New-York tribune., 1918-06-14
80 Pastors Unite
In Plea to Clergy
To Back Whitman
Three Bishops Sign Letter
to Every Clergyman in
New York State
Dry Issue Is Raised
Cniy Governor Who Ha.
.5anely Led Temperance Re-
form, Appeal Says
Dry Issue Is Raised

"A letter purporting to be signed by
Bishop Charles s. Burch. i Of the Pro-
testant Episcopal Church, bishops Will
son and Burt, of the Methodist Church
The Rev. DR. S. Parkes Cadran. the
Rev. DR.. John F. Carson, the Rev. DR.
Wilton Merle-Smith and cthers-thir-
ty-nine prominent clergynen in all
urging support of Governor Whitman
IN the primaries, has been sent, it is
understood, to every pastor in the State
of New York, without regard to de-
nomination.
In the judgment Of the politicians,
the letter is rather conclusive proof
that the primary fight in September
and the campaign that Will follow will
be fought largely on wet and dry lines,
with the drys supporting Governor
Whitman and the vets. so far as the
primaries go, supporting Attorney Cen
eral Lewis. II the Governor wins in
the primaries, the drys. without regard
to former political affilia.ion, probably
will be found on lis side in the subse-
quent campaign.
Text of the Letter
The letter follows:
New York, June 6, 1918.
Dear Brother: May we, as fellow
ministers, possibly conversant with
certain facts not generally known,
write you concerning the approaching
gubernatorial primaries and election?
"For the first time in The states his
tory, the people Of New York have the
opportunity to vote their approval or
disapproval of a Governor who has
used the influence of his Office in favor
of temperance legislation. Many indi-
cations prove that the liquor elements
regard him as their one antagonist
every sort of cunning device TO divide
the temperance forces or sidetrack the
unwary. Even the possibility, however
remote, of Presidential nomination in
1920 is likely to be used wherever it
may be effective among political oppo-
nents and hostile combinations brought
about from that viewpoint. Immense
sums of money are available for the
liquor interests.
Now that severe restricting or end
ing of the liquor traffic has been made
the foremost state isue. should we
not, as moral and spiritual leaders,
dinary times, support in this crucial
year the only man who as Governor has
unfiinchingly and sarely led the tenn
perance reform?
Testify to Whitman's Stamina
"The majority of those who sign this
letter have witnessed at close range
Governor Whitman's public career. We
testify to the uprightness of his per-
sonal life and his perseverance IN any
course to which he has committed him.
self
"We can give assurance that his re-
nomination and election will make for
the speediest elimination OF the evils
of intemperance He also measures VI,
to the best ideals in patriotism ana
other qualifications.
There is not minute to lose. What-
ever can be done must be done I'M
mediately or he may. fail to be nonh.
mated in the primaries or fail to DO
elected in November and so the state
may be turned over to the liquor ray
age for two years more and the rati-
fication of the national prohlpiuonn
amendment be postponed indefinitely
These Signed the Letter
The letter is signed by the following'
Charles S. Burch. bishop suffragan. Prot
estant Episcopal Church. New York CIV
Luther B. Wilson. bishop, Methodist 6pis-
copal Church, New York City: William pur'.
bishop. Methodist Episcopal Church; suns.o' %
gational Church. Brooklyn; Robert N: MOOT;
pastor, ST. Marks Methodist Episcopal
Church. Brooklyn Wilton Merle-Smith. pas
tor. Central Presbyterian Church, Mamma
tan; John F. Carson. pastor. Central Presoy-
terian Church. Brooklyn; S. Edward 1cuns'
pastor, Bedford Presbyterian Church. BROOK.
lyn; John Herman Randall. pastor; NOUN i;.
Morris Baptist Church, Manhattan >. rl'sa' Lsmas
Hartsock. pastor. Trinity Methods: Episeo- .eo
pal Church, Newburg; George William eaI-
ter, pastor. Grace Reformed Church, brook.
lyn; w. Wofford T. Duncan, pastor, y yanS
Methodist Episcopal Church, Brooklyn; ss.sh r.sh.
els B. Upham. pastor. Sumner Avenue Metn'
odist Episcopal Church. BROOKLYN; Wi,.ia.m
H. Morgan. pastor. Calvary Methodist spls-
copal Church, Manhattan: A. J. Derbysnile'
lyn; Robert w. Mclaughlin, pastor. ralk
Slope Congregational Church. Brooklyn H hoo-
ert Watson, pastor. Second Presbytelian
Church, Manhattan: Thomas Edward rousL ro
lyn: Anson P. Atterbury. pastor. West Ps1S
Presbyterian Church. Manhattan w: ". ~. y.
Wilson. pastor, DeKalb Avenue Methodss
Episcopal Church. Brooklyn Frank NJ Soocr
haitian; Andrew J.. Meyer, pastor. Seusn
Bushwick Reformed Church, Brooklyn; q; 2.
Munson. pastor, Nostrand Avenue MethodIst
Episcopal Church. Brooklyn John u. mools'
pastor Marcy Avenue Baptist Church; broos tas''s.
lyn: J. Frederick Berg. pastor. Fistbasn
First Reformed Church, Brooklyn; George
Alexander. pastor. University Place Presuy-
terian Church. Manhattan ; William, n brun'
lyn: Charles L. Goodell. pastor, ST. Pauis
Methodist Episcopal Church, Manhattan
Fred F. Shannon. pastor. Reformed Churen-
on-the-Eeights. BROOKLYN H. Pereira Menoes.
rabbi, Shearith Israel Synagogue. hansas.
tan; William Herman Hopkins, pastor fisss
rabbi. shsari zedek Synagogue. s Brooklyn;
St Clair Hester. rector Protestant Episcops'
Church Messiah. Brooklyn: Charles Gar.
roll Albertson. pastor, Lafayette Avenr,s
Presbyterian Church, BROOKLYN; John
Langdale. pastor. New York Avenue sie.n'
odist Episcopal Church. BROOKLYN; chsf.s
Augustus Stoddard. res;gious editor. Mshnss'
tan; George Caleb Moore. pastor. BsrsMs
Temple. Brooklyn Robert McCaul, nastos'
Washington Avenue BAPTIST Church, Eroos Eoss
lyn; David James Harrell. pastor. MaroS
Collegiate Reformed Church, Manhattan