Evening star., 1927-11-30
METHOD|STS SEEK
TO SOLVE DRY ISSUE.
Temperance Council Meets
to ThreSh Out Possible
Election Problems.

IuIIeTenCeS nave dTlSeH dHlOIiS
leaders Of dry organizations meeting
here this week over the policies the
organizations will pursue toward
presidential candidates and party plat
forms in the next presidential election.
Following adjournment Of the board
of the Methodist Board of Temperance,
Prohibition and Public Morals last
night. the National Temperance
Council. in session at the Raleigh
Hotel, today began threshing out these
problems.
The council which is composed of
members of the executive committees
of temperance organizations all over
the country, will define the stand OF
these bodies on the situation that
would arise il the Democrats nominat-
ed Gov. Smith of New York and on it's
attitude in case the Republicans
should name President Nicholas Muir
ray Butler of Columbia University or
another wet.
The chief dispute has arisen over
the stand the temperance organiza-
tions and the Anti-Saloon League,
which meets here next week, will ask
the two parties to take on prohibition
Called Closed Issue.
Bishop Thomas l.. Nicholson, presi-
dent of the Anti-Saloon League, has
said that prohibition is a closed issue,
and the parties should not be asked to
take stand on a matter that has
been written into the Constitution.
DR.. Clarence True Wilson, executive
of the Methodist board, de-
clared today that the majority Of dry
leaders win demand that the parties
be asked to take a definite stand on
the subject. Each party will be
asked to state in its platform it's at
titude toward the eighteenth amend
ment, the enforcement law and means
Of enforcement" he said, land candi-
dates will be asked to come out fatty
and say whether they are wet or dry.
1.-The worst criminal in the world
can say vaguely he is for the Consti-
tution," he said. I'VE want to know
they are wet or dry. The
prohibition question is not dead and
will not be as long as there is opposi-
ton to it."
Committees of the Methodist board
today were working out the details of
carrying out the general policies de.
cided upon at yesterdays meeting.
Dry Progress Claimed.
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury
Seymour Lowman and Prohibition
James M. Doran re-
viewed improvements in prohibition
and claimed substantial
progress in the work at yesterdays
session, and Bishop William F. Nc
Dowell of Washington warned that a
program of education Of the public
vas needed to assure the success of
The work Of the Coast Guard in
smuggling of liquor into
he United States has cut down the
raffic during the past year, Lowman
'aid. He emphasized the need of
bodies continuing educa-
ional campaigns instead of leaving
his to the Government. Raising the
standard of prohibition officers would
oring about more effective enforce
nent, Doran declared.
A program of Temperance education
through textbooks, motion pictures
Ind pageants has been inaugurated
~ the board, Rev. Raymond v. John
son, its field secretary, announced.
The best way to defeat Gov. Smith,"
lie declared, sis to send team of
,oung Methodists on a tour of every
arge city, especially New York"
Such a team. he believed, would kill
many of the wet aspirants as can
lidates for political positions.
Increase in Europe.
Alcoholism has increased in all
European countries since the war and
s rapidly spreading to Turkey and
other Mohammedan countries, said
Dr.. George Meckenburg Of Wheeling,
". Va.
Solicitation Of pledges from the
Of the country to support
he prohibition law was urged in a
esolution adopted by the board of
managers. The resolution suggested
with newspapers, motion
,icture and theater agencies, schools
md colleges in a temperance cam
,aign.
"Our board should give complete
'eform service to the press Of the
country, offering news, editorial in
cartoons, feature pages and
similar information" the resolution
aid.
Conferences were urged with Will
Hays and with theatrical agencies,
with view of eliminating from the
screen and stage ridicule Of the pro-
nibition law and ''also some of the
,bscenity, profanity, blasphemy, vul-
yarity and nudity now found in many
heaters
Foreign language posters were advo-
Gated to reach foreign-speaking citi-
zens in the dry campaign. Sound
material" was urged for