The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-20
WHICH TWILL PREVAIL
FEDERATION OP-
 POSED BY ANTI-SALOON LEAGUE.
Contention will Probably Reach Crisis at Presbyterian Meeting in Ohio This Week-Overtures are
 In Progress.

Columbus, O., May 19.-Many import ant questions are to come before the Presbyterian General Assembly during the present week, but none has aroused more interest among the commission CTS than that of the work of the per mapent temnerance committed The organization of the National Inter" church Temperance Federation at Pitts burg last January through the enorts of this committee has aroused the op- position of the AntiSaloon League, which regards the new organization as entering upon its field of work The League claims that 1t is, in enect. an interchurch federation since 1t derives chief support from the various churches and, that therefore, the new orsahi- zation Is unnecessary.
 Several overtures have been submit ted to the General Assembly. asking that the new temperance movement De abandoned, and that undivided support be given to the Anti-Saloon League The question is to be brought before the Assembly on these overtures, rath- CT than on the report of the Temper ance committee, if plans of certain church leaders do not fail. The report of the Temperance Committee Is on the regular program for consideration next Friday By that time, 1t IS reared, many of the commissioners will De leaving for their homes, and, as It IS desired to have a full expression or the Assembly on the subject. an enort is being made to have the Committee on Oyertures submit the question on Tuesday or Wednesday. The position taken by the permanent temperance committee. of which Rev. John F. Hill of Pittsburg is the secretary and ac- tive officer, believes there is held for church temperance federation and the Anti-Saloon League. The commit tee holds that it Is not the province of the church to undertake to enforce laws which it is the duty of civil au- thorities to enforce. On the other hand, it does not question the useful ness and necessity for temperance agencies, which are in no way ofh- cially connected with the church, and it declares that it is not its purpose to antagonize them.
 Rev. Dr. Roberts, the Moderator of the Presbyterian Assembly, has taken A strong stand in favor of co-opera- ton and harmony between the Temper ance Committee and the Anti-Saloon League, holding that both have fields of usefulness. His opinion is expected to have great weight in the delibera- tions of the Assembly when the con troversy Is brought up for adjustment Every effort is being made to prevent
 
 reaching the acrimonious stage, but there is every prospect of a lively de- bate in the Assembly.
 Other important matters to come be- fore the Assembly during the week will be the reports of the Committee on Marriage and Divorce and on Adminis- trative Agencies. The former commit tee is expected to recommend more radical reform in the matter of mar riage and divorce and the holding of ministers to a more strict accountabil- ity under the standards of the church. The Committee on Adm Agen- cies is not expected to recommend any immediate action on the proposition to consolidate the various boards Of the church. It is understood, however. that it will urge important administrative changes, such as the creation of an executive commission with the Moder- ator as the official head, which shall be the representative body of the church during the interim between the sessions of the General Assembly. Un- der the present system of administra- ton, there Is no body or official to which questions can be referred for i'm mediate settlement between sessions.