The New York herald., 1920-12-03
Anti-Saloon League, W. c. T..
U. and Methodist Board OBJ
ject to Extreme Bills.
STATEMENTS ARE ISSUED
Wayne B. Wheeler Says Dry
Forces Believe i'm Stick
ing to One Job.
Special Despatch to THE NEW YORK HERALD
New York Herald Bureau.
Xa6hinRtOn. ID. O.. Dee. 2.


Three reform organizations In state
nnents to-day denied they were backing
the extreme Federal blue Sunday bills,
the origin OF which has been attributed
to the Lords Day Alliance. These
were the Anti-Saloon League. the w. c.
T. u and the Board OF Temperance.
Prohibition and Public Morals of the
Methodist Episcopal Church
The statements indicate there Is no
combined movement of the reform
organizations to pass blue Sunday laws
and other measures which would go 10
the extreme of stopping trains and all
amusements on the Sabbath. 1t also Is
another indication that there is far
from being enough demand throughout
the country or even among reform
organizations to make 1t at all pos
sible that the proposals would be en-
acted by Congress.
Members of Congress continued to-
day to state emphatically that there is
no chance for any Legislative action on
the measures.
w. j. Bryan's Comment.
In his statement on the blue law
crusade, Wayne b. Wheeler, general
counsel for the Anti-Saloon League.
quoted letter from w. j. Bryan to
show that the leagues work is con-
fined to prohibition questions. Mr..
Bryan said:
"Those who are friendly to national
prohibition should appreciate the work
the league has done, and they should
support the organization in its future
programme for law enforcement: total
abstinence the securing of State en-
forcement codes; in the missionary
work to be done for worldwide prohi-
bition; In the election of the next Con-
gress and State Legislatures friendly TO
State prohibition codes. There must be
no cessation of activity or there will be
danger of reaction
Mr.. Wheeler's statement follows:
1.-THE Anti-Saloon League of America
believes in doing one thing at time.
1t is committed in it's constitution to Sc
cure the prohibition of the beverage
liquor traffic and an efficient enforce
ment Of the law, and to maintain an at
titude of strict neutrality on the ques-
ton OF public policy not connected and
Immediately concerned with the traffic
of strong drink.
"Our success has been due to the fact
that we stick to one job.
THE united dry forces agreed upon
their programme 1t did not include a
blue law crusade. AS individuals we
favor or oppose certain measures. or So
Judgment or otherwise.
THE churches have backed the Anti
Saloon League and controlled its policy
from the beginning. They understand
this attitude and expect us to maintain
II.
THE work of securing an honest en-
forcement of the prohibition law Is one
OF the most difficult unfinished parts of
the league programme. Reapporuon-
ment of Congress means another fight
next year"
Statement From w. G. II. u.
Reports of the w. C. T. u, Miss Anna
A. Gordon national president and Mrs.
Ellis A. Yost national legislative repre-
sentative, declared that their programme
was not that of the International Re
form Bureau, which has been advocat-
ing "blue" laws In the District OF Co
lumbia. In joint statement they said:
"Our organization has its own legis-
lative programme. AS one OF twenty
two organizations cooperating In the ma
tional legislative conference ours is sup
porting the bill to prohibit American
citizens from engaging in selling intox-
icating liquors In American consular dis
tricts in foreign countries, to prohibit
peyote among the Indians. legislation TO
harmonic Federal and State prohibition
laws and n systematic campaign for their
enforcement. including adequate appro-
priations. and in addition Federal bills
now pending which will provide for pub
lie protection of maternity and infancy,
education for increasing the efficiency OF
the home and reducing the cost of living.
nationwide programme for physical
education. so as to give every boy and
girl in the United States health and
bodily efficiency, Amercanization and
welfare of women engaged in gainful
occupations"
The Methodist board. through it's sec
rotary, Clarence True Wilson. declared :
Because of much discussion of the So
called blue laws, alleged TO be con-
iemplated by individuals or associations,
the board of temperance, prohibition and
public morals takes this opportunity to
say that 1t Is not in favor of blue laws
or any laws which are not sane, enforce
able and in accord with the spirit and
letter Of the United States Constitution"
Among Congressman who not only an
nounced their opposition TO the blue"
laws but stated that there is no chance
of their enactment are Senators Smoot,
Borah. Reed, Capper, Ashurst, and Rep
resentatives Mann (Ill), Carraway
(Ark.) and Hays (Mo.).