The Washington herald., 1915-01-04
GE GOLDBERGS COMICS IN SUNDAY HERALD
hibitiOn a National Da
MEANS CONTROL OF STATE BY THE CHURC
Country Swarrning with Clerical Politicians
Address l. sCHARF Anisaloon

a grip of steel that is becoming more
and more difficult to throw on. and
that no nominations for any once are
possible without the endorsement OF
coterie of these inter-denomina-
tionaI politicians
No matter how upright, how high
minded, how temperate, how pat
riotic a candidate for nomination may
be, If he cannot secure the endorsement
of this politico-religious oligarchy,
and still insists on running for office,
he Is unscrupulously and unmerci-
fully denounced as a tool of the
whIskey ring, or OF the brewers, or
of the saloon men. This finishes him
as far as any chance for election is
concerned. He must belong to the
clique or II is all over with him.
Southern Clergy Becoming Aroused.
In the South, where church control
of politics is more aggravated, the
clergy. who are still wholly Christian,
are becoming restive under the yoke
of UNCONVENTIONAL politics. They rec
ognize the seriousness OF conditions
there, and deplore the departure from
the gentle Christian method of moral
suasion upon the dark and turbulent
seas of politics. They are becoming
disguised with the hysteria, humbug,
and hypocrisy OF the fanaucal Prohi-
bitionists. We quote here from two
letters received from clergymen In
the South. One is a Doctor OF Divin-
ity in the Baptist Church. and writes,
among other things, as follows:
II have your lettsr. and a COPY Of the Saloon
AbGlitonist. and have carefully noted both !
congratulate yOu. MY poncS WI
he to teach, to Agitate, TO show that prohi-
bitiun is absolute failure. that the Bihe
does not teach II. rather repsldiates it. and
that people cannot be made gOod By external
force.
We have forgotten, also the doctrine Of the
srraration Of Church and State We are now
headed toward a TheoCTacy, that Is, TO have
the State under the control Of the Church. II
is rotten. and it b high time for somebody TO
call halt. I have about concluded that l
can stand it no longer"
A Presbyterian minister, though
writing from another viewpoint. also
takes occasion TO express his alarm
over the growing Church influence in
politics. This is what he says, In
part:
Il have been long Convinced that there -
noed for a new Temperance society that would.
On the one hand, bo free from sAloon dornina-
ton and On the other would stand hrmJ
reasonable demands Of the fanAtical Prohibi-
tioui4s, among whom could Be counted all the
members of the AntisaloOn League and Of the
Women's Christian Temperance Union. II Is
pnssible to secure the cooperation Of Christian
men even among the liquor dealers with
Increment which hooks TO the public good. aims
at real Temperance, and is not SSayed By
blind unreasoning. fSnaticsn.
Il would b grateful for any information as
to the proposed proIaglndA Of the new or
.,A H. Hn aNa Nth
you in any scheme that promises a reasonable
prospect Of slccess in fighting the effort TO tum
this government into . sort Of TheocracJ-A
State governed b the Churches"
Prohibition and Labor.
Labor leaders have for some time
looked with suspicion upon the pro-
hibition movement, not So much that
they were opposed to the moral side of
1t, but because the results of all such
have been detrimental TO
the laboring classes.
There seems to be a general move
ment. carried on jointly with the pro-
propaganda, to deprive the
people of all means Of en-
joyment and social intercourse after
their days work is done. The willy
of industry look upon their
employees as so many machines, rather
than as human beings. They feel that
they must get all out OF them they
can. and that any hours of enjoy
ment which they might spend in social
over a glass of beer, in
stead of devoting them to rest, take
away that much from their efficiency
the following day. These employers
Of labor consider it a matter OF course
that they should have their pleasure
at their clubs. but their employees
well, that is different.
The Prohibitionists caught the idea
and just as promptly made
use of it. Under the present church
the laboring man is being
bounded like a wild animal. On Sun
day he is hedged In with prohibitions
and inhibitions that take away from
his the last vestige of liberty and even
the opportunity of education for him
self, and his wife and children. All
The places of amusement are closed
against him. The public libraries in
many cities and towns refuse him the
,nly educational opportunities on the
Inly day which is available to him.
Public museums and other sources Of
information or pleasure are
orbidden him. He is denied a glass
II beer. while the rich at their clubs
evel in luxurious chairs, and drink
What they want
Instead Of providing for the laboring
nan proper places OF enjoyment and
ocial intercourse, to which he is en-
tiled. as much as his employer, the
OF many cities offer him
ither rum hells OF the lowest order
r absolute prohibition. There is no
ensible. practical, decent, middle
round, but there must be such
middle ground. The situation calls
or 1t and It will be providO-it must
ne. and it shall be provided.
This need is being recognized by all
he civilized nations OF Europe. Only
! few days ago the French Chamber
# Deputies exempted from licenses
,roprietors OF cafes, who sell no
piritous liquors, and serve only wine,
'eer, or cider.
distinguish Between Harmful and
Harmless Beverages.
1t would therefore be the wise poll
~ on the part OF our own states
hen to make a distinction in legis-
alton as regards these beverages.
% allow beers and wines to be sold
n hotels, cafes, restaurants and
inch rooms under one license and
he stronger drinks in others, IL such
J the wish OF q constituency, would
g the proper solution of this Ques-
lon. OF course. q difference should
e made in the amount Of the licenses.
Progressive Fanaticism.
The process by which the Prohibit (
onists work is this:
Where they have the power, local
ption laws viii be enacted for towns.