Evening star., 1925-12-04
A|DOF POPE ASKED
IN TURNING CHURCH
TO BACK DRY LAW
Prohibition Committee Head
Tells Pontiff Catholics
Are Not Cooperating.
PLEADS FOR ONE WORD
TO PEOPLE TO OBEY
Says Indifference, if Not 0ppo-
sition," to 18th Amendment Has
Caused Growth of Klan.

ence by various prohibition orSallZd-
fgons in the National Capital prior 10
The opening of Congress, the united
committee for prohibition enforce
1nent including several temperance
and reform bodies, both Catholic and
Protestant, today sent 10 Pope Plus
NJ an appeal for moral support or
civil authority in America.
Signed by Clinton y. Howard, chair
man of the united committee, whose
annual address here Scathingly de-
nounced the present system Of en-
Sorcement In America, the letter to
Pope Plus refers 10 both prohibition
and the Ku KluX klan.
The communication, in full, is as
follows:
ION many occasions report has
reached the American people Of your
appreciation Of their idealism. The
recent statement of your holiness that
America had written an epic Of char
ity' in her generosity To the distressed
nations of Europe. and the eminent
services Of your holiness and your il
lustrious predecessors in the cause OF
world peace, especially your recent
proclamation Of the kingship Of Christ
over all nations as the rlghtful SOY
eTeign ruler of the world. evoke q
sympathetic response from the Chris
tan spirit that dominates the Amert-
can heart and conscience.
Says Dry Violations Doomed klan.
with q confidence born OF our be-
lief that you understand our aspira-
tions as a people, I am presuming to
address your holiness in tn name
of thousands of Americans on a mat
Ter which ! believe concerns both the
church over which you preside so
we'll and the country which we love.
Our people, wishing TO be Il sober
nation, have put into their funda-
mental law Il decree forbidding the
manufacture, sale and distribution of
intoxicants used for beverage pur-
poses. This prohibition, termed the
eighteenth amendment ts-our Consti
tuition, makes ample provision for
sacramental wines, and the American
people are determined that this legis-
lation. ratified by 46 out Of our 5S
states and inaugurated for the vel
faro of the present and future gen
erations. shall not be nullifed.
''As a friend of Catholics, as well as
sDokeSnlan OF many patriotic citizens.
J am filled with deep regret in bring
ing TO the attention of your holiness
the fact that the seeming Indifference,
II not opposition, on the part of so
many Catholics to the enforcement Of
our prohibition law has created great
deal of opposition TO the Catholic
Church and did much 10 call into eX-
iStence the Ku kux Klan.
Wants Catholic Leaders Aid.
The prob I'm of enforcing our pro
hibltion law, which is of supreme i'm
portanCe TO the citizens of America, is
aggravated by our having large racial
elements from many countries. Presi-
dent Coolidge, IL truly Christian man,
has in unmistakable terms condemned
organizations committed to intoler-
ance. He has frequently urged upon
all good citizens their duty to observe
our laws, and upon all public officials
that OF law enforcement. 1t seems to
many OF US that such appeals should
meet with more response from Catho-
lie leaders than lraS been manifested
thus far.
The great body OF American citi-
.zenS have always respected the Cath
olic Church as the unfiinching advo-
cate of every home virtue as we'll as
public duty, and one word from YOUR
holiness. reiterating what was ALWAYS
felt was the Catholic position of re
spect for civil authority in accordance
with the Holy Scriptures. that all au-
7hority is of God, would be large
contribution TO the moral welfare and
progress four republic
This communication was authorized
and approved by the united commit
Tee at its annual meeting held In
W aShtngton. d. G.. on December !. .
and 3. 1925.
Your humble servant
"CLINTON \. HOWARD,
Chairman Of the United Commit
tee for Prohibition Enforcement."
Letter Voted by All.
The letter to Pope Plus was care
fully composed. it was said. only after
extended conference with both Protest
ant and Catholic members of the
united committee. The vote TO send
Tho communication was said to have
been unanimous in the committee at
meeting last night.
The united committee, which Suf-
fered the withdrawal OF four repre-
Sentatives at the meeting for election
of officers late yesterday, still main
rains that the now famous speech OF
Mr.. Howard. which has gone to the
President, represented the unanimous
opinion Of the committee.
A communication was sent 10 the
White House yesterday afternoon by
the Methodist Episcopal Board of
Temperance, Prohibition and Public
-hOraiS nlSaEUWlng the Howard ad-
dress and declaring that the board "is
responsible only for its own utterances
and never delegates authority to fed
erations, organizations or individuals
10 make statements in its name"
Mr.. Howard. in his letter to Presi-
dent Coolidge, transmitting the copy
OF his address, said:
The address was approved by all
Of the constituent bodies represented,
Rnd 1t was voted that a. copy there
nt should be sent to the President
and released to the press.
The representative of the Metho-
dist Board Of Temperance, Prohibit
lion and Public Morals disclaims for
his body responsibility for the ad-
dress. Their representative was not
present and did not hear it, but a
copy thereof was placed in his hands
tfter the approval and before the ad-
dress was release 10 the press. No
disavowal or disapproval was made at
ihe time Of its return. 1t, therefore,
represents, so far as we are able to
state. the unanimous opinion of the
United Committee"
Split in the united committee came
IT the meeting for election of officers.
Continued on PAGE . Column ~