AMERICAN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 28 January 1928, Page 3

AMERICAN NEWS

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.)

U.S. PRESIDENCY

NEW YORK, Jan. 20

Probably one of the most unusual and important aspects of the Presidential campaign has just been disclosed in a San Francisco despatch to the “New York Sun’’ stating that Mr Hoover and Airs Hoover were married at Afonterev, California by a Catholic Priest, after receiving special permission from the Bishop of that diocese.

This disclosure, in view of the intense feeling over Governor Al. Smith’s Catholicism and the fact that Mr Hoover has become a most prominent aspirant for Republican honours, promises to make both the liepublican and the Democratic Party Conventions next June centres of most intense dispute. Moreover, for several months now, there has been an underground current within the Republican circles themselves against Air Hoover’s candidacy. Governor Smith of Xew York, and Mr Hoover are unquestionably the strongest figures in both parties, but. by that very reason, they mav well Ik? eliminated at the conventions, lies cause it is' an inherent tendency for American partisan polities always to choose a neutral figure for the presidential election, but, about all it is now very clear that the religious issue will be a dominant and possibly a very disturbing, factor in the ensuing campaign.

QUITE A NOTH Dll STORY. NEW A'ORTC. .Tan. 2G. Hoover is a Quaker and Mrs Hoover was an Episcopalian, but she is now of the same faith as her husband. Ono report states that the priest was t* a close personal friend of Airs Hoover, while another has! it that Air Hoover was on the point of sailing •• for China and the only official in the neighbourhood capable of performing marriage ceremony was the Roman j Catholic priest who officiated in a manner similar to n Justice of the Peace.

RUSSIAN OIL. NEW YORK, Jan. 27

The 'belief that the United Slides Government would become involved in a controversy over the purchase of Russian oil products by the Standard Oil' Coy, was expressed in financial and oil circles in New York, when it became known that the United States Shipping Board had ordered 2400 tons of .Russian oil from that company to be delivered to Near Bast Ports. I his is interpreted to mean that the United States Government is giving tacit approval to the Standards trade relations- with the Soviet. Official circles in Washington ex•plain /that it is only a routine matter, and that the Shipping Board did not specify oil from any particular source. WAR ON RELIGION. NEW YORK, Jan. 27. The New York “Times” Mexico City correspondent reports that 225 persons were arrested at Catholic Colegia. on a charge of violating Article three of the constitution which prohibits the teaching of religion. Twenty women from another school were arrested on Tuesday on a similar charge, and two other minor institutions have been closed this week by the police acting on orders irom the Secret Service Department of the Ministry of Interior. None of those arrested, if convicted is likely to suffer more than the imposition of a fine, but this official action has suddenly brought the religious situation into prominence again, and shows the evident intention of the Government to enforce the law. _ The Secretary General of Police charges that those directing the seminary have been guilty of seditious propaganda. Some homeless sick children, found on the premises, were allowed to remain, but the majority of the others

were taken away. It is said, however, that these "dl probably be released without delay. Two women of a noted family were also arrested oh Wednesday, charged with beings concerned in a plot against the Government.