The San Francisco call., 1909-12-29
PASTOR DEFENDS
OAKLAND COUNCIL
Rev. L. L. Writ Objects to Criti-
cism of Anti-Saloon League
Superintendent

OAKLAND, Dec. 2S.--Dr. J. s. Thomas.
superintendent of the Anti-Saloon
league. was interrupted by members of
the Oakland church federation last
night when he launched into a criti-
cism directed at the city council for its
alleged prosaloon sympathies.
The incident arose during a discussion
of a proposed ordinance to limit the
number of saloons in Oakland to 200
and TO eliminate them entirely in the
newly annexed districts of the city.
IF the council is elected by the brew
ers and saloonmen of this citys you may
rest assured that when you present
your ordinance they will vote against
it., declared Thomas, who had been in
vited to address the federation. 1T Is
always so. These men obey the voices
that elect them
PASTOR DEFENDS COUNCIL
Here Thomas was interrupted by calls
of You are wrong. You are wrong"
AS the speaker stopped. Rev. l.. L..
Writ, assistant pastor of the First Con-
gregational church, arose and said:
"Yousare arguing from an erroneous
premise, Doctor Thomas. The city
council of Oakland is not made up of
that kind of men,.
Thomas then replied that he had not
intended to criticise the Oakland city
council in particular, but that his re-
marks were general He concluded by
saying that il it were indeed true that
Oakland's city council was composed of
men who stood for the best interests of
the community there was an excellent
chance of success for the proposed ordi-
nance
The interruption of Doctor Thomas and
the warm championing which the city
council received from Rev. Mr.. Writ cre-
ated a mild sensation in the meeting.
The ordinance over which the discus
sion arose is being framed by the civic
welfare committee of the federation
and will be presented TO the city council
in he near fuure.
PUBLIC AUDITORIUM PLANNED
The federation DECLARED in favor of
the erection of a public auditorium in
Oakland which would be large enough
to accommodate civic mass meetings
and other large gatherings. A proposal
to invite Gypsy Smith, the London
evangelist. to conduct series of re-
vival meetings in Oakland was laid on
the table until some definite action was
taken toward building the proposed
auditorium.
FOR WEEK OF PRAYER
1t was decided to hold a week of
prayer with noon and evening services
in all the downtown Protestant
churches, beginning Monday, January g..
MONDAY prayer will be held in the
First Methodist Episcopal church Mon
day, Rev. Charles r. Brown, pastor of
the First Congregational church. con-
Quoting the devotions; Tuesday, Rev.
Homer J. Vosburg, pastor of the First
Baptist church; Wednesday, Rev. Frank
L. Goodspeed, pastor of the First Pres
byterian church: Thursday. Rev. Thomas
Boyer Of the First Christian church:
Friday Rev. George W. White; Satur-
day, Secretary of the Young Mems
Christian Association Starrett.
Evening sessions will be held in the
First Congregational church, Twelfth
and Clay streets. Rev. George w. White,
Monday evening; Rev. Thomas Boyer,
Tuesday evening; Rev. Charles r.
Brown, "Wednesday evening; Rev.
Homer J.. Vosburg, Thursday evening,
and Rev. Mr.. Goodspeed, Friday even
ing.