The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-07-20
COUNTY OFFICIALS
SCORED IN SERMON
Rev. DR.. Tanner Pleads With
Citizens to Throw Off Yoke
of Herrinism

OAKLAND. July 19.-In a sermon
preached at union service of the
churches of Elmhurst and adjoining
districts in the High street Presbyte-
rian church tonight Rev. Walter E.
Tanner, pastor of the Melrose Baptist
church. renewed his attack upon the
corrupt political methods employed by
the county courthouse gang of Oakland
and made an eloquent plea to all good
citizens to throw off the yoke of Her
rinism throughout the state He said in
part:
One of the most thrilling moments in the
history of the nation Immediately after the
battle of Lexington, when the call ito arms
was sounded through all New England and all
the people took the initiative and went into
that Of oyerthrowing the corruption that ex-
listed under King George and establishing ma
tional liberty. Today in our country there is
just great if not greater, battle going ON.
1t is not a battle OF shot and shell, but
battle of citizenship through the medium of
the ballot. 1t is battle against organized
evil. The great difficulty is that the best
forces of the land are not thoroughly organized
and not thoroughly prepared to fight for civic
righteousness.
might speak of the corruption in Pka-
overthrown in ST. Louis. of wrongdoing in po-
litcal circles in any other part of the country,
and the corrupt officials and ringsters of this
locality would raise no objection. But when
one speaks of corruption in Alameda county
and in our own community a tremendous howl
goes up from these spotlessly white y officials
that can be heard from Dan to Beersheba, or in
modern parlance, from Dallas, Tex. to Bangor,
Me- Their methods of warfare are under
handed. Their system is of boycott in
timidation and SANDER. They cannot and will
not fight fairly and in the open. because. to do
+sNfrI1 hn 70 fHafr fnfva lr,n-
would mean overwhelming defeat. 1t is high
time that the Christian man and every other
good citizen should bestir himself to register
and be prepared to vote at the primaries, where
the real battle for civic righteousness will be
fought.
Those men who neglect to perform these
the maintenance of corruption and of the in
famous ring Of which the county clerk and the
tives AS APOSTLE Paul said. these forces are
hidden Back Of the local situation is the
affairs are controlled by men commonly deslg-
mated higher ups
No subterfuge practced by any professed
Christian man to excuse himself from the per
Torrance of this duty will be condoned by the
community. In the great battle for civic
righteousness there only two sides. the
right side and the wrong side. On the right
side the organizations which striv-
ing to establish civic purity and deeeney. On
the wrong side is the Herrin political machine,
backed by railroad graft and the liquor ele-
ment. In the language OF the old leader
Joshua. Choose this day whom ye will serve"
No Christian man in this community should
indorse any candidate for the legislature who
does not favor anti-racetrack bill. We must
| go to the polls and show that do not stand
| for the methods employed by CouRty Clerk
Cook in his manipulations of the political affairs
of the county and in making up his registration
| list Unquestionably there Il a padded regis
traton list in this vicinity. 1t contains the
names of men who do not live here, of others
| who have been dead for years, while a large
number of. other names are those OF pure
| dummies"
The most practical way to demonstrate that
| the church does absolutely stand for civic
| Righteousness is for it's members to show 1t at
| the polls. No longer can any political party
expect to hold party members slaves, for In this
age 1t is principle and men which count. As
| long as I am a minister OF the gospel I expect
| this to be one of the phases Of Christian work
| which l shall emphasize.
Rev. Mr.. Tanner preached this morn
| ing at the First Baptist church of Ala
media, when he declared himself along