The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-05-08
The Not Unwelcome
Characterization of
Rev. w. F. Crafts.
Interesting Methods He
Employs in His Works
of Reform.
He Tells What He Has
Done and What He
Hopes to Do.
tf-HE speaker of the third house


the policeman of the world. :"
L That is the way they speak of
the Rev. Wilbur F. Crafts. superintend-
ent OF the international Reform Bureau.
Dr. Crafts rather rejoices in the title.
He calls himself the Christian lobby
EST" and points with pride" to the
eight reform bills he has succeeded In
having enacted into law.
Dr. Crafts has had a checkered ca
reer but the larger part Of ii has been
devoted 10 measures Of reform. When
he has not been successful in putting
a great bureau behind him he has gone
out on his own account and Senators and
Representatives have learned 10 fear his
vigorous onslaughts upon their preroga-
tives They swear at him in secret, but
when he calls upon them they furnish
many thousands OF franked envelopes
Snd never make a murInur.
AS q matter of fact. that is one secret
of the bureaus success. BY means or
the franked envelopes influential men
and women in every city. town and viii
lage of the land are easily reached, ana
through them the members OF Congress
by whom they are represented It's a
lobby, all right; but DR.. Crafts says X
IS the only one in existence that fails
10 make money for those who follow its
leadership.
I'VE are nghting the devil Always
says Dr. Crafts. and we find that he
is provided every day with plenty of
funds. If we could match him in this
respect we would beat him out in one
round"
The Old Buchanan Mansion
The bureau couples the old mansion
at 2O6 PENNSYLVANIA Avenue southeast.
which was the home of James Buchanan
before his elevation to the Presidency.
1.-THE ghost of that old politician would
be somewhat surprised, possibly. II 1t
should revisit the scenes Of former
.triumphs and observe the purposes to
(which the rooms of the house are be-
ing put
DR.. Crafts says the plan is to take
away from the rooms the appearance Of
an office. 1--WE want TO make things
Hook CHEEKY and comfortable" he says.
ss'so that those who come TO visit US
may be impressed with the wisdom and
sanity of our work" The plan has been
carried out admirably. DR.. and Mrs.
Crafts have been travellers IN many
lands and the walls Of the building
are adorned with Oriental weapons of
every description. The hall is lined with
seuch trophies. DR.. Crafts is very OBJ
tviously of the church militant and the
lurking admiration for the f1ghting man
The cherishes is displayed in his taste
Tin the matter of mural adornmentS-
DR.. Crafts Is the son of Methodist
minister and embarked upon his own
ministerial career as a protagonist OF
THAT denomination He wa was Methodist
FtionaHst from 1873 to 1888, and has been
a Presbyterian since. he has held I'm
sportant pastorates in New England
sBrooklyn. Chicago. and New York. and
tfrom first to last his voice has beer
raised in defense OF the Sabbath. sun
day newspapers are one OF his pc
.sThe bureau stands for number o.
reforms" said DR.. Crafts 10 represen
1ative OF the Sunday Times but pri
marily and essentially for the proven
ton Of Sabbath dissertation. 1t has beer
tEuccessful IN the promotion OF many re
kforms Of this character. There Is m
work we have done that 1t Is closer Z
the hearts Of the officers Of the bureau
than this and none in which We tax
a deeper pride. We have stopped III
crying OF Sunday newspapers In hair
dozen cities
A Cyclopedia of Reform.
DR.. Crafts maintains an extensive ant
up-to-date cyclopedia Of reform meas
ures and needs at the headquarters o
the bureau. II Is made up Of newspa
per and magazine clippings and line
the walls OF three rooms. BY referenc
10 this mine OF information the clerk
of the bureau can tell in a moment wha
special reform is most needed In an
city OF the country, and at the sam
time the ammunition is supplied wit
which to begin the fight.
zone Of our most successful works
said DR.. Crafts, "'ig the night agains
Government participation in liquor sell
ing. With the very inception of the bu
reau, ten years ago, we made a figh
against liquor In any Government build
ing. and the night is now approaching
successful contamination. In the cam
paign we have had the active assistanc
eu~4 H.
GLIDING the Anti-Saloon League, the "
c. T. q. and other agencies of reform.
I'VE adopted Grants plan OF fightin
n the hrst instance. and determined I
tight II out on this line II II took all GU
lives. The adjustment OF the arm
canteen was one Of our victories
lCapitol was another. We have secure
the enactment OF bill prohibiting tn
sale OF liquor, firearms, or opium 10 M
civilized races by American traders. W
see IN the near future the successful en-
Of a campaign against liquor selling
soldiers homes. That Will end our ngf
and the effect will be permanent.
1T took a lot Of trouble. The fight eT
countered vigorous and bitter opposite
from the first, the distlllers and brewer
maintaining paid lobby that unite
means and ability. They died fightini
Also they managed to enlist the co-ol
Grafton OF many respectable and infiI
entail men and women. who marlboro
the delusion that drinking in mOderi
ton was not bad thing after all. b
We DeaL knELn all was WAen lLt
began to cali me the christian lobbyist
and don't know that regard the tit
as very Objectionable"
Glories in the Title.
As a matter OF fact. DR.. Crafts 81
Joys the distinction hugely. Caricatur'
OF himself as the speaker Of the thin
house" are prominently displayed on II
walls OF his den, and he shows them
visitors with manifest satisfaction.
~ you have heard about the FRANKIE
Envelopes" says DR. Crafts 20 his vi
itors; well. there they are"
There they are, indeed-endless pill
of them They bear the fac-simi
signatures Of dozens OF Senators ar
Congressmen, and they are used
send out 10 the country countless doc
rnents that DR.. Crafts has had prin
ed" and which are supposed 10 he;
some more or less Intimate relation
the legislative side Of the country
business. These documents consi