Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1929-01-25
Smith Appeals For Funds To Pay
Off Deficit.

Alfred E. Smith. recent Democratic Presi-
Dental candidate and Governor Of New
York. appealed over the radio to the rank
and file of his party Wednesday night to
help raise the $l,500,000 deficit that
stands as an aftermath Of the 1.-The happy
warriors" defeat. He spoke over a coast
to-coast hook-up Of thirty stations. under
the auspices of the Democratic National
Committee.
Mr.. Smith announced his contribution
TO the committee would be his campaign
speeches, for which he said he had had
several offers from publishers. A bound
copy Of the speeches, illustrated with pho
tographs taken on his campaign tours and
published by the national committee. would
be sent to each contributor of So or more.
In making the appeal for funds, Mr. Smith
seconded recent assertions of Gov. Franklin
d. Roosevelt that the Democratic party
needed more consistent national publicity
between campaigns
Immediately following every national
election" the forme Governor said. THE e
is always apparent general lack of in
terest in the welfare of the party. 1t has
been the habit of the Democratic party to
function only six months in every four
years This is demonstrated by the fact
that no attempt was made to liquidate the
deficit left from the national campaign Of
1924 until the spring of 1928.
when the Democratic party finds itself
facing national convention it begins to
shop around the country for the place
likely to put up the most money toward
liquidation of the deficit
More than that. it has been the custom
right along to have the party deficit taken
care Of by comparatively small group.
and usually the small group has an inter-
est in some particular candidate, This
hold to be an unwholesome condition for
any political party. 1t tends to place too
much power exactly where it should not
be-in the hands of the few"
Saying that he would regret the neces-
sity Of asking any small group to meet
such deficit" Mr.. Smith remarked:
There must be a great many people
who can afford to send the National Com
mittee $l00-a great many could afford
$50-a great many more $40, or even SIS. "
He urged that the Democratic party be-
come a progressive. militant party and
emphasized the need for minority party
under a system Of government such as
that of the I'm ted States.
THE dark chapters of American history
from 1921 TO 1924 are an indication of
what can take place in the Government
Of our country in the absence of an active
minority party" he said. Were it not for
the vigilance Of the Democrats and Pro-
gressives in Congress the whole shameful
story of the oil leases might never have
been told.
"A political party that polls nearly 49,
100000 popular votes should be a tre-
mendous factor in the politics of the
country, and the strength and force Of
that body should not be lost by failure to
maintain an organization which would
enable them to make themselves heard
and i,lt in the affairs Of our nation"
Mr.. Smith told his radio audience there
was need at all times for real facts con-
cerning public happenings"
TO produce and publish material and
information cost money" he continued.
There are two sides to many public ques-
lions and there are facts which ought to
be brought fairly and honestly before the
American people in the next four years.
I'VE have seen a number Of misleading
editorials printed in the Republican press
concerning the crushing defeat admins
tered TO the Democratic party. While it IL