The Detroit times., 1914-12-15
PASTORS union
TO Aid in WAR ON
M'CURDY SALOON
Committee Will Back Rector
Ziegler in Fight to Prevent
Issuing of New License
ANOTHER WILL PUSH
PLAN FOR LEGISLATION
To Work For Law to Bar Oper-
alton of Rumshop Near
Church

The Rev. G. j. Tannar. president OF
the Detroit Pastors UNION, was au-
thorized by vote OF that body in Its
December meeting in the Y Nj. G. A.
auditorium, Monday morning, 10 ap-
point two committees of three mem
bers each TO assist the Rev. Paul Zieg-
Ter. rector OF ST. Barnabas church In
his attempt to secure the removal OF
the combined saloon and bowling al
ley, operated by George McCurdy next
door TO the church and rectory at
Fourteenth and Breckenridge-aves
One committee will 20, with the
Rev. Mr.. Zeigler, before the common
council and the liquor regulation com
mittee of that body In an effort TO
have the McCurdy license denied The
other will cooperate with a commit
tee representing the Episcopal diocese
of Michigan In an effort to induce the
legislature TO amend the Warner
Cramton law In such way as TO
make II illegal for any liquor commit
tee or other licensing body TO renew
or cause to be issued license for a
saloon situated In close proximity to a
church.
The Rev. Mr.. Zeigler and his con-
gregation have waged bitter but
fruitless fight against the McCurdy ga.
loon for the last four years, and have
just recently succeeded II bringing
the matter to a head Failing TO OBJ
tall relief from the common council,
two lawyers. members OF the st.
Barnabas congregation, have started
suit against Herman Darmstaetter,
brewer. the Northwood Realty com
pany, owners of the property. and
George McCurdy, saloonkeeper, Il
abate the nuisance caused by the oper-
alton OF the saloon and bowling alley
close to the church. DESTROYS OF OBJ
tanning immediate and certain action
without awaiting the laws delay, how
ever, Rector Zeigler plans 10 keep up
his fRht before the council liquor COM
mittee to have a new license denied,
and, IL possible TO make the relicens-
ing Of any such saloon impossible
legislative amendment OF the
law.
The Rev. Mr.. Zeigler was very bit
ter in his denunciation Of the city's
"open-town" policy which makes such
conditions possible. He had, he de-
clared, often been forced TO collect
beer bottles from the church lawn.
and was compelled to live within six
feet Of bowling alley that was rum
ming night and day. He had also been
subjected to open insults, he declared.
when he attempted to- bring the mat
ter to the attention of the council
and had been forced Ito endure the
boots and sLeers even of the man in
the chair, the president of the coun-
cil."'
The chairman Of the liquor commit
tee, had, he said, lied to him to put
him off, declaring that the Warner
Cramton law made imperative the re-
licensing of saloons which were in
operation when the law went into ef-
feet
The resolutions introduced by the
Rev. Mr.. Zeigler calling for the ap-
pointment of the two committees,
were adopted without a dissenting
vote. President Tannar announced
that he would make the appointments
at later date.
A letter from Congressman Rich
mond Pearson Hobson, originator OF
the Hobson national prohibition
was read. 1t conveyed
the intelligence that the house rules
committee would probably report out
the measure today, bringing 1t TO a
vote Dec. 10. The committee, how
ever, acted earlier than was expect.
ed, reporting the bill out for discus
sion and vote Dec. %, after the letter
was written by Hobson. The minis
tiers were asked TO use every pos
sible means TO induce their congrega-
lions to bring pressure to bear on
their congressman TO have them take
favorable action on the amendment.
Miss Anna T. Hart, member of the
faculty OF the Northwestern Normal
school, and Miss Margaret White
more, secretary Of the Wayne County
Equal Suffrage association, addressed
the pastors In the interests OF equal
suffrage.
The Rev. Homer B. Henderson,
chairman OF the anti-saloon commit
tee. reported that Wayne b. Wheeler,
secretary of the Ohio Anti-Saloon
league, would address the pastors in
the next meeting.