New-York tribune., 1922-04-11
In Wet Fight to Stay and
Status as Leader of Sal
valion Army Drive Is
Up TO Backers. He Wires
Citizens Committee
ToCet Buck To-day
May All Have to Get Out;
Kermit Roosevelt Now
Missing From the List

James Speyer doesn't intend to fore
20 his affiliation with the Association
Against the Prohibition Amendment in
order to retain the chairmanship Of the
citizens committee which will aid the
Salvation Army in its forthcoming
drive for funds. The bankers position
was made clear in a telegram he sent
from White Sulphur Springs, w. Va,
in answer to one from Evangeline
Booth, commander Of the army, both of
which Miss Booth made public yester-
day. Mr. Speyer's telegram reads:
MANY thanks for your Kind tele-
gram. ] am just as much opposed to
the saloon as you are, but conditions
here are different from those in Great
Britain | consider our present pro
hibition laws extremely harmful in
many WAYS, and have enlisted in the
campaign to get them amended or re-
pealed, which may take some years.
regret, therefore, that | cannot follow
your suggestion of withdrawing my
name as national vice president. As
regards my continuing TO act as chair
man Of this years Salvation Army col
lection, or resigning, l will do what
ever the citizens committee that hon
ored me by clecting me knowing OF
my connection with the anti-prohib-
tion movement--may wish me to do in
the best interests Of your good work. l
shall remain a friend of the Salvation
Army and an admirer of your efforts
to better conditions"
Miss Booths Telegram
Miss Booths telegram to Mr. Speyer,
dated last Saturday, said:
Upon my return last night from the
Coast ! was Informed by representa- =
tives of the press of the honor you
have conferred upon the oalvatlon
our drive committee. As we'll as deeply
approaching the influence Of your
name, my great affection and admira-
ton for your beloved wife made me
particularly happy to have you thus
connected with our organization and
I was troubled when told by press
representatives of your occupying a
leading position in the anti-proh bition
movement ! am sure your knowledge
Of the Salvation Army's being an inter
national organization and understand
ing lnG very pronounced SLauu we NdN Z
taken from the beginning against the
use of intoxicating liquors in any and
every form in every part Of the world
not as question Of politics but a
question of principle, you will see the
difficulty created by the announceme mt
of your views so contrary to- our tee ch
ing.
"Might I ask would it be possible for
you to withdraw your name from the
anti prohibition conflict and throw in
your lot with a movement that has
reformed raore drunkards, both men
and women, and rebuilt more homes
made destitute through drink than any
other people on earth? Anyway, | am
confident YOU will not leave our drive
without your valued friendship, or our
movement without your treasured good
will, because of my sense of obligation
as one of the army's foremost leaders
to protect our standards.'
Committee Meets To-day
These messages having been ex-
changed, the next development will be
decision from the citizens commit
tee. The committee will meet this af-
ternoon at the Hotel Pennsylvania
Having elected Mr.. Speyer to head then
body, the committeeman may vote tc
continue him. The worst that could
happen, it was said yesterday, would
be for the entire committee to go out
leaving the Salvation Army to comt
the field for more prominent citizens
of the strictly dry" type and thus
create a new campaign committee. II
is barely possible that in this event
some form of questionnaire as to ones
attitude on the liquor question might
be devised, with an admission Of sym
(Continueu on page thrse)