The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-08-13
AFTER UNCLE JOE.
Methodist Church VIII Try to Defeat
Him for Speaker.

HIN 1Or speaker.
Baltimore, Aug. 13.-The Methodist
Episcopal church has begun an active
crusade for the election of speaker
of the house, ''who will allow con-
gress to vote on the Interstate liquor
shipment bill.''' The church, which
has over 100000 communicates. has
created the temperance society of the
Methodist Episcopal church with
ton In all temperance matters. This
Is managed by a board composed OF
bishop and fifteen members named
by the bishop and elected by the late
general conference.
The board of managers has or
ganized and directed its chairman to
take steps to begin an active cam
paign. An official address has been
issued to all members Of the
denomination asking their co-opera-
ton. The shipment bfll' which has
been pending in congress for at least
five years. does not seek to impose
prohibition on any locality. but pro-
vides that liquor shipped from one
state to another shall Immediately on
crossing the boundary become subject
to the laws of the state to which 1t
is to be consigned. THE speaker Of
the house." says the address, ''abso-
lutely controls it's proceedings. He is
opposed to this legislation. He used
the power to hold 1t in the judiciary
committee appointed by him on the
alleged ground that 1t Is unconstitu-
tional. Our church. by action Of the
recent general conference insists that
congressional doubt as to the consti-
tutionality of such legislation be re-
solved in the interests of the people
and the public morals and the gen
eral conference unanimously adopt
the report Of Governor Hanly's spec
ial committee appointed to await upon
Speaker Cannon which closes with the
following words:
1--WE submit to our people and to
all good citizens the wisdom of elect
ing men as members of congress who
believe in it's validity and who are
willing to enact it,
"At least one member of the house
judiciary committee has been de-
feated for the nomination on his rec
ord on this question and we believe
the time has come when our people
who want to help secure this legisla-
ton must support for congress can
didates who will not only vote for
this measure if they get a chance but
who will allow 1t to be voted upon
and that its passage is improbable un-
til Christian voters recognize the situa-
ton and cast their. ballots accord
ingly."
Here is another one of the many
instances where the blame is thrown
on the speaker Of the house when it
belongs on the members themselves.
Many representatives in congress
afraid to commit themselves on GER
tain legislation hide behind the speak
er. A favorite form of letter or ex-
preston from congressman is this: II
am in favor Of this measure and will
vote for it.. IL It is brought before the
should get after. I do not think he will
bring 1t up" The congressman thus
washes his hands of the matter and
laughs in his sleeves at his constitu-
ents. Now as a matter of fact out OF
the 400 representatives in the lower
house of congress IL so of those MEM
bers, of one party or the other, desire
1.-The interstate liquor shipment bill,''
or any other bill. brought to a vote
the measure can be brought before the
house Immediately and the house put
on record. Furthermore, the represen-
tatives, and not the speaker make the
rules and can change them. The very
congressman who uses language SINH
lar to that quoted above is often
scared to death for fear the speaker
or his own associates will bring up the
very bill in question, whatever it may
be. All this, too. is under the present
rules which are severely criticised,
even by the very congressman who
have voted for those particular rules.
But under the present rules, however
Objectionable they may be, 80 congress-
men can bring any measure to a vote
and it is not fair. just or right to keep
condemning the speaker for this sort
Of thing. The writer knows whereof
he speaks on this question because he
heard the speaker express himself on
these points; and Furthermore. he
knows that 80 Republican congressman
made the same sort of statement on
certain measure when so of them
could have settled the thing so far as
bringing the matter to vote was con-
cerned. The State Journal believes
that "the interstate liquor shipment
bill'' is drawn along the right lines
and should be enacted into law. But
the inference is given in the above dis
patch that for five years on account
of the speaker no vote on the subject
has been possible. That is all rot, to
use a somewhat inelegant but express
sive word. Furthermore. If the next
house be Republican. the chances all
point to Uncle Joe's" reelection as
speaker, and instead of wasting too
much good ammunition the good
church people should be giving the
devil, that is, any evil cause. his dues,
or whatever is coming to him.]