Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-05-20
BAPTIST MEETING
DEMANDS UPRIGHT
POLITICAL LEADER

sixteenth .lnut.- re 1ort or the COM
mission of social service of the
Southern Baptist convention, which
was presented Saturday evening at
the session in the auditorium.
The report covered a diversity of
subjects affecting the welfare of the
nation, condo ming graft in hlgh
, places" declaring that law enforce
ment must be determined by the
will Of the people, demanding good,
can, strong nun" as presidential
nominees, and commanding congress
for passage of the immigration bill,
although deploring the japanese at
titude
The report also protested against
the use of the mails for the dis
.>tribution of cheap novels, popular
fiction magazines and publications of
similar character, containing sto-
ries and pictures of highly sugges.
tive and moral character which, it
declared, are flooding the country,
and it asked for a, stricter observ-
anCe of the Sabbath.
The report follows in full:
The year has been one of con-
tinued unrest and uncertainty in
public affairs, both in our own coun-
try and in other countries. We are
still living in conditions and dealing
with results entailed upon us by the
World war. 1t remains yet to be
seen when the social, economic and
political chaos brought on by the
war shall be entirely overcome and
good order and tranquility restored,
for surely not even the wisest can
foretell this happy event And yet
we are glad to observe frightening
skies on many parts of the horizon
"Day Dawn in EurOpe-The first
unmistakable CLEANS of hope for the
adjustment of Europe's veXing ques-
tons, since the framing of the Yer
sallles treaty, have appeared. 1t is
: the source of just pride to us that
three eminent Americans have been
instrumental in bringing these
CLEANS The report of the Dawes
commission of experts on the ability
of Germany to make PREPARATION for
the havoc which she wrought in
the war and to suggest a plan of
payment brings the first real hope
of settlement Of the question, with
out the settlement of which the in
dustry and commerce of the world
are blocked and the peace of the
"Olld COIlS IlGIldCSu. rom
all the governments concerned have
come virtual acceptance of the terms
lon settlement recommended, and dis
patches indicate that the recent cleo
ton in Germany was favorable.
With this question settled we can
not but hope that better feelings
and more amicable relations may
be established among all of the
countries of Europe and the peace
of the world promoted.
american Stewardship--It is re-
quired of a steward that in all things
he be found faithful. America is a
steward. Our country is now the
big brother in the family Of nations.
1t may be gravely questioned wheth-
er America has not been defaulting
in stewardship. The nations of the
earth still trust us in spite of graft,
In high places, trust us in spite of
our failures and lapses in the worlds
crisis hour. The successful effort
of the Dawes commission indicates
how much we might have done to
untangle the skein of world affairs
If only we had not for a. season
lost the ideal Of service and sunken
INTO the pit of sodden selfishness.
we call upon our president and the
congress; we cali upon every citizen
of the republic, to find some way by
which the United States may regain
the position Of moral leadership and
service which they occupied at the
close or the war, in order that the
open sore may be healed.
The World COurt-Undoubt
one method in doing this would be
found IN associating our government
with the world court. This interna-
tlonal tribunal has been founded
and is functioning in perfect har-
mony with one of the most sacred
and most fundamental principles of
our government, namely, the settle
ment of all international disputes.
as far as possible, by peace.
fful and judimial means and meth
DDS and not by war. For our
government longer to refuse to
approve the world court would be
to continue to deny and repudiate
this sacred principle as applied to
our relation to other governments.
We congratulate President Coolidge
that, like his distil guisned prede-
cessor, the late President Harding,
he approves the world court and
recommends our becoming associat-
ed with it. We appeal the sen.
ate of the United States to Join with
the president in this Urgently inn
portant matter and to let the soul
OF America be seen and known and
felt by the other nations a. it really
Is. For us to do otherwise would
be to bring upon our heads the lust
censure of the nations and of the
God of nations.
"a 4 nj
may we'll be concerned about world
conditions and may we'll call our.
selves to a full recognition of our
stewardship in relation thereto, we
must be candid with ourselves and
recognize that we have conditions
within our own borders that fill u.
or ought to fill us, with deep sense
of shame and humiliation. AS seri-
Gus minded citizens and patriots we
must set our own house in order.
Graft in High Places-Among
these humiliating conditions is graft
and corruption in high places by
which men in exalted position have
prostltuted public office and public
trust to private gain. 1t would be
impossible for any one TO say lust
how much truth there is in all the
countless "umors and bits of gossip
with which the air of our national
capitol has | n filled, or Just how
much OF ircontestable fact has been
revealed h. the sundry investigations
Of congressional committees and how
much lies in the background that
might be revealed by further investi-
cation. But of one thing we are
certain:
Public confidence has hcen be-