The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-10-30
OfHXR AGENTS TRIED AND FOUND
WANTING REV. FIELDS DE-
c1AXRs IN SERMON.
Mentions, Saloon, Press, Movies, Stage
Capital, Labor and the
Foreigner.
Nv W. 8. STANTON.


The saloon the press. the movies. the
stage, capital and labor and the foreign
er were all referred to in the sequence
named as moulders OF public opinion
by Rev. W. II. Fields in his Sunday
morning sermon at First Christian
church.
After discussing the relative merits
OF each the pastor In convincing dis
course. made Il clear to his congregation
that they had all been weighed in the
balance and found wanting. and that
upon the Church devolvcd the task OF
fashioring the worlds thought II II
were TO be what it's Creator intended It
to be. In substance the sermon fol-
lows.
Money-PubEc Opinion.
I'VE hear much about what money
will do It Is great factor IN the
life OF our nation. Far above Il. how
ever, In determining issues. Is public
op!nion. This Il is that eventually wins
or loses strikes. This x is that started
and ended the World War. Kings and
emperors were relegated TO the ash-heap
OF Oblivion because OF IL. Public opinion
kept US out OF the war. and finally put
US into II despite what may be said
OF Wilson and his administration as De
ing responsible for our actions. fuoHc
opinion is what caused Japan to return
to China Shan,ung and its 100000 IN
hab.tants. This. parenthetically stated
Rev. Fields was the greatest steal IN
the history OF the world"
The Saloon-The Press.
"The saloon. some years ago. fashion
ed the thought of our nation. II elected
city, county state and national Of
fcials. Yea. IL even put men in the
presidential chair. Why? Why should
II again pc given a chance TO exert such
q potent influence? Today we find that
the press Is the most powerful moulders
OF public sentiment.
1t would be a mightler power than II
Is we're Il not controlled by diversified
thogbht - Ike the Protestant churches.
The chameleou-l.ke changes OF the press
often remind me OF the boy who was
wearing his first pair OF dads made
over pants-he didn't know whether he
was coming or going. Sometimes the
press makes mountain out or mole
hill: and you don't have TO think very
hard TO remember an Illustration in con-
nection with our own state" Sometimes
We get fed up on something until we are
heartily sick OF IL. The Hall-Mllls muir
der case IS sample OF this. The less
our young people read about murder.
adultery and scandals. the better will
be the minds OF our girls and boys"
Movies-Ths Stage.
There IS no denying the fact that
the movies exert an. Influence IN mould
Ing the minds OF our young folks. Some
have a good. and others an evil influ-
ence. Wholesome pictures like the "Oid
Homestead l highly Recommend Others
there are that go as Iar IS the COM
munity will stand. There is no question
about the Immoral and criminal c.aSS
OF pictures being detrimental 20 the
formation OF the moral and spiritual
abre OF our boys and girls. Clean com
edy and uplifting pictures ara Alt right.
the evil ones should be suppressed.
What IS true Of the movies Is also
true OF the stage. Some plays elevate
and others lower the thinking processes
~ those who attend them. An actress
20 whom I was talking Saturday nigat.
said that the public demand for sanSa-
t!onal attractions was the cause OF the
lowering of the former high standards
Of the stage. The public pays US and
we must give them what they want.
said she.
Labor-CapitaI-Fo
Neither labor nor capital are NJ
moulders OF public opinion. as neither
have gotten beyond their own selfish
desires. Sometimes what Is supposed
20 be done for the public is only a ruse
10 help capital Take the tariff on WOOL
which Is supposed to benefit his farmer,
but which really puts moro in the
pockets OF the clothing dealers. Scarce
ly rad Congress pat tariff IN foreiga