Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-21
LIQUOR BIG ISSUE
SAYS BISHOP BERRY
Asserts Question is Not of Church,
But of National and Moral
Welfare.
PuIIAprLpHIA. Frp. 81.


R,,bop Berry. OF the Methodist Epis-
.,n,l Church. IN statement issued
Yesterday said that 1--WE are for or against"
pol:tical leaders only rs these leaders
are for or against rum.
Reports are current that il William
G.. Sproul should hc elected governor
and the Legislature pass local-option
hill. he IN his capacity as governor,
would sign It, bishop Berry now serves
notice that focal option was good
enough for yesterday, hut not for to-
day
lie also says that there must be mo
sidcStcpping upon the question of
ratification. His statement follows:
Il am delighted To learn that the
Church Federation of Philadelphia is
to take a hand IN the fight for the ratifica-
lon of the prohibition amendment
That, To my mind. is cgitmatc church
business ] am telling my ministers that
Just now It is more important to organize
their forces IN favor ot prohibition than
TO do any other one thing.
NOT CHURCH AFFAIR, HE SAYS.
But thus crusade Is not church
flair II Is Statewide movement
II sober citizens 10 free the common
wealth from a reproach which Penn
sylvania has carried for years, that of
being ruled by politicians who arc ruled
Nv rlm. Tens of thousands Of voters
who never so near church are ready To
join the colors.
1T Is not easy to keep up with the
mighty sweep Of this movement. Ken
tucky. with It's great diStillerics and
Maryland. with its vast invcs;n nts IN
LIQUOR manufacture, have Just voted
for ratification. The New jersey Leg
Islaturc, elected on the local option
issue, and which has Just passed n local
option hill, lacks only halt dozen oi
enough votes TO ratlfy the PROHIBITION
amendment. The outlook IN Pennsylvania
has improved 80 per cent with month.
II is wonder To gnc that our GStute
politicians do not rralizn what Is coming.
The avalanche cannot bc held back He
who stands IN is way VIII 20 down
"Thc battle lines are forming through
out Pennsylvania We care little for
factions IN parties. We are not 10 talk OF
the tariff this year No President or
mted States Senator IS 70 be elected.
Party lines will be thrown aside We arc
Tor or against Mir Pcurosc or Mir Ware
ar MIR Sproul or Mr. Scott or Mr.. O'Ncil
only as these leaders are tor or against
run The people are determined that this
issue shall be kept at the front Side
stepping viii not avail. The soft pedal Is
uut of repair
NO / am not 10 conduct 3 campaign
Il my own have simply volunteered to
nd the allied temperance forces Of the
state IN such campaign work as they may
issign 10 me II can do tho most effective
service by going upon the stump shall
10 So have no doubt that Bishops
Rhinelander and Garland, splendid tom
'rrsnce leaders that they are, viii gladly
give their large influence 10 the cause.
Other church leaders viii do likewise,
CALLS ON CITIZENS TO FIGHT
II am criticised for dshhling in politics,
did YOU sly" No doubt Rut care abso-
mtelv nothing about such criticism am
not raising my voice IN behalf Of any party
~ faction stand for principle
prlncIplc which undcriCS the economic,
~ncial ard moral well hclng Of the Com
InoRWcalth The honzc issue IS IN politics.
II viii stay IN politics until II Is settled
Il Is the duty 81 every good citizen 10 get
into politics without delay and sec 10 II
hat his vote docs IT'S utmost 10 strike 10
= death this monster OF devlltry and
death
But suppose Senator PcnroSe and Scna-
,or Sproul would now agree TO aloca option
law. would that bc acceptable
No. SIR. II too late. Local option was