Evening journal., 1916-05-15
PASTOR Takes RAP
At HEALTH BOARD
Cites Uncalled for Disease
Scare as Evidence OF
Alleged IncOmpetency
WANTSCLEAN STREETS,
SANITARY MARKETS

The Rev. r. L. Jackson, pastor Of
Hanover Presbyterian Church, preach
I'd yesterday on the subject, Whining
toms Real Plague" He took for his
text, Judges 9:S. and said, among
other things:
Il have a growing aversion TO po-
litical sermons so-called: / doubt II
they do very much good. The major
ity of the average congregation do
not care for them; in fact, failing to
see their bearing upon religion. they
are more or less irritated by them.
However, there come times in the life
Of community. when a sermon from
a Christian pulpit, dealing with
definite and distressing political situ-
alton seems nothing short of inevita-
BILE. AS this seemed to be the con-
census OF opinion Of those who attend
ed a recent meeting Of the Ministerial
Union, this Lords Day was designated
as Municipal Day in our churches for
the purpose Of demanding Of the peo-
pie such intelligent and disinterested
participation in municipal government
as shall make the disgraceful doings
we have lately witnessed impossible.
Il is. therefore. in compliance with
the request Of the Ministerial Union
that come before you with sermos
on 'Wilmington's Real Plague
Wilmington Real Plague Is
partisan municipal government Af-
fairs involving the expenditure Of
thousands of dollars Of our money and
representing all that is vital to our
financial. physical, social and moral
well-being are given into the hands
u men who conduct them. not in the
interests Of the people. but in the in
terests OF a political party.
"The recent capers of the Board OF
Health. are an illustration In point.
II this instance were a solitary one,
We could easily forgive and forget,
with certain notable exceptions. The
first question which many OF our city
officials ask in regard to a proposed
measure or move, is. How will it af-
feet their party? Will it make it pop
ulat or unpopular with this class or
that class? viii it ALLEVIATE the COLI
ored people?. viii it estrange the for
eign element? How will il strike the
liquor interests?' The real plague OF
this city is not smallpox or tubercu-
losis. or any other physical disease
but a type of partisan politics which
keeps men in public positions, who
are, from almost every point of view
incompetent to discharge the respon-
sibilities incumbent upon them Have
we not been plagued long enough
Isn't the experience of this last fort
night the last straw? DO the mer-
chants Of Wilmington want 10 go or
being the victims of official incom.
petence? DO the people Of Whining
ton want to go on living on dirty
streets? DO they want TO go on buy.
ing in unsanitary markets?
I'm answer to the question how car
the existing situation be remedied
would say that the remedy lies ir
the organization OF a non-partisaT
citizens league. for the purpose oi
educating our citizens i'm the rights
and responsibilities OF citizenship
Such league should make it its bus
mess to change the mental attitude
OF the voters. so that the terms Dem
ocrat and Republican would becom,
practically meaningless when it came
to municipal interests. Political par
ties there will, undoubtedly. be II
municipal, as we'll as i'm State affairs
but let us make the line Of cleavage
one OF business efficiency and genuine
progress. rather than loyalty to a po
litical standard II is in order for the
best men Of all parties and Of no par
ties. to band themselves together il
such a nOn-partisan league and c
work for a citizenry sufficiently large
and influential to establish q non.
partisan form OF government and t
elect men to Office who will conduc
the affairs entrusted to them by thu
people in an honest, business-likl
manner
"Such a sermon as this may seen
a good way from what should COM
from a Christian pulpit It will b.
exclaimed by a good many, we cam
to church this morning for the gos
pei and we have gotten, instead, a po
litical harangue' Those who indulg
in such critical structures, have We
to learn that il is very little of tn
gospel OF Jesus Christ people posses
who are so sOrdid and cowardly as {
meekly and weakly submit to cond
tions which encourage men to be in
competent, and what is more. whic