Evening star., 1928-05-20
BAPT|STS PLEDGED
TO OPPOSE VETS
Convention Votes to Break
Party Lines Rather Than Aid
Friend of Liquor interests
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, May 19.--
Voting constituency Of the Southern
Baptist Church included in q member
ship of 3,700,000 tonight stood pledged
to break party lines rather than see any
sGch candidate as what was termed an
unnamed friend of the liquor inter-
ests" become President Of the United
States.
Four times in course OF heated debate
on the floor of the seventy-third annual
convention today was the Governor OF
New York mentioned as the candidate
referred to- The report Of the social
service committee, however. which was
adopted by q rising and almost unan-
imous vote, after discussion lasting an
hour and half mentioned no names. =.
Proponents Of the report which dealt
also with other outstanding issues, ar
gued that the convention In Sencing a
committee to both political parties with
q demand for prohibition cancicateS
and platforms was exercising ITS PRIV
ilege of petition and remonstrance ana
not debating to parties,
Test Of Moral Forces.
DR.. &. Y. Mullins, president OF the
Baptist World Alliance. declared the
country was facing q crisis and that the
test of moral forces was whether they
had the unity. morale, skill, patience,
courage and proficiency 10 carry
through program of reform.
The tune has come when political
leaders cannot herd voters Ike sheep
under party banner" he concluded
and the chair restrained cheering
audience OF some 1000 delegates WIN
difnculty.
Opponents were led by sam Whitaker
Chattanooga attorney, and teacher oi
one of the largest Baptist Bible classes
In the South, who declared that the
report violated the principle OF Separa-
ton OF church and state.
II am not going to vote for the Gov
ernor of New York under any circum-
stances" he declared. but am going
TO say We are making mistake IN this
report, II Is an undiSguiSed vehicle q
inject the Baptist organization into
politics, and thus violates the underlying
principles of our Constitution"
Refuse to Change Pledge"
pr, Living Johnston. Raleigh, de-
nominational editor. then asked the
convention 20 replace the word pledge
In the report with request as q COM
promise, but his motion was lost tn
the drowning chorus Of No"
Others who spoke In favor OF the re-
port were w, u, upShaw. former Rep
resentative from Georgia. who declared
Il was q restrained and dignified IN
dictment OF 4 cocktail candidate for
the White House., and r, 5. XeaEer,
retired Louisville lawyer. who insisted
that every Baptist should record his
vote against that child OF Iammany.
certain governor Of New Yerk,"
DIR, George w, 1Tuett. presiding. an
swering question from the floor as 90
how hapttstS could be morally hound
To the dictates OF party and church
when they eontileted. snapped answer
that question for Yourself, my friend"
Adoption OF the social service report
marked adoption without amendment
OF the twentieth such document sub
mitted by Chairman Arthur j. Barton,
Memphis was selected for the 1920
convention and the time designated as
1880 pm, May 10. after which the egA-
vention refused to adopt a motion Of
protest against appearance Of naeslerns
lists on the tsonE Of the Baptist World
Alliance next meath.