Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-01-23
OUST BOOZE, AIM
! OF BISHOP BERRY
Noted Methodist Divine to
Take Strenuous Part in
State Politics
FIGHTS FOR AMENDMENT

Bishop Joseph +. Berry, head OF the
Philadelphia Methodist Conference and
senior bishop in the church in America,
IL out I'm n statement in which ne
frankly declares that he is "in politics"
for the purpose Of securing the election
Of candidate for the Legislature in
Pennsylvania who WIZ vote for ratIn-
cation OF the prohibition amendment to
the constitution Of the United states.
Bishop Berry declares he is COM
mitted, body, brain and soul, TO the
task OF helping rid Pennsylvania from
liquor control and calls on the voters
to enlist in Seven years war" Il
necessary to win the fight for prohibi-
tion. He also takes the position that
the next governor must be in hearty
sympathy with the prohibition move
ment. It Is believed his statement
places him squarely In opposition 20 any
candidate that may be named by Sena-
tor Penrose In the primaries this year.
The statement Of Bishop Berry fol-
lows:
"t am merely repeating a wcll-llnown
fact and not at all in the sp'''t of boast
ing. when I say that 7 represent "A church
which has the largest membership among
the Protestant bodies Of Pennsylvania.
The men OF our churches are Identified
with different political parties. but q
very large ma aJOrity are Republicans. AZ
Republicans and good citizens they are
intensely interested this year I'm the uom-
ination and election Of members of the
Legislature who are definitely favorable
TO the enactment of humanitarian and
moral legislation.
"Among the measures which will have
consideration will be the proposed con-
stitutional prohibitory amendment. Penn
gylvania is put down. by common con-
sent. as one of the halt-dozen states in
which 1t will be most difficult to pass
this measure. l know as well as any
man that If the amendment Is passed II
will be only after "A struggle with the
immense commercial and political power
Of the liquor interest. victory may not
come this year. But we have seven years
for the campaign, and the sober forces
Of the Commonwealth have enlisted Tor
a seven years war.
an this struggle YOU may reckon that
nlne-tenths Of the voting strength OF the
Methodist Episcopal Church will be ar
rayed against the rum power. The Pres
byterians, Baptists, Protestant EpiScopa-
liana Lutherans and other churches, in
Guiding Thousands of Roman Catholics
and battalions Of high-minded citizens
who are members of 10 church, may alSo
he counted on to do their utmost 10 tree
Pennsylvania from the liquor curse.
This issue Is to uvershadow all other
issues. ,-,..-
ious that a aiority Of the men VINO
20 70 the Legislature shall be reliable
femperance men, but that tho next Gov
ernor shall be free from liquor donlna-
ton. There can be no doubt put that q
majority of the Republicans OF PehhsSl-
vania are now against the liquor tratic
II will not be easy 20 induce them 10
accent as a candidate for Governor any
man who is even suspected OF sylhpdLh!
with that traffic II mere sna., srdi. De A..
date who Is not absolutely square on TINS
dominant issue there Will be 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 repubiicF
Can any careful student tail 10 ser
that the issue projected by the consu-
tutional amendment is to DC one OF M the
chief issues in the next presidnetlaI
campaign? Prohibition can no longet
b. said to be the fad Of preachers and
: fanatics. II has gripped the leadershlp
of tho republic. The great lndustrlal
leaders are against rum. The most IN
fiuential 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 hoodwlnk the peo-
pie.
"T have never had much to do with
politics, and would not be greatly con-
cerned now II the Federal Government
had not sent down for the vote Of the
people a great moral problem. That
problem is so vital to every interest Of
the Commonwealth that no religious
leader can afford To ignore II.
II am, therefore. committed body,
brain and soul, 20 tho task OF helping
10 rid Pennsylvania from liquor control
And l ask that the dominant political
party, of which / am humble adher-
ent, shall give us I'm the next Legislature
"A body Of men who shall cmhody not
only the highest ideals Of personal char
acter and conduct but who shall re-
spond 10 the reasonable demands of the
people on this greatest economic ana
moral issue Of our time. And with the
Legislature we must have a Governor
in hearty sympathy with its aim anG
legislation.
Pennsylvania will not always consent
TO be boss-ruled, especially when that
rule represents all that Is reactionary
ard bad in politics. Rum has ruled the
politicians who have ruled the people.
The hour has struck for the people to
speak,"