Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-20
Some Things You Want to Know
The Ants Saloon League.


The Thirteenth National convention OF
the Anti-saloon League Of America will
meet in Chicago on Monday. December g.
the same day congress oonvenes in Wash
ington. Fur a week before the assembling
OF the convention the superintendents and
field woi kers Of the league will be in con-
ference, preparing campaign plans to be
submitted to he national body. The de-
termination OF the Illinois league to force
the anti-salOon issue to a finish fight In
Chicago will provide a local interest
greater than ever before aroused by such
a convention. The reports Of the officers
OF the league, covering the two years since
the last convention. will show a wonderful
Advancement OF the work undertaking by
the organization.
The Anti-Saloon league is a remarkable
institution. It is the most potent organlza-
ton in politics, outside OF the regular
political parties. ever known in the United
States. II is avowedly and openly a political
institution, yet II has so localized its sctivi-
ties that II works with either or both Of
the two principal parties, as its best inter-
ests dictate u does not hesitate to change
from republican to democratic overnight.
and sometimes II forces both parties to
accept It's men and measures. The league,
by the adoption of these tactics, has had
much to do with the growing tendency to
settle local political battles without regard
to national issues.
Powerful as It has become, the Anti
Saloon league is not. strictly speaking, an
organization. In the language OF its gem
eral superintendent, the Rev. Purley A.
Baker: 1T is q league OF organizations.
1t is the federated church in action against
the saloon. Its agents are Of the church.
and under all circumstances loyal to the
church. It has no interest apart from the
church. 1t goes just as fast and Just as
far as the public sentiment Of the church
Will permit. 1t has not come to the king
dom simply to build a little local sentiment,
or to assure the passage of a few laws,
nor yet to vote the saloons from a few
hundred towns. These are mere incidents
in its progress. 1t has come to- solve the
liquor problem
While the Anti-Saloon league does not
represent the churches by virtue of any
ecclesiastical authority, It is nevertheless
true that the league is, In fact, a con-
federation of churches and churchmen
opposed to the saloon. 1t is made up alto
gether Of men prominent in the pulpit and
the pews. In its political work II often
allies itself will political organizations
which are distinctly not Of the church, and
such alliances invite the wholesale con-
domination of the opposing alliance between
some other political organization and the
saloons.
Practically all churches are represented
in the league. The Methodists, Baptists.
Presbyterians, Lutherans, Disciples, Uni
versalists, CongregationalIsts, United
Brethren and several smaller bodies have
endorsed the league by formal action. and
have appointed delegates to its councils.
The Protestant Episcopal church is repre-
sented by Bishop McVicar Of Rhode
Island, who is one OF the vice-presldent's
of the national league, and by many
clergymen in all parts Of the country. The
Roman Catholic church has no ecclesiastI-
cal connection with the league, and many
of it's leaders rave opposed the organiza-
ton in politics. The catholic Total Abstin-
cree union, however, has a formal alliance
with the league. Archbishop Ireland was
one of the first Independents Of the
national league, and the Rev. Father James
M. Cleary Of Minneapolis is now a national
vico-president.
While there are many leaders, both clerl.
cal and lay, IN ell the churches who are
compelled by their consciences to oppose
the work OF the Anti-saloon league, It re.
mains a fact that this organization more
nearly approaches a federation OF the
churches than ever before has been seer
IN this country. Leaders in the movement
declare that those pesslmists who weep FOL
the downfall OF the church, and who de.
clare that religion has lost It's influence
would do well to consider the power mani.
Tested by the federated churches in the
fight against the saloons. Certainly the
Ant-Saloon league, whether FOR good OF
evil, has proved itself a powerful factor
In politics in the past decade.
Tn most remarkable feature Of the work
OF the league, as contrasted with other
anti-liquor fights. is that the Anti-Saloor
league is not always for prohibition. Il
goes just as fast and just as far al
public sentiment OF the church will per.
nit" For this reason the league sometime,
comes into direct opposition to the prohi.
biuonists. For Instance, at this moment tn,
ultra-prohibitionists in Missouri are insist.
ing upon a statewide referendum vote OF
the question OF absolute prohibition. Tht
Anti-Saloon league leaders are not con-
WINGED that Missouri is yet ready for such
a radical step, and they are fighting tC
maintain the present status OF the loca.
option law. The late Bishop Charles B
Galloway OF Mississippi was opposed to
statewide prohibition for a long time, but
when the hour came he turned the influ-
enee Of the Anti-Saloon league in that