The Sentinel=record., 1914-05-17
FARMERS UNION
 AND PREACHERS
TEXAS UNION DEGREES THE Ac- TIVITY OF PREACHERS IN THE
 POLITICS OF THE STATE.
Blame Them For EndeaVoring to In- ject Prohibition IR the Campaign for State Officers.

Fort Worth. Tex. May 16.-TnS Farmers Union of Texas has passed resolutions opposing the agitation of the liquor question il the campaign now on in this state, and asking for constructive legislation. This action brought down upon the mthe wrath Of some of the preachers who were lead ing the prohibition forces and the off cials of the Union have replied with the following statement:
 We want to say a few words to the pulpit politicians who have attacked the position of the Farmers Union on the liquor question.
 We care nothing for the views of any political preacher as such express sions do not, in any sense reflect the opinions of the Texas ministry, but they are making unscruplous efforts to destroy the Union and We deem it cur duty to defend our noble organiz- ation against the attacks of its ene- mics, however unimpOrtant the source or however feeble may he the effort
 
 preachers of this State are on the payroll of the farmers the farmers Of Texas have built approximately 10000 churches, contribute to the support of religious institutions about $5,000,000 per annum and the church census shows that 75 of every 100 members of the various church denominations live upon the farm. We refer with pride to the achievement of the farm CTS along the line of religious progress and moral development The sub stantial assistance the farmers of Texas have given the cause of religion we think authorizes the vast body ot agricultural laymen who constitute the bone and sinew of the church ts speak out, for certainly layman may know as much about political theology as a preacher.
 keep the Yellow Peril of Politics
 From the Pulpit.
 What we have to say has no refer ence to that vast body of militant ministers who have consecrated their lives to the uplift of mankind and whose precepts and examples are beacon light Illuminating the pathway of the human race. We address our selves exclusively to that coterie of political clergymen who prostitute their high calling by capitalizing their reputation and by lending their occu- patton to designing politicians, and we appeal to the Texas laymen to use their influence in preventing the .yellow peril of politics from entering the pulpit in any of its disguises.
 The religious preacher is the most capable servant and the political preacher the sorriest master the world has ever known. Wherever power is placed in the hands of the latter they invariably become intolerant, bigoted and vicious.
 Civilization has many times been compelled to drive incorrigible preachers back to the pulpit at the point of the bayolet. Many of the pages of history are wet with blood shed at the hands of political preach CTS who wrote laws on the statute books that committed arson upon mankind, maimed human beings with the hatchet and sent helpless women to the torture rack all because they disagreed with their views. When in control of government the pulpit poli- ticians invariably undertake to per form legislative miracles such as east ing out witches with the flame of a