New-York tribune., 1920-03-06

she prosecution WALL not be examined
Dy the committee or a subcommittee
In fact, this has already been done ir
more than one instance.
Clergyman Assails Anderson
Numerous letters have been received
from clergymen commencing the actor
Of the Assembly. One was from the
Rev. G. T. Ohlingcr, pastor of 8
church in Dover, Del, who said tina,
the Anti-Saloon League had attempted
to drag the churches into politics. The
Rev Mr.. Ohlinger's letter, which wat
addressed to Assemblyman Cuvillier
read:
Il wish to express my approval of
your action against the Anti-Saloon
League and its insolent agent, Ander-
son. Some time ago wrote letter
to Speaker Sweet protesting against
the activities of this man in the State
Capitol. | am resident Of Angelica,
AlleganN County, and a taxpayer
there.
at is high time some one in the
Legislature showed courage to op-
pose this organization. 1t is pos
sessed with the idea that the saliva
tion of the wortd depends on it's be-
ing made dry This is plain fanatic
ism. If we tolerate it the last vestigc
of freedom shall be taken from us.
From the enclosed clipping you
may learn that not all pastors have
gone into Mysteries over the dry law.
l am pastor myself and wrote the
same thing to Roper as did Dr..
Davies. / am sending this material
to show what is going on.
The Anti-Saloon League taught
government officials how to use the
churches for political purposes.
u also wrote to Governor Smith
two months ago that Anderson should
be relegated outside Of the three
mile limit. The man has no business
IN the state house."
Roper's Course Attacked
The clipping referred to was an &C.
count CO.. of a protest made by the Rev
Protestant Episcopal Church, at Easton
Md, to Daniel c. Roper, because Of
the latter's "prcsumptuous reques st )
that the churches aid in ferretinc out
transgressors of the Eighteenth
Amendment. Roper at the time was
Commissioner of Internal Revenue and
made such request Of DR.. Davies.
Dr. Davies reply to COMMISSIONS,
Roper reads:
Though I am not prohibition
ISL and believe that the amendment
Is so Ill advised that it will eventu-
ally be repealed, l still shall obey the
law , as every good American will.
When, however, you ask me as
clergyman to sacrifice my private
convictions and join with those who
have made prohibition political
issue for many years in an effort to
enforce their creed on others by DO
Itlcal means, think you are exceed-
ing your sphere and treadine on the
moral aspect Of the question. Pro-
hibition used to be a moral question.
1t is now one of politics.
"You say that the period of debate
is past and that the law will be
mercilessly enforced by every means
within the power of the government.
think that is the only course that
could be pursued. But | protest
against the attempt to mix the
Church in politics in the endeavor.
This fact will also explain why
should also strongly resist the at
tempt to organize committee on law
enforcement in my church, such as
you propose in your letter, to re-
celve all complaints of violation of
la%, and to lodge such complaints,
together with the evidence obtained,
with the proper authorities In this
church we are not accustomed to
such intrusion into the private morals
and conduct of its members. which
looks, on the surface ut least. too
much like secret service, or worse
spying"