The New York herald., 1922-04-15
SPEYER STILL A WET,
ALSO IN ARMY DRIVE
N
Resigns as Salvation Chair
man, but Remains on
Committee.
COMPROMISE REACHED
Meets Evangeline Booth
and Amicable Arrange
ment Results.
HER VIEWS UNCHANGED
With Kermit Roosevelt Banker
Continues as Officer Of
Anti-Drys.
HER VIEWS UNCHANGED

James speyer retains his connection
both with the Salvation Army drive
and the Association Against the Pro-
hibition Amendment, but resigns as
chairman of the drive committee. The
compromise was effected yesterday
when the banker returned to the city
and met Commander Evangeline Booth
and his fellow members of the citizens
committee at the Hotel Pennsylvania.
1t was the feeling of all that took
part in the conference that happy
solution of the difficulty had been ar
rived at. Mr.. Speyer insisted that his
resignation be accepted, but said he
wished to remain a member of the
committee and do everything within
his power to make the drive success.
There will be no official designation of
chairman to take his place, but Fred
crick Hausman. who has been acting
as chairman, will assume the
duties of chairman.
Retains Anti-Dry Position.
Mr.. Speyer will remain a vice-prcs.-
dent of the anti-prohibition association
along with Kermit Roosevelt. who is
also member Of the citizens committee
for the Army drive. After the meeting
when Mr.. Speyer was asked If he meant
II continue in the work against prohip-
tion he replied, You bet ] do 2"
Then hc went back and fetched Miss
Booth. They smiled at one another and
at everybCdv else. The members of the
committee ooked relieved. big Bill
Edwards. the urst to leave the meeting.
sang out heartily: "The sun is shining
on both sides of the street"
4 statement was issued for the com
mittee in which II was declared that
Mr.. Speyer. when he telegraphed 20
Commander Booth that he intended 10
remain in the anti-prohibition move
ment. telegraphed also to the citizens
committee. Offering his resignation both
as chairman and as a member, leaving
1t to the members to decide.
THE committee" 1t was stated, did
not act on Mr.. Speyer's resignation, and
some of the other members of the COM
mittee who hold views similar TO his
about the Volstead act. told Mr.. Speyer
that they would also resign il he did.
To-day. after talking the matter over
with Commander Booth. Mr.. Speyer
again offered his resignation as chair
man of the Salvation Army's citizens
committee, and insisted on its being nc
cepted. At the same time, because of
his interest in the work and In order
not to increase the difficulties which the
Salvation Army drive may have to over
come, Mr.. Speyer volunteered to remain
a member of its general committee.
Both Commander Booth and the com
mittee highly appreciate tho generous
action of Mr.. Speyer. and it is the uni
versal belief of all those concerned that
this incident Is happily closed and that
the committee will take UP It's work with
renewed zeal"
Statement by Mr.. Spcyer.
Mr. Speyer said after the meeting
"Of course most of the committee MEM
bers knew of my connection with the
anti-prohibition movement when they
honored me by electing me chairman. a
position which ] accepted only after the
efforts to secure somebody else better
qualified had not been successful
"It never occurred to me that my con-
victions as to the desirability of amend
ing or repeating the Volstead act would
in any way interfere with my usefulness
as chairman of the Salvation Army s
drive, but when Commander Booth told
me on my return to the city that the
on the liquor question were such that IN
her opinion the two positions would not
go together l naturally dedided that /
would remain a national vice-president
Of the Association Against the the Pro-
hlbition Amendment, but ! will do every
thing to make the Salvation Army drive
a success. l can only regret that this
issue should have been injected, and
hone that il will not do any harm.
Miss booths Statement.
Commander Booth made the following
statement.
"The incident in regard to inc chair
nanship Of the Salvation Army cam
paign Is happily closed vita a satisfac-
tory understanding between sll con-
cerned. II Is incumbent upon me to say.
however, that the Salvation Army
position with regard to the liquor ques-
tion remains unaltered and uralterable.
whether the nation be wet or dry
makes no difference. for with the Saliva
tion Army intoxicating liquor Is not a
question Of politics. IL IS n question OF
morals, and every Salyationist The world
over Is pledged abstancr from all
alcoholic beverages. From the day of
the Salvation Arnys inception up to
tho present moment in scventy-threc
different countries every scintilla OF its
experience has confirmed the wisdom
and righteousness or this basic attl-
tudc."
Upon his arrival at the hotel Mr..
Speycr first spent thrce-qua ters OF an
hour with Commander Booth and
Thomas lsstill. commander of the East
crn division OF the army. Tney were
then Joined by Henry W. Taft, Kermi,
Roosevelt. William RI. Edwards and
George Gordon Battle. the numbers OF