The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-22
PREACHER SPEAKS
 FUR THE SALOON
srance But Not Prohibit ton Is Advocated
CANNOT REGULATE
W. William Wasson Says Church pie Who Are Not Extremists Should Take a Hand and
 Settle Matters.

sville, Ky, January 21.-The
 License league opened it's first
 l session in the winter garden
 Seelbach hotel today with d
 attendance of delegates present
 many parts of the United States.
 object of the convention Is the
 ion of a liquor license law and
 inauguration of a campaign for it's
 ment by various legislatures and
 governments. Tie law will have
 ts purpose Athe elimination of low
 ms; the removal of the saloon from
 cs by placing the proprietors out
 le reach of bosses and the re-
 ton of the number of saloons to
 orm to a certain standard of popn-
 n. The delegates included legis-
 s, brewers. distillers. state and
 officials and publicists.
 morning session was devoted
 fly to welcoming addresses and an
 anation of the proposed model law.
 the afternoon session Rev. Wm. j. Wasson, of Riverh cad, l.. l., was in- reduced by President Gilmore. The Rev. Wasson began by saying that it Is high time for the church people who are not extremists to take a hand and settle the liquor question on basis. He said that he be- ieved this to be a step in the right lirection and he hoped ministers of the gospel of all denominations would be wise enough and foresighted enough to 4l..o f.,4 41,a oh
 "The church can no longer afford to have its name exploited in the man. ger in which it is being used by the orohibitionists," said the Rev. Wasson. "The church cannot acquiesce in the sentiment that man ,anot be good christian and handle or rink liquor The church and the pro- libitionists are as far apart as the ,oles."
 The Rev. wasson said that the ques- ton of drinking in moderation is one or individual conscience. He declared that the prohibitionists are puritanical' and that the Puritan is manufactures and dealer in artificial sin
 "The prohibitionist believes in the fet- sh of the law" said the Rev. Wasson. If there is anything wrong anywhere, all that is needed, according to his be- lief, is a law against it. Intemperance can never be removed by the policeman club or the sheriff's warrant. l am op- posed to the whole prohibition philosophy because l think it Is an outrageous in- of human rights
 "Pious church people have ostracised he saloonkeeper, laid all sins~ at his loor, and have warned people away from him as from the mouth of hell. In the face of all this they come along with the hypoeritical cant that the atmosphere of the saloon is bad What, l ask you' nave the church people done to better he conditions of the saloon?
 "The real question before the Ameri- ,an people today is what kinds Of sa- oons shall we have?' Shall we have open, egitimate saloons, or underground dives and dens?
 T believe that the church and the iquor trade should stand shoulder to shoulder in this great fight We need each other. There must be cooperation, without interference with the liberties md rights of American citizens"
 Frank H. Farris, a state senator from Missouri, spoke after the Rev. Wasson. He said that he is not manufacturer or dealer and therefore should properly come in the category of consumer He said that he is opposed constitutions lily to prohibition because it is depri- yation of rights. He declared that pro libition is a sham and that the only way prohibition could ever be put into effect would be by the government of the United States.