The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1914-09-24
PAGE FIVE


John r. Spence was also.
l am permitted to use his letter, which fol-
lows
Carrorton, Ga, Aug. %, 1914.
Hon. Thos E. Watson.
Dear Sir: During the last days of the legisla-
ture a bill was placed on it's passage exempting
endoWments to church colleges from taxation. |,
with forty-three other members of the House,
voted against the bill During the tendency of
the bill l noticed Bishop Gambler the floor Of
the House nearly all the time. The bill de-
feated, but motion made and prevailed for
reconsideration. Within twelve hours after tbs
vote was taken began to receive plies of letters
and kilograms from my good Methodist friends
at nome, urging me to change my vote
Now, what l want to know is, how did my
Methodist friends at home find out SO soon how
I voted this bill? Is it possible that Bishop
Gambler sent kilograms to my friends that their
little representative had dared to vote against
exemptng Bro. Asa's Coca-Cola millions?
Well, the bill came up for final action, and the
vote revealed the fact that twelve of those who
first voted against the bill changed and voted for
I wonder of those twelve were pressed by
friends at home l was?
L was standing for reelection, but on the 10Th
of August it appears that every Methodist strong
hold in the country went almost soldly against
me, and I went down in defeat. My colleague
and [ voted together about every bill except
this One-he returned.
Is it possible that Bishop Gambler means to
prostitute the great Methodist church for the pur
pose of extending Bro. Asa's millions from taxa
tion so that no taxes levied thereon shall reach
the poor children in the rural districts?
Yours truly
JNO. R. SPENCE
Now, let me aslz-JThero does this kind Of
thinQ lead?
President Wilson used all his influence on
Congress to have it repeal a law which eX-
empted the vessels of the American Ship
Trust from the payment of tolls IN the Pan
anna Canal
One Of the strongest arguments used in
favor Of the repeal was. that the exemption
from p0ymeat Of tolls acsa cQuiro7eat to 4
SUBSIDY. to that an2ount.
It is equally clear that an exemption from
taxation is a subsidy.
The highest law c~f the United States pro-
hibits the appropriation of public money for
sectarian purposes-such as the maintenance
of churches, church schools. church charities,
&c.
[ have argued with the U. S. War Depart
ment that it had no right to furnish an officer
and arms ammunitons, &c, to the pope's
Marist College near Atlanta. Soon after the
correspondence closed, the Secretary Of Var
refused to a2z0w the Catholics to 6ui7d
chapel or the Military reservation at NeaO
York.
For years, / have contended that the Cath
olics had no right to have a chapel at West
Point, on our public property and that they
should be compelled to take it off.
Therefore. my position in regard to the tax
exemption demanded for the Coca-Cola en-
dowment of the Methodist chmch-Scho0z is
perfectly consistent.
To exempt any church, any church land,
any church school. any church endowment. is
a violation of American law and Protestant
principle.
The churches have no right to cast refec-
ton upon Jesus Christ. who passed on that