The Washington times., 1917-05-08
CHURCH COUNCIL TO
WAGE DRY" FIGHT
Convention Also Pays Atten-
ton to Duties Of the War.

The Federal Council Of the Churches
in America held its first convention
session this morning in the Calvary
Baptist Church, at Eighth and
H streets northwest. The Rev.
Frank Mason North, president Of the
council, and the Rev. Charles S.
mcfarland, general secretary, pre-
scented the call and the statement Of
the purpose Of the meeting. The Rev.
Henry Churchill King spoke on THE
Church's Responsibility and Oppor-
tunity."
Several matters concerning plans
and recommendations to the commit
tees appointed to consider them this
morning were presented at the after
noon session. They includes:
Reports on, plans for, and the
moral and religious welfare of the
army and navy" and other work In
relation TO the war.
The report of the Washington COM
mittee Of the Federal council on the
moral and religious welfare Of the
army and navy including committee
on chaplains.
Commission on the church and So
cial service Of the Federal council.
including the work of the American
Red Cross.
Other commissions and co-operat-
ing bodies Of the Federal council.
International committee OF the
Young Mems Christian Associations.
National board Of the Young Won
ems Christian Associations.
The American Bible Society.
Raymond Robins spoke on The
Church in the New Democracy"
A Million For Prohibition.
The council has made public the
announcement Of the raising Of a mil
lIon-doIlsr fund for newspaper pub
licity against the liquor traffic. This
will consist Of an educational cam
paign to be conducted among college
men, society women, workingmen,
soldiers and sailors. The publicity
campaign will cover one year, and
will use nearly all the daily news
papers and the 1000 weeklies in
America, although the campaign will
be especially conducted in the wet
States.
The Rev. Charles Sickle, field sec
rotary Of the council, presented the
plan TO the commission on temper
ance, and has general charge OF the
campaign. In explaining the plan and
the reason for adopting 1t, he said az
follows:
"Our approach to the prohibition
question will be mainly from the
economic standpoint. We have just
completed a two years investigation
Of what will happen to working men
when the liquor business is abolished
It Is proposed to demonstrate the fal
-
the abolition Of the liquor traffic will
create an Industrial and commercial
panic.
1--WE will also discuss the liquor
question from the standpoint OF health
and the conservation Of human life
Wage earners who are engaged in the
manufacture Of liquor lose an aver
age OF six years OF life on account OF
their occupation, and bar tenders lose
an average OF seven years of life
These working men are making toe
great a contribution toward the
prosperity of liquor dealers and
manufacturers.
War Measure a Basis.
prohibition as a war measure will
have a large place in the preliminary
advertising. We are credibly inform
ed by economists that last year tht
manufacturers OF liquor consumed
1000, 100000 pounds of foodstuffs fol-
the production OF malt and distilled
Hquors-enough food to supply tn,
energy requirements of 100000 mel
for a year. 1t is inconceivable that
the liquor men should be permitted t
starve some men by making other
drunk.
THE Brewers Year Book boldly de
ciares that 1t requires the toll of IS,
900 farmers for six months to furnish
these foodstuffs. II the labor of thes'
men could be diverted so that tbs
grain and other food produce raised
were to be used for food instead oil
liquor, il would enormously relieve
the situation produced by the present
scarcity OF food"
The convention will sit tonight and
all day tomorrow
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