The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-06-08
STATE ANTI SALOON LEAGUE IS
GETTING READY FOR AN Ac-
TIVE CAMPAIGN
superintendent cherrington Will Soon
Be on GroundEWiII Make Strong
Appeal to Public Sentiment

When F. A. Cherrington, the new su-
perintendent of the Washington Anti
Saloon league. reaches Seattle some
time between now and July 1, the task
of compelling saloons in the state to
close up on Sundays, will be renewed
with vigor. Thomas H. Balm, attor-
ney for the league. stated yesterday
that the fight had already been started
in several of the smaller communities,
but that nothing was now under way
in this state that could be compared
to tine campaign which Mr.. CHEERING
ton would inaugurate when he once
gets established in this state. DR.. r.
A. Baker of Columbus, Ohio, president
of the National Anti-Saloon league,
will start for Seattle June 9, says the
Seattle Times.
The new superintendent will re-
place DR.. C. J. Thoms, who was re-
lieved from duty by the executive COM
mittee a few days ago. Mr.. Balm. the
attorney who prosecutes Sunday clos
Ing cases for the league, said that one
of the main handicaps the league had
to contend with in legislative work
was the oft-repeated admonition:
First enforce present laws, before
asking for more"
To Enforce Present Laws
Therefore," said Mr.. Balm, 1--WE pro-
pose now to try to enforce our pres
ent Sunday closing statute, and we ex-
pect to have things moving at a right
smart gait when Mr.. Cherrington takes
hold"
Much is expected of the new state
superintendent. He is a graduate of
Wesleyan university, Ohio, and has
for some time been assistant super
intendent for the Anti-Saloon league
of that state. He will report here to
S. F. Thorp, president of the Wash
ington league, and the executive or
headquarters committee.
The fight started for Sunday closing
will first be inaugurated in the smaller
cities and towns of the state. The
general statute against the transact
ton of business on Sunday will be
utilized to close up the saloons. In
fact, there is already an agitation un-
der way, started by the league, at
Puyallup and Sumner, and one arrest
has been made at Kent. The Wash
ington Liquor Dealers association is
fighting the cases for the saloon keep
ers of the state.
The officers of the league, Mr.. Balm
says, do not expect to enforce laws in
advance of public sentiment. Conse-
quently the new superintendent and
his assistants will work to educate
the people of the state in favor of clos
ing the saloons on Sundays. No at
tempt for the time being will be made
to enforce the laws in the larger cit
lCSs oul HI oil u IIIS SIIldllCI lOWIIS,
where the work is easier, a vigorous
campaign will be started as soon as
Superintendent Cherrington takes the
work in charge.
Another line on which work will be
prosecuted will be in the direction of
uniting all the churches and temper
ance organizations together>sin what
ever campaigns are to be inaugurated.
Mr.. Balm says that heretofore there
has been much working at cross pur-
poses between the churches as we'll
as between the Good Templars, the w.
C. T. U. and kindred organizations.
The Anti-Saloon league will endeavor
to secure the support Of the churches
and temperance organizations combin-
ed in it's work in the state on all lines.
DR.. Thoms, whose dispute with Mr.
Balm and State Lecturer Frescolen
caused his downfall, declares ne is not
yet ready to make a public statnent
The doctor had Balm and Frescolen
suspended when the trouble first start
ed, according to his published utter
ances. Mr.. Balm says that he and the
state treasurer, instead of being sus-
pended, have been sustained through
out by the president and managing
committee of the league