New Britain herald., 1928-09-10
PROHIBITION THE
 SALIENT QUESTION
Leaders Of Both Sides lssue
 Statements for the Press

, line on both sides of the prohibition issue during the campaign of 1928 has been given to the Associated Press by ranking officials of the Anti-Saloon league and the Asso- ciation Against the Prohibition Amendment.
 Speaking for the Anti-Saloon lea Eue. Dr. Ernest H. Cherriagton, it's director of education. said the lea Gue was supporting Herbert Hoover and dry candidates generally the country over. regardless of party or religious utilization. He pronounc- ed absolutely false any statement that the organization had raised the religious issue.
 Await Meeting
 Henry H. Curran president of the Association against the prohibition amendment, disclosed that a deci- sipn whether to put the association actively into the presidential cam paign is awaiting a meeting of the executive committee to be held late this month, but that a widespread effort would be made to obtain the election of members of senate and house who oppose prohibition. Re peal of the 18th amendment" was said by Mir. Curran to be the ulti- mate goal of these efforts.
 Both of the statements were made in response to requests for informa- tion as to just what the two organ izations would attempt during 1928.
 'EIn the present political cam- paign,' said Dr. Cherrington. "the Anti-Saloon league is supporting for public office dry candidates against wet ones regardless of political af- filiations or any other issue that might be involved.
 Ut judges candidates for office by their own records and by the public statements which they have made concerning their attitude upon the principle of prohibition and upon the enforcement of this policy Of government.
 No Religious Issue
 'rhe repeated public statements that we oppose certain candidates for office because of their religion is not only absolutely false but is undoubtedly used by the enemies Of prohibition to becloud the real issue The Saloon league is interde- ncminational. It includes among its officers every variety of religion. Its national officers are Congregation alists, Presbyterians. Baptists' Methodists Christian Scientists Roman Catholics. Episcopalians United Brethren and Quakers Neither publicly nor privately does the Anti-Saloon league fight any candidate for public office because of his religious convictions.
 The "Anti-Saloon league officials ere practically evenly divided be- tween the major political parties They are absolutely non-partisan and any attempt by any group inside the organization to unfairly weight the scales in behalf of one party as against the other party would be immediately productive of internal discords that would wreck the or ganization. The methods of the Anti-Saloon League are not secret, nor do they involve intrigue.
 Publishes Articles
 "The anti Saloon publishes na- tional and many state publications which reach probably 8 million readers weekly, bi-weekly or monthly with information concern ing issues of candidates for public office. It's speakers address public meetings in churches. halls sr in the open air, each week, thus reaching weekly hundreds of thou- sands of citizens with information which might not be carried to them by the public press. It distributes literature elucidating most questions which might be part of the issue Of the day. The success of the league is due to the simplicity of its methods.
 MT. Curran said the association against prohibition amendment was s'especialiy interested" in the con- gressional elections. in view of the fact that changes in the constitution are first passed upon by senate and house.
 ''rhe plans of the association for this campaign do not. at this time, include entry into the contest for the presidency between Gov. Smith and Mir. Hoover" Mir. Curran said. "Whether the association will take part in this side of the campaign cannot be decided until the latter part of September when our execu- tive committee holds it's first meet ing after the summer recess. have no idea what conclusion may be reached.
 Make Own Choice
 Individual directors of the asso- ciation, of course, are making their own individual choices. some for Governor Smith and some for MT. Hoover My own choice is Governor Smith, for reasons which I have re- gently made public. These indi- vidual choices bear no relation whatever to the attitude of the as- sociation.
 Our association will campaign actively in many of the contests for membership in the senate and the houee of representatives. and this we shall do in many parts of the country. We have sent a searching questionnaire on the subject to every candidate for congress and we shall press for answers and shall preserve these answers. It is time that ordinary Americans were told just where their candidates for con gress stand on this, the greatest is- sue of the time.
 Research Work
 Meanwhile, We are carrying on, with the greatest thoroughness, the work of our research department, at . cost of many thousands of dol la n faip he l,.c;, ,,rc Io JI.,