Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-02-17
KENYON BILL
is ENDORSED
METHODISTs FAVOR SENATOR'S
MEASURE PROHIBITING LIQUOR
SHIPMENTS.
PUSH SALOON WAR.
Des Moines Meeting Goes on Record
as Favoring Campaign for EIin-
ination Of Iowa Bars; ResoIu-
tions Adopted.

| Des Moines, Feb 15.-The absolute
annihilation Of the liquor traffic in
Iowa by means of effective state and
national legislation was advocated EN-.
phatically by John H. Taft of Cedar
Rapids, president of the Business
Mems Temperance association Of Iowa
and by the Rev. NJ. M. Gable, superin-
tendent of the Constitutional Amend.
ment Prohibitory association, who
spoke at the closing session of the
| first all-lowa Methodist convention,
| which adjourned last night at the First
! church in Des Moines.
A committee consisting Of minis
ter and a layman from each of Iowa 8
four annual conferences was appoint
ed by Bishop w. Mcdowell, who
presided to cooperate with similar
commissions from the Congregational,
Baptist. Christian and United Presby.
terrain churches of Iowa to devise, II
possible, some means Of federating in
DETERMINATIONS activity.
Both speakers on the subject of the
liquor traffic in Iowa urged that the
achievements in behalf of temperance
within the borders of Iowa should be
conserved and made permanent by leg
islation more effective than the pres.
ent mulct law, Mr. Taft declared that
a big problem was caused by the I'm.
equal chance that exists under the
mulct law, and suggested that a law
should be passed that would under no
circumstances allow the saloon men
to circulate petition within five years
after being defeated by the dry ele-
ment He said: I'VE must find candi
dates for the state legislature who are
friendly to the temperance interests
and work to elect dry senate which
would join with the house of represent
tatives to pass anti-saloon legislation.
Goes Into Politics.
The big problem is to conserve the
wealth of wage earners that is now
spent for intoxicants. The liquor in
terests have no hope of electing gov
ernor, but they want to elect the lieu
tenant governor. and Harding should
be defeated If Van Law of Marshall
town should be candidate for that
office he deserves the support OF every
one who is attending at this conven-
ton. The saloon men know and admit
that their business will be driven out
of Iowa by the united and concerted
action of the church men,
The Rev. Dr. Cable, who spoke in
place of the Rev. Clarence True Will
son, said:
1.-The people are ready to annihilate
the liquor interests in this state as
soon as the legislature gives them a
chance. We do not want statutory
prohibition for statutory laws may be
changed. We must take the question
OF prohibition out Of politics and put
it where it will stand or fall on it's
own merits. We want constitutional
prohibition and should heartily indorse
Senator Kenyon's stand on the sub
ject The saloon is the root of the
greatest prevailing evil, the brothel
and the public dance hall, and we
must get rid of the sale and manu-.
facture Of liquor. Local option will
not accomplish the desired result, we
must determine to plod along until
there is total prohibition in Iowa."
Next in Importance to the discussion
of the liquor traffic came the con-
sideration of interdenominattonal
comfy. The address on this topic was
delivered at the opening OF the after
noon session by the Rev H. w. futile
of Grinnell, general missionary and
superintendent Of the Iowa Congrega'
tional churches, who deplored the vast
waste due to the lack of interdenomi-
national cooperation, especially In the
already over-churched rural districts.
Instead of warning against CON-
mon foe," said DR.. futile, 1.-The differ
emit denominations expend their energy
trying to outstrip their rivals so that
the souls of many men are becoming
narrow because, instead Of acting as
apostles of the church, they are turn
ing into sectarian politicians. Sectar-
ian iealousies have hindered or pre-
vented entirely church organizations
in some districts.
Would Coordinate Forces.
although the movement towards in
terdenominational cooperation is still
sporadic and unguided, there is a
tendency on the part of the different
denominations to recognize the folly
of multiplying the number of rival
churches in the 'sparsely populated dis
tricts and to refrain from introducing
q new denomination in field already
Articles Recommended.
Articles recommended by the all
Iowa Methodist Episcopal convention
follows:
First-The Endorsement of Senator
Kenyons constitutional amendment
bill which provides for the prohibition
of the shipment of intoxicating
liquors into prohibition territory.
Second-The demand that the mulct
law be repealed.
Third-The organization of social
service commission In each of the
Methodist conferences of Iowa for the
purpose of establishing statewide
Methodist Episcopal social service to
with similar commissions of
other denominations.
Fourth-The favoring of the election
of an assistant secretary of home
missions whose duty it shall be to act
as the secretary of rural church work
4~4