New-York tribune., 1918-07-21
Anti-Saloon League
Warns Roosevelt
Not to Enter Race
w. H. Anderson Telegraphs
Colonel He Would Jeop-
ardize World Influence

William H. Anderson. superintendent
of the Anti-Saloon League, telegraphed
Colonel Roosevelt yesterday that the
Colonel would jcopardize his world
wide influence If he listened to the
pleadings of the signers Of the Sara
toga round robin.
Superintendent Anderson said the
Church and moral forces which have
been the backbone of the Colonels sup
port would support Governor Whitman
to the enc, regardless OF who may OPP
pose him.
Mr.. Anderson said the men opposed
to the Governor are liquor men, and
that some of them who signed the
round robin have always fought the
Colonel and every righteous and pro-
gressive policy he advocated.
Text of Telegram
The telegram follows:
"Thc Church and moral forces that
have been the backbone of your sup
port, and which in this state are large
ly independent with strong Republican
tendencies, are in favor of, and, utterly
regardless of who may oppose him,
will support to the end Governor
Charles s. Whitman, because his con-
sistent, constructive record on state
issues involving the liquor question
and his open, fearless advocacy of rat-
fication of the national prohibition
able war record have constituted
binding moral obligation upon the
moral forces to keep faith with the
man who for two years has uncompro-
misingly fought their battles.
"These moral forces understand per-
fectly that the opposition to Governor
Whitman has been led mainly by men
notorious for their political subserv-
ience to the liquor interests and that
many Of those most prominent in urg-
ing you to run for Governor are not
and every righteous and progressive
policy you ever advocated, and that
they are with you now not because they
are for the things you have stood for,
but because they hope to use you in an
effort to deliver the Republican party
to the brewers and put it irrevocably
in the wrong on the greatest moral is
sue OF this century.
Demand for Prohibition
"Most of the men now urging you to
run have no comprehension of the real
strength of the prohibition movement
among both men and women in the
Empire State. They do not admit, for
they do not realize, that war cond-
tions have created a growing demand
for national prohibition immensely
stronger than indicated by the vote for
city prohibition last spring, widely
heraldcd by the vets, where the best
they could do with money and misrcp-
resentation was n majority of about
5000 in a total vote of more than
100000 in the thirty-nine cities voting,
where the rural sentiment, which is
overwhelmingly for prohibition, as we'll
as strongly Republican. was not in
cluded
GAS the executive officer of the
agency which represents on this ques-
churches in the Empire state, l con-
graduate you on the clear discern
ment, the political sagacity and the
lofty patriotism which have saved you
from disappointing in this matter those
who have stood and fought for you be-
cause of their faith in your militant
righteousness. We do not believe that
you will ever knowingly place your
self in opposition to the aroused con-
science of the state and nation on this
great question, and we request that you
scrutinize carefully the reasons for the
breakdown of the campaign Of at
tempted fraud and-deceit, the collapse
of which has driven these public en-
emies and others who Ought to know
better into beseeching you to fend your
standing to cloak their nefarious ends.
GAS one who has voted for you every.
time your name has been upon ma
tional ticket, | am in a position to say
that your real friends hope you will
not jeopardize world wide influence to
come to the rescue of mere factional-
lists in the politics of single state.
We trust that you will resent vigor-
ously continued Importantly from such
quarter that you do something which
might be construed as evidence of ad-
mission on your part Of fear that
your national influence needs bolsterinR
up and your belief that the Governor
ship of state can add ANYTHING TO
your present Standin9n