Evening star., 1933-11-29
COUGHL|N DENIES
/ SMITHS CHARGES
Priest Claims He Did Not Say
Former Candidate Saw
Morgan on Loan.
By the Associated Press.


DETROIT, November 29.-Terming
the reVerberatiOnS from his address on
President Roosevelt's monetary policies
as tempest in the teapot" Rev.
Father Charles E. Cougf1lin today said
his remarks relative to Alfred e. Smith
"appear to have been distorted by some
people who wish to draw a herring
across the path of Mr.. Smiths mfor-
tunate statements opposing the Presi-
dent"
STILL" the militant priest declared,
Il am not hedging at all. Bishop Gal
lagher bright Rev. Michael j. Gallagher,
Roman Catholic Bishop of Detroit)
knows that have ample proof to SUBJ
stantiate what I said. This morning
over the telephone he permitted me to
make the above statement"
Referring directly to his remarks
concerning Smith, Father Coughlin de-
.clared:
Not Hedging
Il did not say that Mr.. Smith went
ito see Mr.. Morgan, personally. I did
not say he obtained the loan. I did
not say he received any loan directly
from the House of Morgan. Still, am
not hedging at all.
Lie lull SIdJtulcllG VI tllC pllCot,
made several hours after he returned
from New York, where he had heatedly
defended President RooSevelt's none
rtary policy and attacked Smith for his
opposition to the Presidents views fol-
lows:
Relative to the New York Hippo
;drome meeting, may I call to your at
rfention that when Mr.. Henry Morgen-
fthau, ST.; Senator Thomas and Senator
tOwen referred even indirectly as well
.as once or twice directly to Mr.. Smith,
%catcalls, kissing and booing were
aroused by their remarks.
This was before I approached the
tmicrophone.
Il regret that the erstwhile supporters
of the Ex-Governor saw fit to take
this attitude. I am sure that with
sober thought they join with me in
remembering the great good performed
by Alfred Smith in by-gone days, even
; if they depreciate the unfortunate at
tack which he made indirectly against
our Presidents monetary policy.
Quotes Statements.
Again I repeat that Mr. Smith is
the outstanding Catholic layman, and
to my mind deserving of that title.
Now what is of greater import in
this tempest in the teapot is related to
Mr.. Smiths so-called visit to Mr. Nor
gan.
Let me quote for you exactly what
] have said, and what appears to be
distorted by some people who wish to
draw a herring across the path of Mr..
Smiths unfortunate statements oppos-
ing the President.
Before a national audience and as
geographically reported and witnessed
by notary public, these are the words:
ct could partially explain the reac-
tionary mind of this once-great Demo-
crat by narrating the full incident Of
two Roman Catholic bishops who mo-
tored with him (Smith) to Morgan's S
Office when there was occasion to ar
range a substantial loan to finance the
Empire State Building. But let that
pass
II did not say that Mr.. Smith went
to see Mr.. Morgan personally. I did
not say he obtained the loan. I did
not say he received any loan directly
from the House of Morgan. Still, I am
not hedging at all Bishop Gallagher
knows that have ample proof to sub
stantiate what I said.
This morning over the telephone he
permitted me to make the above state
ment
II submit one correction, namely, that
instead of the two bishops it was more
correct to say 'one bishop and one
clergyman"
FALSE" SAYS SMITH.