Los Angeles herald., 1909-06-17
.BLAMES CHURCHES
FOR CORRUPTIONS
REV. Mr.. MAC CORMACK TELLS
OF CIVIC VICE
Saws Divisions Among Religious Per-
sons Make It Possible for Evil
to Divide and to Con-
quer

Rev. William Mccormack, dean and
rector of st. Paufs pro-cathedral, made
an address on the topic 1.-The Redemp-
ton of Los Angeles from Vice before
the Federation club at the noon lunch
con yesterday in the Wright & Callen-
der building.
Representative members of the club
were present and much enjoyed the adj
dress of the speaker of the occasion.
Nathan Newly, president OF the clup'
presided.
"There is a deep and intense interest
in all that makes for the welfare and
betterment of Los Angeles" said Rev.
Mr. MacCormack. I'VE see indications
of II In the lectures and addresses MADE
from platform and pulpit
"One cannot but be impressed win
the new societies springing up where
the motives seem to be the placing CT
this CITY on a higher basis of morality
and righteousness than now exists.
These conditions may afford some
apology for my daring to speak TO you
TODAY on the topic 1.-The Redemption OF
Los Angeles from Vice.
Assumes Vice Exists
81 start with the assumption that vice
exists But in this connection let me
make the qualifications that in Los
Angeles there is in all proba bility less
vice than in any other city of its size
in America and that back OF every
movement for the moral uplift OF TINS
Mace there is a body of citizens that
is uneoualed in the world The question
7 take up is not whether vice exists but
rather what shall we do with the vice
we find here?
.'Distresing rumors are af1oat, among
them that money frequently influences
legislatures: that in elections bribery
and corruption are used to influence
voters, etc.
"When we listen to such assertions
there comes the question what shall we
do? [ should suggest three things;
"First-Enforce the laws. Don't run
them down. but enforce them. That 10
my mind is the plain duty of the city
government That means something
more than appears on the surface IL
means that you want them enforced.
You get the kind of things you desire.
If you say that certain thing must be
done usually it is done.
Must Be No Compromise
In the second place there must be no
middle of the road policy We cannot
comnronise with the drink problem or
the social evil. The man who does so
reminds me of the Irishman who was
crossing the ice, and finding it thin and
dangerous and being somewhat uncer-
tain where he would go if he went
through he prayed as he went along
Good Lord! Good devil!
1T is the duty of the citizens TO vote
conscientiousy for honesty against
graft and decqnCy against vice.
"In the third place the churches must
make contributions. They must stand
for righteousness, not necessarily Tor
this man or that but for something bet
ter-for principle. Let the ministers
,f q No
the moral issues will take care OF them
selves. The trouble is we wait until the
harvest time before we do the sowing
The churches must stand together for
Righteousness. It is our unhappy di-
visions that are responsible for most of
the corruptions in our midst. l place
the responsibility for it on their Shout
ders because by standing aloof from
each other they have made it possible
for the devil to divide and conquer"
-. f.. !. j. !:
bad carload was rejected by the quar-
termaster but accepted by Governor
Cochrane. When asked about this the
governor said: "Of course all June po-
tatoes raised in California are not up
to the standard and we have to accept
the best we can get. The potatoes were
paid for by the treasurer, as all money
is handled by him, and contracts for
food supplies are looked after by the
treasurer and myself. He cannot spend
any money over the appropriation, and
has to give bonds to this effect before
being appointed"
The veterans charge that mismanage-
ment resulted in the spending of the
appropriation ahead of time, and which,
according to Governor Cochrane's own
statement, will result in "scrimping"
the food supply for the next firteen
days.
The only persons deriving benefit
from the alleged mismanagement are
the restaurant keepers, who are pat
ronized by the veterans who can af-
ford to buy their meals outside of the
home.