Evening star., 1927-04-19
CHANCE QUITS POST
OVER DRY AID PLAN
Assails Proposed Spying IN
Resigning as Bible Class
Treasurer.


movement being sponsored by the Or
ganized Bible Class Association to
assist the local police in the enforce
ment of the prohibition laws. Merritt
Q. Chance, former city postmaster and
treasurer of the association, has re-
signed his office. it was learned today.
In letter to The Evening Star. Mr.
Chance said:
"On my return to the city after an
absence of several days, one of my
friends stated that the newspapers
have been publishing an account of
the campaign of the Organized Bible
Glass Association to appoint in each
block a representative of this organi-
zation to report to the police or legal
authorities any violation of the Vol
stead act, thereby constituting a sort
Of spy system on their neighbors, and
that among the officers of the organi-
zation my name was mentioned as
| treasurer.
Denounces Proposed Spying"
"The plan proposed by this asso-
citation did not come to my attention
| until it was published in the news
papers,
THE organization, l consider, is a
very fine one, if it sticks TO it's knit
ting, but l do not believe 1t was ever
organized to do any spying on the
neighbors of it's members.
II do not approve of such action.
and | therefore Immediately rendered
my resignation rs treasurer"
| Page Mex Etchison, executive sec
| retary of the Organized Bible Class
Association, who received the resig-
nation this afternoon, is holding a
| conference with Mr.. Chance in an ef-
fort to have him withdraw the resig-
nation.
Mr.. Chance, said Mr. Etchison,
| doesn't understand what it's all
about and he's got it all balled up"
Denies Spy System.
| Mr.. Etchison, who is deeply inter
ested in the movement, stated he
| knew of no spy system" and. in fact,
| knows nothing about the procedure of
| the Church Service Association, which
is being formed to undertake the law
observance movement. He stated the
| Organized Bible Class Association, at
meeting which Mr. Chance did not
attend, approved the idea in principle
of forming the association to cooper
ate with the police in closing UP
| speakeasies and reporting evidence of
prohibition law violations.
Mr.. Etchison further declared the
plans for the Church Service Asso-
cations work were left with Horace
L. Stevenson, a trustee of the Beth
any Baptist Church, and Harry Douth.
| lit, a former prohibition agent. These
| two are working UP a plan of pro-
cedure, but it will not be put into
| effect until the Bible Glass Associa
| ton has had an opportunity to study
/ the plans and approve them,
Seek $4,000 Members.
/ According to Mr. Douthitt the oh.
ject of the Church Service .Associa-
ton is to obtain membership of
| about $4,000 persons. whose duty 1t
would be to report to a central head.
quarters. evidence of violations of
| the dry law. Mr.. Douthitt has stated
| it as his idea to have at least enc
member of the Church Service Asso.
citation in each block who would he
| unknown to wilful violators Of the
law and who would report the extent
of violation to him. lie. on further
/ investigation by him or his assistants
1t developed there was fragrant
violation of the law, the police would
! be notified and would take action ac-
cordingly.
Mr.. Chance stated verbally today
that the idea Of a religious organiza-
tion or group OF persons interesting
| themselves In law enforcement, where,
/ as 1t is a duty Of the Federal and
4 local governments to carry out the
law, did not meet with his approval,
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