The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1928-09-01
Smith Verihes Whites Charges

OHllIn VGIlIlSS VlltG ) AndIg0S
Governor AL Smith has completely verified all the
charges made against his legislative record by William
Allen White People who inclined to doubt the
accuracy of Assemblyman Al Smiths legislative as
reported by the Kansas editor, longer doubt.
Smith does not deny his vote reported by
Mr. White on any bill He does not question the purpose
of the bills as interpreted by so would
be futile The bills are written in plain language Gov
Smiths vote recorded in the Assembly Journal
All the governor does do all he do is to explain
why he voted he did Herein is involved the question
of motive the only point of difference between Editor
White and Al Smith this question of Asemblyman
Smiths record The governors attempt at explanation
has only weakened his and emphasized the chief
charges made against him by Mr. White, viz that Gov
Smith an obedient and faithful servant of
Tammany Hall, and legislator stood guard pro-
ector of those interests which dear to Tammanys
heart
Governor Smith is very much hurt that Mr.. White
charged him with protecting public prostitution and
gambling White Modified that statement by saying
that he willing to believe that Assemblyman Smith
voted he did the involving these two vices
the belief that the proposed reform measures would
declared unconstitutional Smith does deny the
vote but declares that because of Mr. Whites socaed
retracon the controversy that much of his
settled
The whole discussion resolves Itself into this Governor
Smith does not attempt TO dispute the fact that he voted
measures involving the saloon public
prostitution and gambling charged by Mr. White and
as shown by the Assembly Journal He admits it. He
does, however attempt to justify his votes He bases this
justification three propositions First, that he voted
with the majority of Assemblymen; Second, that many
Republican members of the Assembly voted these
he voted: and Third that he represented his
constituency in casting his votes he did.
is on trial. Nobody is interested at this time how his
colleagues voted His record is trial because he is the
presidential candidate and at that it would not be
perhaps vital matter because the record made
decade ago except for the fact that Al Smith,
presidential candidate declares that he has not changed
his views the liquor question: and therefore the pub
lie has to believe that what he attitude of
Al Smith Assemblyman toward liquor and its allied
vices would also be his attitude he to become Pres
dent of the United States.
In to the second proposition 1t is we'll to remind
Governor Smith that the liquor question before the
people his Assembly days partisan question
closing limited hours of selling. Party lines
broken down and therefore Republicans and Democrats
found in the camp of the opponents of the saloon,
they also found in the wet camp. The question
today involving the Eighteenth Amendment and the Vol
stead law and the enforcement of the prohibition law is
not partisan question except far Al Smith him
self has made it He did this when he bolted the
prohibition plank of the Houston convention.
His third proposition appears be answer to the
question sometimes hear What harm can a wet
president do?" If Governor Smith is elected President
of the United States he will have to believe that it
is mandate from the people to repeal cripple the
prohibition law to make it Ineffective And know
ing his enmity TO the prohibition policy, does anyone
doubt with what eagerness and with what zeal he would
urge and work for any and all looking to the
overthrow of the prohibition policy on the ground that he
representing his constituency. No doubts that
Assembyman Smiths constituency wet dripping wet.
and that he served them we'll