Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-21
PERCY S. FOSTER URGED
FOR COMM|SS|ONERSH|P
Christian Endeavor Union
Also Seeks to Place Men,
berS on Excise Board.

All sHcTSeliC campaign was lduHCN0Q
by the executive board of the Christian
Endeavor Union of the District of CO.
| lumbia last night. and it will receive re-
| newed impetus Sunday for placing on
the Board of District Commissioners one
representative Of the local temperance
forces 1t is also planned to have the new
excise board include three men who are
prominent among the white ribboners''
of Washington.
Today a large number of circulars and
letters were directed to be sent out by
the Christian Endeavor board which
| named the slate that received their ap-
prevail last night and which urged the
churches and religious organizations as
we'll as those interested in moral uplift
work, to take up the campaigning imme-
diately. 1t was pointed out that there
was not much time to lose, as there was
a fear that the President might name the
Commissioner at any time. 1t was de-
clared that If the pressure can be made
strong enough there could be no doubt
that the President would give at least
one Of their candidates a place.
Percy S. Foster Named.
Percy s. Foster. late chairman of the
inaugural music committee, was named
I by the board for the commssionershp.
1t was pointed out that if his politics
are questioned it may be shown that
when he last voted he cast his ballot for
Cleveland, and that SO far as there were
any politics in the District he is demo-
crat.
1t had been intended to place Mr.. Eos
ter in the candidacy for the excise board,
but it was-ibelieved that he would make
a better Commissioner.
Alfred E. Shoemaker, attorney for the
Anti-Saloon League. was named as one
else board. He has accepted the candi-
dacy. Myron J. Jones, director of the
educational department Of the Y. M. G..
A. was wanted for one of the places but
a telegram received from him last night
by the local Christian Endeavor Union
contained his declination of the honor Of
fered him.
- Joint Slate to Be Picked.
A committee was then appointed by the
Christian Endeavor board to confer i'm
mediately with the officers of the Anti
Saloon League, for the purpose of fixing
up joint slate for excise commissioners.
This committee will make efforts to pick
two more candidates.
force of twelve speakers will be pick
ed by the Christian Endeavor Union by
Sunday to work throughout the city and
speak in the various chuJches and be-
fore various organizations. pleading for
the support of the Christian Endeayor
Unions candidate for Commissioner and
for the joint candidates for excise COM
.mfssiOners. This force will be added to
until the campaign closes.
Energetic Campaign Planned.
1t was pointed out before the board at
it's meeting last night that it was abb
solutely necessary that the proposed cam
paign be pushed with the utmost energy.
The new excise law. it was declared. pro-
vides for the reduction of some 800 sa-
looms in the city within the next year.
and to insure that there should be no
laxity in the enforcement of the law the
need of tried and true anti-liquor men
was evident. These could be obtained,
1t was declared. by the appointment Of
the slate named by the Christian En-
deavor board.
will be asked to take up the matter.
They will be asked to point out to their
various congregations these appointments
would be beneficial to the city.
Not only will the matter be presented
to the various churches for presentation
next Sunday through the pulpits. but
the religious and temperance organiza-
lions throughout the city will receive
communications from the directors \ of
the movement asking them to take up
the matter at their meetings. Among
these will be the Epworth League of the
Methodist Episcopal Church South, which
organization has some 800 members in
the city: the Baptist Young Peoples
Union, with membership of approx
mately 500. and the Christian Endeavor
Union of the District of Columbia, with
it's growing membership of about 5000.
To Interest Business Men.
Then efforts will be made to commune
cate with the large number of business
men about the city who have been inter-
ested in Christian Endeavor work at
some time in their lives and who have
become disassociated from it because of
their business, and attempt to get them
to use their influence toward having the
Christian Endeavorers' slate named.
President Rexford L. Holmes of the Dis
trict of Columbia Christian Endeavor
Union and one of the most active spirits
in this movement, declared his belief
that the efforts of those interested in the
movement would very likely be felt by
the President.
The directors of the campaign do not
presentation by preachers Sundays. They
intend to have it taken up during the
week at the nightly prayer meetings, and,
in fact. all services where Ii can be done
1t will also be discussed before the vari-
Gus bodies at every meeting and when
ever the opportunity presents itself.