Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-11-23

IN chicago on MOnddy, december o. INC
same day congress convenes in Wash
! ington. For a week before the assem-
bling of the. convention the superintend-
ents and field workers of the league will
be in conference, preparing campaign
plans to be submitted to the national
body. The determination of the Illinois
league to force the anti-saloon issue to
finish fight in Chicago will provide 10
cal interest greater htan ever before
aroused by such a convention. The re-
ports of the officers of the league. COW
ering the two years since the last con-
'vention, will show a wonderful advance
ment of the work undertaken by the or
ganization.
The Anti-Saloon league is a remarkable
institution. 1t is the most potent organi-
cation in politics, outside of the regular
political parties. ever known in the Unit
ed States. 1t is avowedly and openly a
political institution, yet it has. so localized
its activities that it works with either or
both of the two principal parties, as its
best interests dictate. 1t does not hest
tate to change from Republican to Dem
ocratic over night, and sometimes 1t forces
both parties to accept its men and meas
ures. 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
general superintendent, the Rev. Purley
A. Baker: 1T is a league of organiza-
fiOnG fc 70 church in action
! against the saloon. Its agents are of the
church, and under all circumstances 10y
al to the church. 1t 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 kingdom simply to build a
| little local sentiment, or to assume the
passage of a few laws, nor yet to vote
the saloons from a few hundred towns.
J 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 fedora
| ton of churches and churchmen opposed
to the saloon. 1t is made up altogether
| of men prominent in the pulpit and in the
pews. In it's political work it often allies
itself with political organizations which
are distinctly not of the church, and such
! alliance invite the wholesale condemna-
| ton Of the opposing alliance between some
other political organization and the sa-
| looms.
! Practically all churches are represent
ed in the league. The Methodists, Bap-
lists, Presbyterians. Lutherans, Disciples,
| Universalists, Congregationalists, United
\ Brethren and several smaller bodies have
Endorsed the league by formal action,
and have appointed delegates to its coun-
ellis. The Protestant Episcopal church is
represented by Bishop McVicar of Rhode
Island, who is! one of the vice presidents
of the national league, and by many
| c'ergymen in all parts of the country.
The Roman Catholic church has no &C.
clesiastical connection with the league.
and many of its leaders have opposed
Its organization in politics. The Cath
Ole Total Abstinence union, however,
| has a formal alliance with the league
Archbishop Ireland was one of the first
vice presidents of the national league,
and the Rev. Father James NJ. Cleary,
of Minneapolis, is now . national vice
president.
| While there are many leaders, both
| clerical and lay, in all the churches who
are compelled by their consciences to op-
pose the work Of the Anti-Saloon league,
it remains a fact that this organization
more nearly approaches a federation of
the churches than ever before has been
| seen in this country Leaders in the
movement declare that those pessimists
who weep for the downfall of the church
and who declare that religion has lost
it's influence, would do well to consider
the power manifested by the federated
churches IN the fight against the saloons.
| Certainly the Anti-Saloon league. whether
| for good or evil, has proved itself a pow
erful factor in politics in the past decade.
|
| The most remarkable feature of the
work OF the league, as contrasted with
other anti-liquor fights, is that the Anti
Saloon league is not always for prohi-
bition. 1t "goes just as fast and just as
far as the public sentiment of the church
will permit" For this reason the league
! sometimes comes into direct opposition to
the Prohibitionists. For instance, at this
moment the ultra-prohibitionists in Mis-
souri, are insisting upon a statewide ref
erendum vote on the question of absolute
prohibition. The Anti-Saloon league
leaders are not convinced that Missouri
is yet ready for such a radical step, and
they are lighting to maintain the present
| status or the local OpUOn law. Inc
| late Bishop Charles B. Galloway, of Mis-
sissisippi, was opposed to statewide pro-
hibltion for a long time, but when the
hour came he turned the influence of the
Anti-saloon league in that direction and
the state went dry. The Anti-Saloon leag-
uers are all for prohibition, eventually
but they are willing to take little
bit at a time to bide wee.
| The campaign waged by the Anti-Saloon
League is unique in the history of social
ed "noral reforms in that it takes into
account the essential value of expediency.
The "abolitionists' who famed the fires
of anti-slavery agitation before the war
are comparable to the straightout ''prohi-
bitionists" of today. Neither accomplish
ed much in practical results. But the Is
| sue of the "abolitionists' when adopted
by an organization with a regard for ex-
pediency resulted in the Republican party.
|
| The Anti-Saloon league in one state may
| be fighting with the regular Republican
Denomination for straight prohibition.
Across the border in the next state 1t
may be fighting with the Democratic or
lganization for a county-unit local-option
lbiH. saying never a word about prohibit
ton. In one city it may be allied with
a citizens, movement to Gust a regular
party organization from municipal pow
err In another it may be allied witt