The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-01-27
MONDAY. JANUARY 81, 1885.
AL SMITHS SPEECH

"A ~ OWL n ID Stll t44t SupSl-9LO"L4d4-tI4c 4o-
tons most entertaining public speaker; master
of the phrase and the infection and the pause.
Believe with him or against him, you can't help con-
Guiding that in this land of free speech it is healthy
to have him and his picturesque language and his
vivid point of view. Long may he i've and more
frequently may he appear.
AS for the immediate OCCASION if billion
dollar audience got its moneys worth, that starched
and bejeweled gathering did. They heard what
they had come to hear, and East Side assem-
blage could have been nosier with its catcals and
its whistles and its stompings Many a white tie
quivered and many shirt bosom creaked as cries
of pour 1t on EN-" reverberated into the chan
deers
The environment was strange one for Al. Most
of those present were of the sort that eight years
ago thought AL lived the wrong side of the tracks
Now as the wheel of politics has turned, he is their
hero That all seemed symboized somehow by the
fact that for the first time he pronounced it radio,
not "raddio." AL had moved up town. The brown
derby was no more
IRON the political point of view the speech was
of undoubted Importance in that it expressed
out loud the feeling of lot of Democrats to whom
Roosevelt has been too strong meat. The subject
matter covered was not especially convincing to those
not already convinced
Though picturesquely presented it lacked the ele-
ment of surprise 1t got over quite the same ground,
no more and no less, that already trod by Smiths
ancient enemy, Hearst, by Hoover, by Fletcher, by
Hastings and by Talmadge Al just did it more
entertainngly, that's ALL
What he expressed will tend to strengthen those
who are prone to bolt. His threat to take walk
if the 1886 platform doesn't suit him lacked any
large quantity of shock because he gave the
pedometer considerable workout in 1882 and ta1l-
ure to call Franklin "Old Potato" this year won't
cause much of sensation Some unquestonably
will Join him in the STROLL if he decides to take it.
How many, no one can say 1t is fact, however,
that our party system of government develops great
adhesive qualities from nomination to election, as
witness Smiths own delayed and reluctant support
Of Roosevelt in 80.
TINE strongest part of his Speech it seemed to u.s.
Il was when he hit at that undoubtedly weak spot
In the Roosevelt armor-his reference to Roosevets
night message to Congress wherein the President re-
ferred to newly set up instruments of public power
and the danger therein if that power were placed
in improper hands.
'Now, interpret that" said Smith, "to mean
that if you are going to have autocrat, take me.
We don't want autocrats We wouldn't even
take good one.
To us the least convincing part was when he re-
sorted to his familiar and usually effective device
of looking at the record"
If what happened between the writing OF the
platform in June, 1892 and inauguration day in
March, 1888 could be wiped out that attack would
have been devastating But an emergency unfore-
seen in June 1888, did occur. The newly elected
President had to meet it, The whole nation de-
manded that he act as the emergency required He
did act The wisdom unwisdom of his action is
proper subject for debate and criticism now. But
that he acted in accordance with the size of the
emergency is not it seems to us, point that will
much impress the American people. We doubt
whether Smith or Hoover any one else would have
been thumbing through any party rule book in those
dark and dangerous days.
DUT most of all, without attempting in this space
- to deal with every phase of the Speech we get
back to the queer company in which this man from
the lower East Side now finds hnself-the Liberty
League. Karl Marx in the Union League Club would
seem no more fantastic. AS we look into our men,
ory of the Smith that was; the Smith who now at
tacks the New Deal as socialstic the Smith who
said in 1929
THE cry of Socialism has been patented by the
powerful interests that desire to put damper on
progressive legislation. Failing to meet arguments
fairly and squarey. special interest falls back
the old stock phrases of Socialism. To refer to
the remedies for all these evils state Socialism is
not constructive craftsmanship it is not leadership;
and leadership is what this country is hungry for