The San Francisco call., 1908-08-03
URGES CHURCHM[N
! TO FIGHT BOSSISM
Christians, Use Your Votes to
Dethrone Machine" Adj
yises DR.. Tanner
Doughty Oakland Minister Fails
to Be Terrified by Abuse
of Ring Organs

"The time has come when Christian
men and the church should join with
decent men ON the outside In cleaning
out the political corruption existing
around San Francisco bay. This dec
iaration by minister of the gospel
may be somewhat unusual and maybe
considered irregular TO the customary
course in the past. But what does a
Christian stand for.' If he does not
stand for clean government, for uncor-
rupted politics, he should close his
bible, bury his hymn book, lock the
doors of his church, and acknowledge
to the world that his religion is a
farce."-From discourse by Rev. Wal
ter E. Tanner, delivered yesterday
morning at Melrose Baptist church.
OAKLAND, Aug I'm a powerful
sermon upon the subject, What a
Christian Stands For" Rev. Walter e..
Tanner, pastor of Melrose Baptist
church,, declared this morning that the
chu- Gilman must go to the polls ana
help by his vote and influence to wipe
out the political rottenness which per-
vades Alameda county He made no
apologies for his stand and declared
that the church goer was responsible,
as a churchman, to his faith; that for
one to pray Thy kingdom come and
then to vote for a gang of political ruff
fans was the essence of duplicity, to
put it mildly.
Rev. Mr.. Tanner has been the object
Of scurrilous attacks by the grating
gang of Herrinites in power in Ala
media county. He has been abused by
the Oakland Tribune. and has been
excorfated by the men who had hoped
to still his tongue.
UNDAUNTED BY ABUSE
But the doughty preacher refused to
be sti1led. His discourse today was
directed al the same crowd which is
trying to continue in control and Rev.
Mr.. Tanner did not qualify his re-
marks. In the course of his address
the clergyman said:
The corrupt politicians of Alameda county are
doing all In their power TO confuse and intlmi-
date the churchmen before the primaries. Why i?
Boss Tweed once saff
Line up the tenderloin and the Bowery.
for we can hoodwink the church and count on
their votes anyhow
The Infamous slanderers of the graft prose
eutors. the Judas Iscarots of our noble President
Roosevelt, the defamers OF the characters OF
true and courageous citizens. the, hrelings of
the railroad Interests. the enemies OF true Amer
tcanism, the home. and the famil ly-these politi-
clans who desgatef themselves regulars =
no matter TO what political party they belong
body and soul-this set Of men are indeed reg
ulars." they regular in their slander
and Intimidation, regular In their system of
graft, racetrack protection and immoral road
house maintenance, regular in their belief in
the. gulibllity of Callfornia's best citizenship.
and are also regular In their opinion that at
the primaries Christian men will be regular
in the maIady OF ''cold feet and protoplastic
vertabrae.
sIRREGULARITY'' NO CRIME
''You are not regular If you do not follow
my program and do nay bidding says the cor
rupt ring politician. 1t Is no crime to be 'ir-
regular if by irregularity Is meant that one
does not propose to swallow regular dose
of corruption, gotten up By regular corrupt
politicians.
Folk and Hughes broke the stereotyped pro-
gram by being irregular and stopping race
track gambling fostered by regular political
leeches Roosevelt was irregular when he in
sisted on a more complete civil service plan of
governmental positions rather than the spoils
system of the regular bosses.
The time has come when Christian men and
the church should join with decent men on the
outside In cleaning out the corruption existing
around San Francisco bay. This may be some
what unusual and may be considered as "irreg-
ufar' to the customary course of the past. But
what does a Christian stand for IL he does not
stand for these things? He should close his bible.
bury his hymn book, lock the doors OF his
church and acknowledge to the world that his
religion Is farce.
If he stands for anything. at the primaries
he will vote he prays- and thus demonstrate
the true power OF Christianity.