New-York tribune., 1922-04-15
Speyer Resigns
Leadership of
SalvationDrive
Board Releases Him After
He Insists, but He Will Re-
main ON the Committee
and Help Raise Fund
Stands by Organization
Miss Booth and He Announce
Satisfactory Understands
ing. With No iii Feeling

Satisfactory Understand
ing. With No iii Feeling
! James Spcyer resigned yesterday as
chairman of the Salvation Army's cam
paign committee. The resignation
was accepted by his associates on the
committee and by Evangeline Booth,
commander of the army. The contro-
versy that arose from Miss Booths
declaration that Mr.. Speyer could not
serve the army as chairman of its citi-
zens' committee and at the same time
remain an official Of the Association
Against the Prohibition Amendment
thus appears to have been settled
The action was taken at the third
meeting of the committee since the
! controversy began a week ago Ac-
/ cordlng to both members of the COM
mittee and Salvation Army officials,
the decision Of Mr. Speyer TO step out
! OF the Craftsmanship was the only way
cut OF delicate situation. situation
/ made all the moro delicate by Miss
Booths firm stand for what she re-
/ CARDS as moral principle-the up
! holding Of a constitutional amendment
Mr.. Speyer, however, agreed to remain
( member of the general committee
body of several score prominent pro-
! seasonal and business men. The set
! tiement arrived az therefore is a COM
! promise. as both the executive commit
! tee and Miss Booth welcomed Nv.
! Speyer's offer TO assist in the campaign
tor funds which starts May l.
Housman to Direct Campaign
! The committee decided to proceed
without an Official head 1t was said
Frederick Housman, who has presided
over the committee as vce-c chairman
| during Mr.. Speyer's absence from the
/ city. would continue in that capacity
without the title of chairman.
Following the conference, which was
at the Hotel Pennsylvania, with Mr.
| Speyer present for the first time since
| the controversy arose. he was asked
! Il be would continue his affiliation with
the organization OF "wets"
Yet bet!' he exclaimed. smiling.
| But TO show that there existed no
| jill feeling between himself and Miss
! Booth, he took the little Army com
mander TO the door, the both of tnem
smiling broadly and, while he hed her
arm. said:
"You see. we are both smiling"
Two very important smiles" added
Miss Booth, laughing and blusiiing.
The incident is happily closed with
satisfactory understanding between
! all concerned" said Miss Booth later.
! lit is incumbent upon ME to say, now
ever, that the Salvation Army's rosi-
ton with regard to the liquor oucs.or
remains unaltered and unalterAblc
"Whether the nation be wet or dry
makes no difference for with .h4 Sal
walton Army intoxicating liquor Is not
a question of politics, it is question
OF morals, and every Salvationist the
world over is pledged abstaincr from
all alcoholic beverages. From the day
of the Salvation Army's inception up
to the present moment in seventy-three
different countries every scintil!a of
its experience has confirmed the wis
dom and righteousness Of this basic at
titude."
Committees Statement.
Both the committee and Mr.. Speycr
issued statements after the meeting
The committees statement said:
Mr. James Speyer. after telegraph
ing Commander Booth a few DAYS ago
tion as national vice president Of the
prohibition movement, also telc-
graphed simultaneously to the Saliva
tion Army citizens committee. offer
ing his resignation both as chairman
and as member of that committee
and left it to them to do whatever they
thought best in the interest of the
Salvation Army drive.
"The committee did not act on Mr..
SnpUpr'S oSi ON nd nf
other members of the committee who
hold similar views to his own about
the Volstead act told Mr.. Speyer that
they would also resign if he did
"To-day, after talking the matter
over with Commander Booth. Mr..
Speycr again offered his resignation
as chairman of the Salvation Army
being accepted. AT the same time, be-
cause of his interest in the work and
in order not to increase the difficulties
which the Salvation Army drive may
have to overcome, Mr. Speyer volun-
tecred to remain merber Of it's gem
eral committee.
"Botl, Commander Booth and the
committee highly, appreciate the gen
erous action of Mr.. Speyer, and it is
the universal belief OF all those con-
cerned that this incident is happily
closed and that the committee will take
up its work with renewed zeal"
Mr.. Speyer's Statement
Mr.. Speyer's statement said:
"The above statement gives the facts
correctly. OF course, post of the
committee members knew of my con-
Injection with the anti-prohibition move
ment when they honored me by elect
ing me chairman, position which l
accepted only after the efforts to Sc
cure somebody else better qualified
had not been successful.
"lt never occurred to me that my
:, convictions as to the desirability Of
amending or repeating the Volstead act
, would in any way interfere with my
usefulness as chairman for the Saliva
CLor+ GIx1r.fc In