Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-22

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paign' of 1901.
His Service for the Poor.
Bishop Potter was no minister to the
East Side at second hand. In 1895 he
passed a month at the Cathedral Mis-
sion, at 80 Stanton street, and began
service for the poor OF the East Side in
which he never lost interest. The cor
rupting influence of flagrant vice then
pervaded the tenements and the entire dis
trict, and the police and politicians who
ruled the section laughed TO scorn all ef-
forts to disturb their control.
In the fall Of 1900 the clergymen and
workers of the Stanton street mission
came to an open clash with the police.
The young women workers were insuted.
and when the Rev. Robert L. Paddock
complained to police captain he was
told that he lied and was openly derided.
1t was then that Bishop Potter wrote his
famous letter to Mayor Van Wyck. Per-
haps as much as any one factor, it served
to arouse public opinion against the ter
rible conditions in the East Side and to
elect reform mayor in the following
year.
In that letter Bishop Potter contributed
stirring and magnificent battlecry in one
of the city's most conspicuous struggles
for decency. If he had done nothing else
he would have served no mean part in
the life of his diocese.
interest in Public Affairs.
Bishop Potter's interest in public mat
tiers and strong personal views led him to
take sides publicly on many current ques-
tons. Prohibition was always like a red
rag to bull when suggested to the bish-
OPP. On one occasion he characterized it
as IAN impudent fraud, an impudent fail
ure." Later. in 1904. he carried his views
favorinS the maintenance of the saloons
into practical force by assisting at the
launching of the Subway Tavern This
resort at Mulberry and Blocker streets,
which was designed to be a sort Of up
dled natural death. But the bishop
never ceased to stand by his anti-prohibi-
ton convictions and to defend the saloon
as the poor mans club.
The relations of capital and labor came
In Tor some of Bishop Potter's attention,
and SO far as his public utterances were
concerned he was always free to criticise
both sides in the labor disputes. Some
times he threw little hot shot into the
labor unions for their interference with
the freedom of the Individual, and again
he took fall out of the '.slave-driving
corporations. He served as arbitrator
in several labor disputes notably in the
strike of the photographers in 1896.
Advocate of Personal Freedom.
Bishop Potter's general attitude on pub
lie questions was that of stanch believer
in personal freedom. He recently brought
down storm of disapproval upon his
head by coming out in defense of the race
tracks ard in opposition to the anti-bet-
ting bills. Bishop Potter always had a.
good word for the stage and was promi-
nent In the Actors Church Alliance and
other theatrical associations of the city
In his work for his church his most
notable efforts were put forward to adj
vance the construction of the CATHEDRAL
of 81. John the Divine, on Morningside
Heights. 1t has been chiefly due to Bish-
op Potter's efforts that the money has
been secured to carry on this great work
and that the crypt, Lady Chapel. and a
considerable portion of the main struc-
ture are now completed