New-York tribune., 1920-03-05

VeSti&At1on Is ordered.
II am member of the New York
State Bar. practiced law for seven
xea1a In Manhattan and in Yonkers. /
1AvU no fear of Anderson. The strong
est evidence / possess against the
league is documentary"
Following the receipt Of this letter
Cuviilier announced that in addition
to this minister he had an offer from
another here in Albany to testify be-
fore the Assembly Judiciary Com
mittec.
The committee, Cuvillier said to-
night, would not begin its investiga-
tion into the alleged violations Of law
by the Anti-Saloon League and its Of
ficers until the Socialist trial is dis
posed of.
He declared that MIR. Anderson would
find himself more than matched in the
Rev. Mr.. Freeman, who has expressed
not only desire to testify, but to
meet the head of the Anti-Saloon
League.
Mr.. Freeman's statement exposing
some of the leagues activities does not
contain all he knows concerning the
league. 1t is probable that he will lay
all his facts before the Judiciary Com
mlttee In executive session before the
public hearings into the probe of the
league and its officers is begun.
Mr.. Freeman's Statement
Legislative leaders here to-day de-
clared that it was the intention Of the
Assembly to 60 the limit in its inve sti-
cation, and that funds for hiring coun-
sci and other expenses would be ap-
propriated without stint by the As
sembly.
Mr.. Freeman's statement follows:
81 am entering upon no attack upon
the Anti-Saloon League. am merely
endeavoring to interpret it to the pub
lie as public institution. An institu-
tion committed to public concern must
necessarily carry plainly upon its face
clear public discernment of worth in
itself if it is to win and to hold an ac-
credited place in the body of public in
terest.
'It is that facial utterance of it's
real value to society that makes any
public-minded institution an unique.
fed part of the solidarity of public ad-
vancement. 1t is a general wish on the
part of the public that it may under
stand precisely what the Anti-Saloon
League is as one Of its institutions 1t
is impossible to frame an answer to
any fair question concerning the Anti
the surface to be. What it has done is
neither a thoughtful nor a fitting
answer.
what it is ever asserting it's dis
position to do fails to suffice as an
agreeable answer. One feels that it is
something that lies back of all the
leagues assertions that needs 10 be
considered befoEe a fair and safe con-
clusion of mind about it is possible.
Not Agency of Churches
"This institution disc oses itself only
from within outward. | have been sui
ficiently long in it's service to say some
thing with respect to its institutional
elements. l have been a lawyer and
know something of the relative weight
and significance of elemental things.
The Anti-Saloon League has pivoted it
self on an asserted relationship with
the churches in the state. 1t declares
itself as the agency of the churches
1t is not the agency of the churches.
"Unless this asserted agency is
predicated upon the mere failure OF
the church's denial of such relation
ship the leagues asserted agency is
barren of every element which consti-
tutes an agency. Apart from its claim
that certain Methodist conferences
have officially recognized for them
selves the leadership Of the Anti
Saloon League in the matter of prohi-
bition activities and have recommended I'd
for it cordial financial support, there
is not the shadow of the fact that any
church denomination or any individual
church of any denomination has giver
to it either official or unofficial associa
tive recognition in any matter.
Contributions to it, which flow out
of its celebrated Sunday service in the
church edifces, are simply individual
personal contributions. They neither
spring out of an ecclesiastical action
nor are they in any manner subject tc
ecclesiastical control and direction
There is not even an affiliated interest
in the matter between individual con
tributors at any given service.
"No church is in possession of g
record of contributions made by mem
bers or by attendants at league ser
vice. unless it might be some churches
that have secured such a record as q
personal favor from the leagues
records No church exercises any con-
cern with the question whether or not
any contributing member or attendant
ultimately discharges his pledge.
"The only thing that gives TIE in
stitution an ecclesiastical color is that
its celebrated Sunday service is held
in church editice at the accustomed ed
hour Of public worship, where the min
lister Of the church naturally appears
and introduces the speaker as the rep
resentatiye of the Anti-Saloon League
"The leagues Sunday address anc
it's week day field canvass make up the
vehicle of its real being. The Sunday
address is the leagues constitution
the infexible means Of it's life. Every
thing about it centers around the Sun
day address. When a man is first
brought into the leagues service he
feels that the Sunday addresses which
he lis expected 10 make are naturally
to rise out of his own convictions thai
they are to be an expression of his
own vision, an exhibition of his owr
personal interest in the subject OF
his work. This is not so.
HE is confronted with what is
called a highly specialized address
from which there must be no devia
ton He is given to understand thai
he may give to his address some rela
lively important personal touches, bu
that to be effective, as the league ha:
defined effectiveness, it must be helt
as constitutional. The following re
markable instrument is handed to s
man who enters into the leagues
work:
"'Plan for the preparation of the
Sunday speech for the Anti-Saloor
League
"'First 6 minutes), "Conciliation"-
The intent of which is to get properl,
introduced to your audience and con