The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-03-12
Father CoughLin h
 x. Scathing Attack
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Progressing along this reasoning, he asserted that bankers were re- sponsible for the depression by calling these loans. He pictured the ruin of foreclosures, of forced sales. The bankers took the money thus obtained, lent it to the gov- ernment at per cent to feed the unemployed, for which he said. tho government would return $6,O0O,- 100000 in interest in IS years on loans totalling 8,0O0,000,000.
 The new treasury policy which withdraws the right of National banks to issue currency was adopt ed, Coughlin said, after he hal advocated it for years. He termed the new policy, President Roose- velt's answer, ito you and your false charges"
 Replying to Johnson's charges, Coughlin took them up one by one.
 Defends Right to Talk
 First, Johnson's statement that Coughlin should discard his "Ro- man cassock" before discussing political questions.
 "I am mindful that as a Catho- lie priest, whose voice has been carried into the homes of millions of persons who do not share my faith--I am thoroughly mindful that despite differences of religion, race, color, and of profession, I am also an American citizen prt- vileged as such to speak to Ameri- can citizens.
 'It Is and always will be im- possible for me to divest myself of my Catholic priesthood. Never theless, in accepting the dignities which my religion conferred upon me, I sacrificed in no respect the rights identified to my citizenship. I regret sincerely that a man who once held such high office in our nation either ignorantly or maliciously has called into ques- tion this fundamental principle of citizenship"
 Real American Citizen
 Second, Johnson's intimation that Coughlin might not be an Ameri- can citizen.
 My dear general, I am as much, if not more, of an American as you are or ever will be-"
 Johnson, he said, was one gen. eration removed from Ireland.
 Coughlin's grandfather is buried at Lackawanna, N. r., his greet grandfather "dulled many a pick with the pioneers who dug the Erie canal" He was born of parents on Canadian soil.
 Third, Johnson's assertion that he had broken religious VOWS of poverty. He had never taken such VOWS: therefore could not break them.
 Fourth, that hhe had profited by the standardization of silver, wNich had advocated. The Ra- dio League of the Little Flower had profited to the extent of $12,- 900, he said. He himself had profited not at all. Continuing, he said:
 Calls Baruch Postmaster
 "It is perfectly ethical for your Bernard Baruch, to profit by his gold and silver trans- actions, but it Is totally unethical for the people who have been ex- plotted by his group of spectators and international bankers to gath CT the crumbs of profit which fall from the table of the commodity market"
 Fifth, that Coughlin has been opposed to President Roosevelt, since the treasury made public names of silver purchasers, which included Coughlin's radio organiza- tion.
 "An entire nation knows that this statement is palpably untrue," he said. On that point my record is clear. Who originated the slogan Roosevelt or Ruin?" Who repeat ed again this year? The real enemies who are boring from with in have been you and your group of Wall Streeters, of international ~a
 Not Against Roosevelt
 'If our people are growing dis-