Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-01-24
BISHOP BERRY
FOR PROHIBITION
Methodist Churchman De-
clarcs Liquor and Politics
Must Be Separated

Few statements of men prominent
in the life of Pennsylvania have at
tracted greater attention in recent
days than the declaration of Bishop
Joseph f. Berry, senior bishop of
the Methodist Church, that liquor
must set out of politics. The bishop
is n resident of Philadelphia and one
OF the states most active church
men. His declaration will carry
sreat weight this year and men OF
all parties are discussing it.
The bishops statement in full is
as follows:
4 am merely repeating we'll
known fact, and not at all In the
spirit OF boasung, when ! say that l
represent church which has the
largest membership among the Pro-
testant bodies of Pennsylvania, The
men of our churches are identified
with different political parties, but
very large majority are Republicans.
As Republicans and good citizens
they are intensely interested this
wear i'm the nomination and election
of members of the Legislature who
are definitely favorable to the enact
ment of humanitarian and moral
legislation.
Among the measures which will
have considera ton will be the pro-
posed constitutional prohibitory
amendments Pennsylvania Is .put
down, by common consent, as one of
the half-dozen states in which 1t
will be most difficult 10 pass this
measure. l know as we'll as any man
that IL the amendment is passed It
Will be only after a struggle with
the immense commercial and politi-
Cal power Of the liquor interest. Vie
tory flNia
we have seven years for the cam
paign, and the sober forces of the
Comm onwealth have enlisted for
seven years war
In this struggle you may reckon
that nine-tenths of the voting
strength of the Methodist Episcopal
Church will be arrayed against the
rum power The Presbyterians,
Baptists, Protestant, Episeopalians
Lutherans and other churches, in
Guiding thousands of Roman Catho-
lies and battalions of high-minded
citizens who are members OF no
church, may also be counted on to
do their utmost TO free PENNSYLVANIA
from the liquor curse. This issue
is to overshadow all other issues.
Wants "Reliable Temperance Men"
For this reason I am not only
anxious that a majority Of the men
who go 20 the Legislature shall be
relia bic temperance men, bat that
the next Governor shall be free from
liquor domination. There can be no
doubt but that a majority Of the Re
pubitCanS of PENNSYLVANIA are now
against the liquor traffic. II will not
he easy TO Induce them to accept as
candidate for Governor any man
who is even suspected of sympathy
with that traffic. If there shall be
an attempt TO foist upon the party
candidate who is not absolutely
square on this dominant issue there
VIII be q revolt as there ought to
be.
Can any intelligent observer of
public events fail TO see that the
liquor issue IS the coming big issue
in the republic? Can any careful
student fail to see that the lssue pro-
jected by the constitutional amend
ment is to be one of the chief Issues
in the next presidential eampaignY
Prohibition can no longer be said to
he the fad OF preachers and fana-
tics. 1t has gripped the leadership
OF the republic. The great indus
trial leaders are against rum. The
most influential labor leaders are
against rum. More than three
fourths of the members of the
United States Senate and House of
Representatives have virtually gone
on record as against rum. And the
politicians cannot longer sidestep
this issue and successfully heodwink
the people.
Il have never had much to do
with politics, and would not be
greatly concerned now II the Federal
Government had not sent down for
the vote of the people a great moral
problem. That problem is so vital
10 every interest of the Common
wealth that no religious leader can
afford to ignore II.
4 am, therefore. committed body.
brain and soul 10 the task of helping
10 rid PENNSYLVANIA from LIQUOR con-
troll. And l ask that the dominant
political party of which l am a
humble adherent, shall give uc in the
next Legislature a body OF men who
shall embody not only the highest
ideals of personal character and
conduct, but who shall respond to
the reasonable demands Of the peo-
pie on this creates. economic and
moral issue OF our time. And with
the Legislature we must have a
Governor in hearty sympathy with
rs aim and LEGISLATION,
Pennsylvania viii not always
consent to be boss ruled, especially
when ths. rule represents all that
is reeetionary and bad in politics,
Rum has ruled the politicians who
have ~ue6 the people, The hour has
strucE for the people 20 speak,"
WRR - "a