The Washington herald., 1916-04-21
A High Count of Voters.

The Rev Wilbur F. Crafts, no pastoral assign
ment, wrote to Senators and Representatives in
congress last week that 100000 church mem
bers-IAooo,ooo of them voters-"expect of YOU
some bills other than those relating to money
and munitions. The church vote desires consti
tutional prohibition, Federal censorship Of films
prohibition for the District of Columbia and
several other bills mentioned This legislation
was demanded for Holy Week to show that Con-
gress represents Christian nation. If Congress
could have been assured by some other authority
than the letter of Mr.. Crafts that the 10000 600
church members of the United States either de-
manded or requested such legislation, it is doubt
full if Congress would have completely ignored the
demand, as it did. Mr. Crafts has in the mast
held pastoral relation to various churches in
several denominations, PRESBYTERIAN. Conqreoa-
ionaiist and Methodist, according to his own
autobiography and those past relations NAV give
him some authority to speak for some of the
church members; but Senators and Represent
atrves evidently thought he placed his figures too
high when he assumed to speak for 100000.
There are about 100000 church communi
cants in the United States, and there NAV h..
100000 voters among them though only 1900
900 votes were cast in the last Presidential e1ec
ton for 100000 people. Still Mr. Crafts NAV
be right about the number of church voters The
important question is as to Mr. Crafts authority
to represent the church vote The Catholic di-
rectory claims more than 10000 900 communi-
cants in this country, and when delegation of
business men of Baltimore called upon Cardinal
Gibbons few weeks ago, the cardinal declared
that the Roman Catholic Church is opposed to
statutory prohibition. There is ample eviderr.
that Cardinal Gibbons has authority to speak for
the Catholic church in this country. About the
same time a mass meeting was held in Washinq
ton to protest against statutory prohibition for
the District of Columbia, and it was addressed
by Monsignor Russell who has specific authority
to speak for the Catholic church members of tb.
District.
Here are more than one-third of the church
members of the country who have not authorized
the Rev. Wilbur Crafts to speak for them on
any question. There are something more than
100000 church members who belong to the
Protestant Episcopal Church, and they do not
make the same demands that Mr. Crafts does. nor
have they authorized him to represent them be-
tore Congress. The Evangelical Lutheran Church
claims to have 100000 church members, and
the official statement of the synodical conference
Of that church, says "As Lutherans we reject
(because contrary to Scripture) the doctrine
that the use of liquor as a beverage is a sin. !"
There are other churches that do not favor either
national or State prohibition by statute and it
would appear that Mr.. Crafts put his figures too
high by more than 100000.
Something may be allowed for careless state
ment, but the man who attempts to direct Con-
gress in the of all the 10000 900 church
members in the country very naturally fails to
make the impression desired Too often SEN
ators and Representatives treat the christian
lobbyist just they do the ordinary lob
byist who overstates his authority. Congress
is we'll acquainted with the man who represents
all the people" and generally sets him down as
representing only himself That appears to be
the way Congress looks at Mr.. Crafts.