WHY MR. HOOVER WON [To the Editor• of the SPECTATOR.]
Six,—The ideas expressed in Mr. F. W. O'Donnell's letter, published in your issue of December 15th, are so remote from the facts that I cannot let that communication go unchallenged; -lest it convey a false impression to the readers of the Spectator as to " Why Hoover_Won." _Undoubtedly there were inany who questioned Al Smith's candidacy as a Roman .Catholic, because through the world's history to this day the Church of Rome by pronouncement from its highest authorities has inveighed against_ those outside , its fold as heretics and unbelievers.. The term " bigotry " has been turned against those who see danger in that historic condemnation which is the very denial of that religious freedom in•search of which our fathers_ took refuge on these-shores. . • _
• Moreover, the dominance of the Church over the • State which also is > Roman Catholic history, is so un-American as to awaken distrust of a Catholic occupancy of the White House. -It was not " hate • and spite," but cool reason that advised caution. -.Vindictiveness, as - Mr. O'Donnell's letter evidences, was on the other side. Acknowledging,- then, that the religious consideration was a factor -in influencing -many to :vote against Al Smith, what is to be said about those who, in vast numbers, voted for him because of his religion and were instructed to do so.? If one act was " bigotry," what about the other ? It is understood• in this country that the two antipathetic elements offset each other at the polls. Prohibition was, indeed, a powerful -factor in gaining for Mr. Hoover the- victory. Women voted as never -before against the possible election of a self-proclaimed apostle and -champion of drink. -In the issue of the Spectator of -the previous week you observe editorially ".One of the contributing causes to American prosperity is undoubtedly the elimination of -.drinking- in large sections of -the communityin It is that
" prosperity ". which the American people upheld. at the
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