New-York tribune., 1918-06-10
Anti-Saloon League Board
Defends State Superinten-
dent as Efficient Head
Praised in Resolution
State Executive in Fight for
Prohibition Made Liquor
Political Issue

The attack on W. H. Anderson, state
superintendent of the Anti-Saloon
League, by the National Dry Fedora
ton, of which William j. Bryan Is
president, and the Rev. Charles Scan
Ion, of Pittsburgh, the moving spirit,
seems to have resulted in making Mr.
Anderson stronger than ever with the
New York State organization, which
has moved into new and larger quar-
ters at Broadway and Twentieth Street.
The Anti-Saloon League of the nation
now has 1000 paid employees giving all
their time to the work and is supported
by sixteen denominational bodies.
Following the hearing before the
New York Legislature on the prohibi-
tion ratification amendment, at which
hearing William J. Bryan spoke for
the temperance forces, w. II. Anderson
attacked Mr.. Bryan IN a statement,
charging that ne was. with the aid of
William R. Hearst, attempting to get
back into politics. This attack was re-
sented by Clinton M. Howard, prohibl-
tion leader; Mrs. Ella A. Boole, presi-
dent of the Woman's Christian Tenn
perance Union, and others, and the Ma
tional Anti-Saloon League mildly cen
sured Mr.. Anderson for attacking Mr..
Bryan, at the same time praising him
for deeds accomplished.
Discussed at Meeting
The Anti-Saloon League state board
took the matter up at its annual meet
ing in May, passing resolutions in
which it said: Superintendent Ander-
son has shown himself an unusually
able and efficient leader, as evidenced
by the results achieved under his lead
ership in New York and elsewhere" ;"
Continuing, the state board said:
when William H. Anderson came to
litical jest. He has made it the ad-
mittedly dominant political issue. He
found New York the most backward
state. His faith and organizing ca
pacity and indomitable will have made
it leader. He found the CITIES of the
state disfranchised on the liquor ques-
ton. His assurance and political
sagacity have brought about their lib
Grafton. To his efforts the nation owes
the fact that New York furnished
enough additional votes in Congress to
submit the national prohibition amend
ment to the states for their ratification.
Has Clear Field
To his vision, resourcefulness, frank
ness and courage the prohibition forces
Of this state owe the near approach
to ratification last winter and the fact
that the state to-day has a clear field
and fair chance to ratjfy. His verac
ity, integrity and sincerity have never
been successfully assaled. His ability
to detect political fraud and his readi-
ness to expose it in whatever quarter
and at whatever personal risk are de-
serving of grateful appreciation, in
stead of censure. He is the incompar-
able leader. To him we pledge the un-
qualified support Of the organizations
.Woreprcscnt, and move forward to final
victory.
"So long as the Antf-Saloon League
offers a leadership which wins vic
tories where previously there has been
only futility, opposition to that leader
ship can serve no purpose save to
jeopardize the cause. If these object
ors will recognize what is clear to
everybody except themselves and con-
fine their efforts to those phases of
activity which they are qualified and
equipped to handle, we pledge them
full opportunity, fair treatment, cordial
recopniticn and harmony"