The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-10-04
Alfred E. Smith


 Fighter, We try now to remember that which was most representative of the man-a day, year. time when he was presidential candidate, a governor of New York, builder of the worlds mightieSt building, leader of politics, Header of men, an ardent churchman, a faithful husband and father - and no one phase of that life superSedes another sn importance, so that 1t is impossible to cite any one and Say-"that was the real A Smith. He was all of such things and many more. A man of tremendous spirit with heart big enough for all life and for all his fellowmen,
 He was a candidate, in 1928, for the presidency of the United States whose Interests were of the people, first, and his party, second. An ardent churchman, one of the foremost of Catholic laymen, he was pllloriZed at that time on the rack of a religious bigotry born of Smoldering hatreds and deceits, which had lain in sullen Information for years and tEen had been stirred to fierce awakening by the falSehoodS of rabble-rousing oppo- nertS. The word shame" was written across the nation, that year, as enemy and opponents of his realized that they had succeeded only in soiling themselves &sAAO HUI lklS AAAttAA, WAASl VAASASAA by numbers, was the true moral victor.
 Those of us who saw him during his brief stay in Waterbury, at the time or his campaign, remember him as force ful figure, spirited, warm, an eager fighter, fair opponent. Scornful ot political opportunists he boldly announced his "take walk" policy in 1886 and broke from the ranks of administration supporters in the belief that the party was rampant with and usurped by polit' { ical carpet-baggers" He withdrew from Ehe frontsline activities then to his offices in the high towers of the Empire State building his political monastery.
 A champion of moral beliefs, he de- Tended such tenetS not with the poisoned weapons of narrow intolerance but in the belief that human frailitieS of man should be forgiven by man. Integrity oI word and deed marked him during days when such principles were cheapened py those lacking in courage and who Sacrl kiced honor to material opportunism,
 It has been said that view of mans home life Is an honest appraisal Of ms worth. If such be so, his reflected the man. A faithful husband and loyal father he was a devoted supporter Who steered his family ship through the tricky W8tGrS Ol IdLAS' 4AlOoS SASSS w that the heart of the man Wavered a1ter the death, last spring, of his beloved Wlfe. Those two had shared hardships together and had enjoyed success together neither Df which ever was permitted to come De- tween the bond of affection and loyalty Rhey treasured.
 Al Smith knew the people of America. Ee was an American cosmopolite; rarity an this nation of sectional differences habits and beliefs. The derby hat, the cigar crowding the mouth, the raspy twist nf New York dialect - they were the front. the facade, there for the world to zee. The man and his deeds, his kind S,esses and understanding - they were sO be found in the great and gentle heart If a gentleman, beneath that facade.
 His death has touched us all, but in New York among his millions of neigh hors". it must be matter of disbelief. bsIPast Side. West Side, All Around the 9own" = but the notes aren't as gay. Hlhere must be 8 difference today in the 5dany facets of New York which knew khe man. The carnival music of Broad " must seem slower for the moment; snlitlcai activities must seem less color h1l: the driving pressure of business must SaeI,1 lighter. and death has taken on zaanectfvil importance to the raucous I@kfeots of the East Side where death ssually is Q shabby, intimate compan' ion. An echoing familiar tread fades rom the sidewalks of New York never s be heard again