The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-02-10
FIGHT FOR LOCAL
OPTION STARTED
BY CLERGYMEN
Throughout the State Many Pas
tors Speak on Topic and
Pending Bill.
LOCAL PASTORS IN
THE FORE OF MOVEMENT
Interest the Politicians; They
Are Influenced by Public
Sentiment" Says One.

Throughout the State yesterday the
fight for local option was started by
the pastors of many churches. The
Presbyterians, Methodists and Baptists
have Joined forces in this crusade Il
give to the voters the right to declare
themselves on the liquor question in
the municipality in which they reside.
Every confidence is felt by the
clergymen that the bill now before the
Legislature will become a law, but
those opposed, notably the German
American Central Alliance. will wage
an aggressive campaign to defeat it.
In Newark yesterday the Rev.
Thomas I. Couitas, of the Halsey
Street Methodist Church. speaking on
THE Temperance Question and the
Present ISSUE" said in part:
Government takes cognlzance Of
crime, and crime is the prostitution of
morals.
1T is on this principle that the tenn
perance question leads inevitably out
into the realm of politics. The evil OF
strong drink has long been in evidence
and measures for it's prevention have
always had their bearing on law and
legislation. These evils in a private
and public way nave been exploited for
generations and centuries.
1.-THE ancient Hebrews from which We
get so much of our legislation as well
as our morals and religious faith
recognized drunkenness as one of the
pronounced evils, and destructive forces
among them as a people. At the very
beginning of the post-antediluvian
period Noah fell a victim to stronS
drink and ~shamefully exposed himself
to his W children.
well for this people If at once they
had instituted some strong legislation
against this evil. In the days of their
national beginning in Canaan their
splendid vineyards became a menace to
them by pTostituting the fruit Of the
vine to the g~ratifcation of appetite.
Their wise man. and perhaps greatest
king, said, wine is a mocker, strong
drink is raging and whatsoever is ue-
ceived thereby is not wise Later on
their national life was jeopardized md
their civic institutions p~rostrat'' by
the drunkenness of Ephraim and the
wine bibbers of Jerusalem.
"A blow is given at the traffic OF
strong drink among this people in the
declaration of the prophet, Woe unto
him hat giveth his brother drink; that
puteth the bottle to him and maketh
him drunken, also that thou mayest
look on their n~akcdness.' Drunken
ness invariably associated with itself
RIGHTEOUSNESS for the destruction OF
the people.
1.-THE evil of depending on the traffic
for public revenues is also denounced
in the words, Woe TO him that build
eth a town with blood, and establish
eth a city by iniquity.' Indeed, tho
evil of strong drink is brought TO light
at a much earlier period, M even
then il is seen e%ntrcnching itself in
human society. that IL may make it
self n factor in civic life. II appears
in the very origin of the race. We
discern the question of original sin.
What was Il? Philosophically con
sidered, we may not find ii so easy 70
answer. But in a practical way it Is
very plain. Was IL not tho grdtiico-
ton of Appetite Did not Adam trans
gross by pervertine the fruit of the
ground 10 the qualification OF his haser
selfg And at its very beginning n
was a social sin and projected i,selt
into civic life"
"Ot necessity the temperance queS
ton belongs To the realm of politics.
II the liquor business has any rights
they can bo sufficiently protected onlS
through government A. Il IS q bush
ness attended with dangers 10 the eona-
munity Il may be entirely prohibited
or be permitted under such conditions
as will limit TO the utmost It's evils
'srhe saloon must go,s declared the
Rev. W. " $, lumbar. OF the Mt,
Pleasant Baptist Church, using as his
tople, 'sfhe Passing 81 the Saloon.
'i'here Is nc doubt at that, he con
tnuea, III mas be ene It may to'