Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-13
Methodists in Arms Against
"Champion of King Alcohol.
CAMPAIGN TO DEFEAT HIM
Election to Speakership and Even to
Congress to Be Fought.
DENOUNCED IN CIRCULARS
Attitude Of Church Workers for Lit
tlefield Bill Explained by Pre-
siding Elder Sumwalt.

Not for a moment have the members of
the Methodist Episcopal Church of the
United States forgotten the way Uncle
Joe Cannon. Speaker of the House of Rep
resentatives. received their committee at
the Capitol last May. when they sought
to gain his support for the Littlefield
interstate liquor shipment bill
On the contrary. the Speaker has fallen
low indeed i'm their estimation. They are
saying uncomplmentary things OF him.
But that is not all The worst Is to
come. They have begun. under the au-
spices of the general conference. the high
est official body of the church. an active
political campaign to defeat Cannon for
the House. or at least for the position OF
Speaker, and to defeat all other candi-
dates for that body who are foes OF the
Littlefield measure
DR.. Sumwalt Explains.
Rev. John w. r. Sumwalt. ID. D.. pre-
siding elder of the Methodist Episcopal
Church for the Washington district. had
this to say to a Star reporter today:
From the reception accorded the COM
mittee Of the general conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church by Speaker
Cannon. and the discussion he entered
have come to look upon the Speaker as
the special pleader for the liquor inter-
ests and the one man whose influence mas
been successfully used to thwart the will
Of the majority of the people. which. We
believe. is that the states should be pro-
tected by the national government In ef-
forts to settle moral issues according to
their desires.
I'VE are somewhat of the opinion also
that the reception accorded the commit
tee was not such as the character OF the
men who composed ii and the church IL
represented deserved
1t was plain to be seen that the pre-
siding elder was not as harsh in his lam
guage as he could have been under the
circumstances, but was forcing himself to
be mild.
you can use that as your text" he
said to The Star man, land go back TO
your Office and write a sermon. Under
stand?'
Missionary Society Acts.
The Methodist Episcopal Church. with
its 100000 members. is conducting fits
dry campaign" through the agency Of a
missionary society. with authority to rep
resent 1t in all so-called temperance mat
tiers. This society is managed by a board
composed of a bishop and fifteen men,
bers named by the bishop and elected by
the general conference.
There was a meeting in Chicago re-
Gently. The board then authorized its
chairman to take steps to begin an active
campaign.
The result is that an official address
has been printed and is now circulating
among all members of the denomination.
1t was said today by DR.. Sumwalt that
this address has not yet been received
here, but that it doubtless will be within
few days.
The shipment BILL" pending in Con-
gress for at least FIVE years. does not seek
to impose prohibition upon any locality.
but provides that liquor shipped from one
state to another shall. Immediately upon
crossing the boundary line, become sub,
ject to the laws of the state into which Il
is consigned.
Denunciation of Speaker.
THE Speaker of the national House OF
Representatives" reads the official ad-
dress. absolutely controls it's procedure.
He is opposed to this legislation. He has
used the power of his office to hold il In
the judiciary committee, appointed by
him. on the alleged ground that il is I'M
constitutional.
Our church by action of the recent
general conference, insists that congress
sional doubt as to the constitutionality of
such legislation be resolved I'm the interest
of the people and the public morals
The address further says:
AT least one member OF the House ju-
dietary committee has been defeated for
the nomination on his record on this Ques-
ton, and we believe that the time has
come when our people who want TO help
secure such legislation must support for
Congress candidates who will not only
vote for this measure, IL they get q
chance, but will themselves support for
Speaker a man who will allow IL to be
voted upon" aea
Unless some such concerted action as
this is taken concludes the address, the
$50 l,a n &C. harx