The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-07-19
Ministers Weith and Jackson Take
Issue With Ardmoreite in Answer to
Editorial "Why" at Last Nights Meeting


recent issue of the Ardmoreite en-,
titled why" dealing with certain
phases of the recent cleanup wave
that has swept over the city, driving
many Of the undesirables out Of busi-
ness.
DR.. c. c. Weith of the Presbyterian
church was selected by the other min
listers to read the editorial in contro-
versy and to answer it categorically,
which he proceeded to do, making
comments as he proceeded that evoked
considerable laughter from the large
audience present.
DR.. Weith, in answering the first
questions a sto the why" Of these
present outdoor meetings, stated that
1t had been the custom for several
years to hold union services during the
summer months, and reverted back 70
the days when the meetings were
held in the Airdome on West Main
street. DR., Weith stated that the min
listers had long ago agreed that un-
ion meetings are a good thing for the
churches and for the community, and
il anything was injected into the serv.
Ices for the betterment Of the moral
condition of the city, be it politics or
else, it was better for the
general welfare of the community
than If it had remained unsaid.
In speaking of the meeting which
provoked the editorial used for last
nights text, DIR. Weith stated that il
had been his custom to preach a
patriotic sermon on the Sunday near
est the Fourth Of July every year. IN
which national and local conditions
are reviewed that following this GUS
tom il was agreed among the preachers
that Commute talks would be INDUCED
in on local conditions which they did
with no other motive in mind other
than for the betterment of conditions
and that the inference in the editorial
that the ministers were trying to in
ject politics into the pulpit and inter
tere in the coming primary election
is not true. He stated that the plans
for last nights meeting had been
changed after the article in the Ard
moreite appeared, and he said that
up the animals" they would forego |
their original plans and take the |
editorial to task and ans.
wer it for the benefit of the people as.
sembled, but before doing so, he said /
that if public sentiment had been !
aroused. thanks was due the Ardmore.
: for that part Of 1t and II it sue
ceeded in bettering conditions, then /.
all should be satisfied with the results |
obtained.
Answers Questions
DR.. Weith then road the editorial |
and at its conclusion stated that he |
would answer all four points. sepa-
rately, beginning the first by stating |
that the man who wrote the editorial |
did not attend the Presbyterian church |
or he would have had more sense |
than 10 inscrbe it. lie stated that |
every week from the pulpit Of the |
church the same preach |
ments against immortality and vice IN |
the city and county could be heard. |
that the SAM is true of other pastors |
Of meetings We're not inspired for po- /
itical purposes only, but were inspired /
in face OF local conditions, they deemed .
necessary to the moral welfare Of, the |
city. DR.. Weith invited any member |
Of any church in the city who had |
apl I'm -
local vice in the last six months to
stand. No one responded 10 the invita-.
Iion. Or. Weith stated that it is not
true that the ministers OF the city 1
waited two years to tell of these
things but suppose it is true" he
sense TO criticise official acts OF our
Dr. Weith stated that it
had been charged that politics had
no business in the pulpit, that min
sters should not indulge in such
.hings, but he said that ne was of
he opinion that anything that had a
.endency to make Ardmore better
place In which to live, anything that
IS for the moral welfare OF the city
md county, is proper for the min
sters TO discuss, and they have no
apology to make to anyone for their
actions. The word "if" appeared five
times In the editorial re.
erred TO, Or. Weith stated, and said
hat il the writer is unaware Of con.
litions, that he stands alone on the
because every one else
Inows them, and that he should have
outside information in or.
Ter to put himself right ON local con,
iitions
He asked why it was that the ed
tor could find out all about the actions
If an officer in Washington, and be in
position to dissect his actions every
lay and could not find out what was
,oing on In Ardmore he said that he
leld no brief for Senator Gore, but
{ was a strange coincidence to him
hat his actions could be known while
he official acts Of local officials re.
NAMED mystery, he insisted that
he Ardmorelte should assist in the
ight for cleaner conditions.
DR.. Weith stated that 1t is not true
hat the ministers had been betrayed
nto politics, but he continued that
he editorial hit a shade OF truth,
by tactfully admitting
hat politics are so dirty that they
re not fit subject for a minister To