The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-10-24
DEMOCRATS TRY
TO MAKE RELIGION
CAMPAIGN ISSUE
Are Taking a Religious Cen.
sus for Political
". Use.
FOLLOWS BID FOR JEWS
Letters to Workers About
the Scheme Marked
Confidential
FOLLOWS BID FOR JEWS
Especial Dispatch to West vireinian)

Especial Dispatch to West virsinian)
NEW YORK, Oct. 24.-The Repub.
lican National committee has received
evidence that the Democratic cam
paign managers are undertaking to ief.
feet religious census for political:
use at the very time that, for public
consumption. they are vociferously de-.
crying tie injection OF the religious
issue" into the campaign.
1t was only short time ago that
Henry Morganthau, chairman Of the
Democratic Finance committee. sent
out a special appeal to Jews to sup
port President Wilson on the direct
purchase and sale argument that Mr..
Wilson had appointed Jew to The
United States Supreme Court and done
other things specially favorable to-
Jews. Now comes this religious cen.
sus, avowedly laying the ground work
for a new appeal that will be differen.
tiated according to the results Of the
census.
The Democratic managers want 70;
know the religious affiliations Of the
voters SO that suitable literatures.
may be sent to them. The scheme 81
not even thinly yelled. It Is bald
attempt to make political capital out
Of any strong religious prejudices
which the proposed census may reveal
to the Democratic National commit.
tee.
Some time ago the Democratic Ma.
tonal committee sent out to postmAs@
tiers everywhere copies of . ldocda
ment entitled the Wilson .wnrte-s
Manual" Now this is followed, nat
urally, by a flood Of letters to Demo
cratic workers, asking their help I'm
taking this religious census. These
letters are marked confidential, and
are on stationery or the Democratic
National committee, dated ct New
York. and sent from the office Of Dan
lei c. Roper, chairman Of organizal
tion." This Is the man who was first,
assistant postmaster general Until,
this campaign opened, and who re-
signed that post to take the Job 90;
part OF which he sends out this ap.
peal for religious census.
Mr.. Roper writes that he wants, for
the Democratic National committees.
the names and addresses of any per.
sons who should have personal let.
tiers or to whom appropriate literature
should be mailed" Mr.. Roper adds
that he is sending certain special
lists" On which the workers branch
is to transmit to the National commit.
tee 1.-THE names of any doubtful vot..
ers lin accordance with the headings
on the sheet) to whom letters should
be written or literature be sent" The
special list" is blank divided into
two parts, which contains seven COLI
umns. one is headed Republicans,
Progressives and Independents favor;
able to Wilson," the other Is headed
"Other Republicans, Progressives and
Independents who through appropri:
ate literature. may be persuaded ITO
vote for Wilson," At the top ofseach
OF the seven columns Is O caption
describing the information desired.
These headings are. 1, Politics; 3,
Iamcs; ., Postoffice; 4, OCCUPATION:
5, Nationality; 6, Religion; 2, Eisturb5
ing issue. II any. 4
The covering letter from Mr.. Roper
makes it clear to the worker who re-.
ceives 1t that the Democratic National
committee will reward him suitably
for his efforts. The Democratic Ma.
tional committee has waited untils the
last weeks Of the campaign to At
tempt this special injection Of religi.
GUS issues, with the obvious purpose
of avoiding detection II possible. sMrs
Roper is not as open In his appeal to
religious prejudice as his colleaetie.
Mr.. Morganthau. but their purpose Is
just the same. s