The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-08-20
Sentiment Against Preacher
Phillips's Sermon Is Aroused.
Government Now Conducting
Most Thoro Examination.
FOR HIM, SAYS A WOMAN
Mrs. H. Chalmers, 1887 West
ST., Says West Side Approves.
Offers AIibi for Ministers Who
Are Away on Vacation.

stewing with wrath over the sermon
preached by the Rev. Harvey Phillips
in Topeka, Sunday evening. Street
corner crowds today were hotly argu-
ing the subject of Phillips's possible
arrest and detention on the charge OF
reasonable utterances.
In a telephone conversation today
Fred Robertson, United States district
attorney, stated that "the government
does not say much about what it is
going to do until after 1t is done. y,
This statement was made in reply to a
question asked as to whether war
rant has yet been issued for Preacher
Phillips in Topeka
When Robertson was informed as to
the rising sentiment in the town he
Offered Topeka a bit of free advice,
to wit: Tell them to keep their
shirts on
The Phillips sermon has caused a
great deal of comment in Topeka
since it was delivered at union
meeting of the churches of the Cen
tral Park district on the Central Park
school steps,
People Behind Him?
Just after noon today. Mrs. H. Chal-
mers, 1857 West street, called the
\
the information that "the good Chris
tian people out here are firmly be-
hind Doctor Phillips in all that he said
in his sermon Sunday night. Except
for few misguided ones all are for
him."
This statement was made in re-
sponse to a question as to the attitude
of the people on the West side to-
wards the sentiments expressed by
Preacher Phillips in his sermon.
Mrs. Chalmers said that she was
sure that all the good Christian peo-
pie would back her up.
The primary cause for Mrs Chal-
mers's telephone call was desire to
free five West side ministers of any
part in the accusations made against
Doctor Phillips by persons who heard
the sermon Sunday night. Mrs. Chal-
mers stated that 'inasmuch as these
five ministers are out of the city on
their vacations they could have no
part whatever in this case and certain
1y are not making any accusations
against the Very Rev. Doctor Phil
lips" The ministers whom Mrs.
Chalmers desired to protect in this
statement are: Ralph Ward, c. E.
Pulliam.
Pllillips's Sermon.
Witnesses called to the marshars s
office in the investigation held Mon
day morning said that Phillips had
made a'number of statements laying
the blame of the war on God, and
had attempted to prove his allegation
by pointing out that "the atrocities
and wrongs Belgium has suffered in
this war are in direct retribution for
the wrongs and atrocities committed
by the Belgians themselves in the ex-
ploitation of the ivory coast of Af-
rica."
According to the witnesses called at
the investigation, all of them inter-
viewed before being called into the
actual room where the official inves-
tigation was being held. stated that
Phillips did not strike at the wrongs
of Belgium alone in his sermon, but
that he took the wrongs of Belgium
as lesson to drive home the premise
that the sins of the fathers are visited
onto the children even as it may apply
,, to nations and peoples as well as to
individuals.
Conspicuous among the witnesses
called to the marshars office Monday
for the investigation was o. H. White
president of the Topeka Transfer and
Storage company. When White was
first called on the telephone he dis
played some reluctance about appear
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