The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-04-14
GUNS TRAINED
ON ROOSEVELT
BY AL SMITH
Attacks New York Governor
as 'Demagog'; Forget
War Debts, He Says.
TALKS TO PARTY HEADS
In Conference With RaSkOb
and ShouSe After Speech
StartIeS Leaders.
BY RAYMOND CLAPPER
limited Press Staff Corresnondent

United Press STAFF Correspondent
WASHINGTON, April 14.-Alfred
E. Smith, Jouett Shouse, chairman
of the Democratic national commit
tees executive committee, and John
Raskob, Democratic national chair
man, met in secret conference today,
supposedly an outgrowth of Smiths
startling speech at Wednesday
nights Jefferson day dinner here.
Smith, in his speech, proposed that
the United States forget" European
war debts for twenty years. Then
he turned to denounce 'demogogic"
politicians, and promised to fight
them to bitter end.
His attack was accepted as aimed
at Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt
of New York-the man who in 1928
nominated Smith at Houston as the
Happy Warrior"
Meet in Secret Spot
Hardly mad the politicians had a
chance to swallow their morning
coffee today before Smith, Raskob
anu CllOuoC obO1C away W q oCOlCI
'hideout" near the Willard hotel,
scene of Wednesday nights dinner,
locked the doors and began meet
ing which may have important con-
sequences.
Raskob is considered as strongly
Roosevelt; a supporter of the
stop Roosevelt" movement.
Shouse's appeals for unpledged
delegations are looked upon by
many as his main contribution to
the effort to prevent the New York
Governor carrying the party's
standard in 1882.
Roosevelt's friends today were in
clined to discount the general con-
struction of an Roosevelt at
tack. placed upon Smiths speech
They said it was directed not at
Roosevelt but at many politicians.
Roosevelt Fails to Attend
Proposing a plan designed to
promote international trade, Smith
suggested that the United St~teSa
forget" war debts for twenty
years. During that time, he urged,
the United States should erase from
the debts each year one-fourth of
the value of goods bought from
this country by the debtors.
In a passage interpreted as re-
ferring to an address made by
Roosevelt last week, Smith said:
Il will take off my coat and vest
and fight to the bitter end against
any candidate who persists in any
demagogic appeal to the masses of
the working people of this country
to destroy themselves by setting
class against class or rich against
poor"
Roosevelt, in assailing the Hoover
business relief program a week ago,
declared the administration has
forgotten or does not not want to
remember" the man at the bottom
of the economic pyramid"
The absence of Roosevelt from
this gathering of Democratic lead
ers caused much private comment
a good deal of it critical. His tele-
gram excusing himself on the
ground of state business brought
only ,rief burst of applause.
Other Candidates" Speak
Several other potential party cam
didates paraded their wares before
the assembled Democrats.
Former Governor James M. Cox
of Ohio said. that conditions might
not improve until public officials
were willing to risk their jobs to
save the nation, declaration which
brought heavy applause and low
voiced references to the bonus from
the guests.
Former Governor Harry F. Byrd
of Virginia outlined new prohibit
ton plan involving an elaborate
program calling for two, constitu-
tional amendments.
He proposed an amendment to
the Constitution which would pro-
vide way of amending the. eight
eeenth amendment by holding
popular referendum in which a ma
JOIlOy FOGc III I'LL cC=4Ou1 O1Io VI Ol4C
states would be necessary for ap-
proval.
Governor Ritchie Of Maryland de-
Tended the party against criticism
arising out of the conduct of house
Democrats during the tax bill fight.
ALBANY, N. Y, April 14.-Gov-
ernor Franklin D. Roosevelt smil-
ingly refused to comment today on
former Governor Alfred E. Smiths
address last night at JefferSonian
day dinner in Washington.
Have you anything to say about
the former Governors speech?" a
reporter asked.
NO. replied the Governor with
chuckle. But I'll tell you a
funny one"
"a friend of mine called from
New York City today and said:
Wasn't that a terrible attack AL
made on Alfalfa Bill Murray"