The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-03-16
Ayotte Ansluers Charge
 OfReu. ALson J Smith
President of Local Study Club Suggests That Local Minister Lift Himself to Plane of Com mon Honesty" ~ Questions His Sincerity in
 Public Statement

Rev. Alison J. Smiths attack on Rev. Charles Coughlin, noted radio priest, in a speech made last Sum- day evening before the State Fed eration of Mems Bible Glasses, was answered today in a public letter by George Ayotte, president of the Citizens Study club and one of the city's foremost leaders in the Social Justice movement.
 MT. Ayotte challenges the sheer ity of Rev. MT. Smith and demands that he produce proof of the ac- cusations which he made against Father Coughlin.
 The letter follows:
 ~ March IA, 1889. Editor of The Democrat:
 In a Sunday evening discourse delivered before the State Fed eration of Mems Bible Glasses, the Rev. Alison J. Smith, pastor of Grace Methodist church of Wa terville, Conn, attacked the Rev. Charles E. Coughlin, well known Radio Priest, as No. Nuisance -an outstanding demogogue, peddler of crackpot panaceas for every social and economic ail- ment in American life. He also attacked Father Couglllin as an Anti-Semite."
 Father Coughlin needs no aux Hilary defense in meeting attacks upon him. In the past he has proved himself ready to take on all challengers and give them the choice of weapons. whether it be verbal rapier bludgeon or meat cleaver. He is well able to handle his own problems without any help from Rev. Alison J. Smith.
 Why this sudden, violent and vituperative attack upon Catho- lie priest by a Methodist minis ter. Is history by any chance re- beating itself? sN
 I presume Rev. MT. Smith is prepared to furnish ample proofs to back up his assertions. The fact that Rev. MT. Smith says Father Coughlin's theories are inaccurate does not in itself prove them wrong. Proof-proof, my friend, that's what we want. If you have any information about Father Coughlin that the general public should know, by all means, let us have 1t, and don't con- ceal anything.
 As personal friend and great admirer of Rev. Charles Cough lin, demand that you prove the statements you made Sunday even- ing.
 Knowing Father Coughlin as do, your statements are bare- faced malicious evasion of truths, which you cannot deny, much less substantiate with facts. Truths which all citizens are, interested in bringing to thousands of sim cere people who in their search for Social Justice have become vic- tims of Red propaganda.
 A liberal sprinkling of salt should be applied to Rev MT Smiths discourse because 1t carries the oAOA VI 1lo1l - n xSGaC x1EIt1IlNI! The odor nauseates all the more because Rev. MT. Smith is att tacking a clergyman of another faith than his own. In other words, Rev. MT. Smith by his own words, places upon himself and upon his church the stamp of bigotry and intolerance.
 The Protestants, Jews and non- believers who are said to out number the Catholics in Father Coughlin's following, are not in his corner because of the Creed he professes. They back him be- cause he has stepped out as the champion of the cause of the un- derprivileged and the denouncer of the social injustices in our economic system. Up to now he has made articulate the rightful claims of the unemployed and op- ! pressed. a5ts k , Father Coughlin was the first in the 20th century with his heart in tune with the forgotten man. Like all trail blazers he is sow ing that others might reap. He is exposing the base hypocrisy and dishonesty of a segment of bigots who are the first to rally around the sacred constitution and the first to nuilify one of it's out standing clauses.
 Our problems Rev. Mir. Smith,