Heflin v. Priest

A fortnight ago, in the course of his continued-in-our-next speech against Catholics, James Thomas Heflin of Alabama said in the U. S. Senate: "Monsignor Belford is a villainous and scurrilous little Catholic puppy up here in the State of New York, who edits or writes for a little sheet called The Mentor, and who suggests that a thug be hired to waylay and attack me. I could pinch his brains out between my thumb and forefinger."

Mgr. John L. Belford is a priest not undistinguished. He is 66, a Doctor both of Divinity and Philosophy. Last week he issued this reply:

"Heflin: I have just read the Congressional Record of Jan. 28. I am glad my shaft struck home! It pierced your thick hide. It made you squeal.

"You say I have no brains. Let us take the Binet test. If I do not beat you I will give you a prize. You have no right to a seat in the Senate. You know it. The disenfranchised Negroes know it.

"Brag about your size! Why, we have bigger hogs right here on Long Island! And some of them have more sense!"

He denied advocating thugging of Senator Heflin. Said he: "I facetiously remarked that apparently the only thing to do with a fellow like that is to have a couple of men take him out some where and roll him in the mud. He must be made to look ridiculous. The Senator, however, hasn't sense enough to realize that the suggestion was a facetious one."