The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1917-01-01
CHURCHES ASK
BARTEL TO Vote
FOR PROHIBITION

Methodists Of Grace and First
churches, at a Joint Watch night sery,
ice at First church last night entered
the new year, 1917, with running
start, when by a rising vote the large
congregation unanimously voiced an
appeal to Representative-elect Will H.
Bartel, Jr., to vote for statewide pro-
hibition at the coming session of the
legislature.
The text of the resolution follows:
Whereas the saloon and the liquor
traffic in all forms are recognized to
be instruments of the devil for de-
struction of homes and family ties, for
the disintegration of character and
moral stamina. for the eternal damna-
ton of souls of your fellow men, we,
members of the Grace Methodist and
First Methodist Epworth leagues and
churches of Richmond, assembled in a
service of conservation on this day.
December 81. the last day Of the year,
1916, earnestly and respectfully ad-
dress this plea to you.
Recalls Recent Dual Murder.
There is no argument moral, social
or economic which can be used to
justify the continuance of the liquor
traffic and it's attendant evils. No
evidence can be produced to contro-
vert this statement, especially in
Richmond where memory still makes
us shudder at the thought of the sacri-
flee of those two brave patrolmen' 5
lives because one man exercised his
so-called personal liberty and took a
drink
Those citizens who voted to author
ize the existence of saloons in Rich
mond at the last option election have
the blood of those two murdered Off
GERS on their souls. They must share
with the murdered the responsibility
not only for that tragedy but for
countless others that have been COM
mitted since that time by drink-crazed
men and women.
We have learned with sincere regret
of your avowed intention of voting
against statewide prohibition meas
ure TO be presented at the next legis-
lature, to which you have been elected
to represent the interests of Wayne
county. We would respectfully direct
your attention to the fact that the in
terests of Wayne county are not alone
those of a few business men, polite
ians and the saloonists but are the
homes, the foundation of our civiliza-
tion-your home and ours which at
all times are in danger of being ruin
ed forever by. the depredations of
some alcohol-saturated maniac at
large in our city The ties of home,
family and friendship, we believe, take
precedence over any political afilia-
tions. The saloon is the enemy of
our Heavenly Father and He will
abundantly bless those who work for
the overthrow of the liquor traffic.
Earnest Appeal is Made
Be it resolved, therefore, that. we
and prayerfully petition
that you line yourself up with those
God-fearing and God-loving men who,
at the coming session of the legisia-
ture, will cast their votes to Danish
from the face of Indiana. the curse OF
humanity, the liquor traffic.
Be it further resolved, that this
petition be given to the public press.
This part of the service was under
the leadership of the Epworth league.
Addresses were made by Rev H. G.
Harmon, pastor. Rev. U. s. A. Bridge,
pastor of the Grace church. and by
Rev. Somerville Light. district super
H. T. Sullivan also spoke.
The Fiske university Jubilee Quartet
sang southern religious anthems Of
great beauty. :.