore
We'll" said Van Nance, address
Ing. group in the lobby OF the
Rice Hotel, nobody here has any
authority to express Governor
Smiths opinion on any subject
whatever. be it prohibition, the
League of Nations or any other
question that may become CON
nected with the platform. When
the proper time comes the governor
will express his views. Governor
Smith always talks for himself