Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1910-09-24
PROHIBITION
BADLY HURT BY
EXCESSIVE ZEAL
REV. MIR. CUDLIPP DOUBTS THE
LIQUOR by PARTY MOVEMENT
VOTING STRENGTH OVER
ESTIMATED.

their cause by making wild state
ments regarding the importance of
the liquor question, and that many Of
them over-estimate the voting
strength of the Christian people of
the Nation, were statements made by
Or. John II. Cudlipp in, his sermon at
Grace Methodist church last night.
THAT the liquor traffic is an alarm
ing problem in this country will not
be disputed by any fair-minded man"
he said. "That the church Of God
ought to be, is and must be opposed
to the saloon is the truth, which needs
no discussion.
But first of all, let not the church
be deceived as to the strength and
position of her foe. ] fear that the
average temperance man is altogeth-
er too slovenly in his estimate of the
character and power of the enemy
against which he presses his fight. In
grandiloquent words he proclaims
that If the church of God would but
do her duty at the ballot-box, the
vexed question could be settled forth
\ with. So he places the responsibility
he bids her do her duty or go to hell.
! He tells us that there are at least 3d.
0000 900 Christians in this country, or
vote which ought to reach between
5 100000 and 100000. This is but
a mere guess, of course, but let us
grant the claim, and then ascertain
what, in reality, the facts are.
First of all, you are to reckon
with the Roman Catholic church,
with her 100000 people. On the
basis already assumed you must give
her between 100000 and 1000, 900 |
votes, or at least little over 2,00O,-
600. In the nature of things this
church does not count with the tenn
perance forces of America. Indeed, 1T
makes no pretensions along this line.
Do not misunderstood me. / do not
say that the Catholic church has no
temperance sentiment. She has, and
1t grows with every passing day But
] do say that this church cannot be
counted upon in a fight such as we
have on our hands now.
Then, again, we are bound to con-
slider the German vote. Splendid peo-
pie, first-class citizens, industrious
real contributors to the growth and
prosperity of the nation, but with
their own convictions on this ques-
tion.
Then, again, we must not forget
that the liquor business has a COM
value which is astonishing
Have you ever thought that here is a {
business in which there is invested /
more than O0,OOO,OOO, to say &
nothing about the 10000 hands en-
gagged in carrying on its interests
All, my friends, it is one thing to talk !
about roofing out the saloon. 1t is t
quite another thing to accomplish the l
ask, AS see it the church has per- /
formed a miracle in doing what she t
las.
Millions Defend Habit. q
Again, we must remember that in I
| thousand, a million, yes, in ten 4
million cases, drink has become a I
liked habit, for which men will sacri- a
Ice their all. Z
The present confusion must give
'lace to order before this great evil
'an be abated. feel sure the tenn y
,erance cause has suffered irreparable e
harm from the average speaker who Z
las been sent out to represent it's
claims, and whose stock in trade is
lbuse of those from whom they ex-
,ect money and votes.
Neither can you win this fight by, ,
he claim that the liquor traffic is the
greatest and only question before
-he American people They know
better. There are other questions
hat are just as vital, 1t is one of 2
he great questions, but not the a
he great questions, but not the =
greatest.
Il doubt also whether we shall :
succeed along the third party line,
or We strike at the convictions and L
,rejudioes OF thousands of good men n
md women who believe that the well n
are Of their country depends upon +
cushing the platforms OF the other a
great parties. 1
I'VE must make this a moral ques- r
ion, not one of party politics, This I
question is too big for any one par 7
y. II belongs TO every man, woman p
md child. II is your duty and mine S
o fight this terrible evil. I
"By enforcing the laws we now Q
nave we would be long way toward c
t,