Evening star., 1934-01-07
ANT|-SALOON BODY
SEEKS TO SAVE DRY
STATES IN DRIVE
League to Lay Groundwork
for War Against Liquor
at Session Here.
FOUR-DAY CONVENTION.
I OPENS THIS AFTERNOON
Program Calls for Persuasion of
People Rather Than Attempt
to Influence Congress.

With the task before it of saving for
prohibition those States still dry and
laying the groundwork for national
war against liquor, the twenty-seventh
national convention of the Anti-Saloon
League will convene at the Calvary
Baptist Church this afternoon.
Between 500 and TOO delegates are
expected to attend the session. which
will continue through Wednesday eve
ming.
They will have before them plan of
action mapped out by the leagues
board of directors, which has been
meeting here for two days. Under this
plan, the league would seek principally
to build up its power by persuasion OF
the people rather than to attempt to
anf1uence Congress. Frequent local ref
erenda have been recommended.
In the legislative field the directors
have mapped out attacks all along the
front through the States and the ma
tional law-making and regulatory
agencies.
Advocates Enabling Act.
DR.. F. Scott Mcbride, general super
antendent, also has advocated a liquor
control enabling act as an amendment
10 JIle COllSLlluIlOll.
Regarding such measure, he said:
This is the only way to realize the
Presidents program TO avoid the return
of The saloon either in its old form
or in some modern guise. or to fulfill
the platform pledges Of his party made
to the electorate to provide legislation
that will make impossible the return
of the saloon and all its attendant
evils. Such an amendment would open
the way for the legislation that Is
needed to deal with this nationwide
peril"
DR.. Mcbride admitted the amend
ment he proposes also would open the
way for another national prohibition
act.
Bishop Ernest G. Richardson. re-
elected president of the league by the
directors yesterday, will deliver the
principal address at this afternoons
session. His address will be entitled.
Looking Forward" Mrs. Ida B. Wise
Smith, national president OF the W. G.
T. U. also will speak.
DIR. Russell to Preach.
The convention sermon will be de-
livered by Rev DR.. Howard Hyde Rus
sell, who founded the first league In
Oberlin, Ohio in 1893, and took part in
the organization of the Anti-Saloon
League of America in Washington, De-
cember, 1895.
Another veteran of the organization
who will take part in the convention
As Andrew Wilson, who has served as
president of the league in the District
of Columbia for 25 years.
Fred F. Bale of Columbus, Ohio, law
Ser. lecturer and teacher. will speak
on The Truth About Youth" at the
evening service in the Calvary Baptist
Church. There will be other league
speakers in various other pulpits.
The directors yesterday reelected all
the principal national officers OF the
league, including Dr. Mcbride, Bishop
Richardson, S. E. Nicholson. Media, Pa,
secretary: DR.. Ernest H. Cherrington,
Nesterville, Ohio, director OF the de-
partment of education, publicity and
fesearch; DR.. Russell. associate general
superintendent; H. B. Sewers, Wester-
Nille Ohio. treasurer and Edward N.
bunford, Washington, attorney.
The directors yesterday also refused
no amend the leagues constitution TO
sake away from the general superin-
&endent the power Of nominating the
Estate superintendents and vest that
;power in the various State organiza-
4ions.
Urges Contact of Dry Bodies.
In his annual report to the directors
Dr. Mcbride recommended that the Ex-
Lecutive Committee be authorized to
contact all omni- partisan dry bodies to
find out to what extent unif1cation Is
possible. This authorization was given
by the directors.
DR.. Mcbride stressed that the organl-
cation resulting from any merger should
be strictly omni-partisan and interde-
nominational.
He said: After a rather careful sur
vey Of the situation as to organ1za-
tions, find that they fall pretty much
into three classes, namely, partisan,
non-partisan and strictly denomina-
tional. I find the leading denomina-
tional boards are not willing to give
I'D their organizations and unite with
any general movement. 1t is hardly
likely that the Woman's Christian
Temperance Union would disband and
enter into a new unified movement
These boards and the w. c. T. U. could,
however, be given adequate representa-
ton on the national board Of directors
of the unified organization, and CO.
operate by education and in making
the new organization their agent In
the general field It would be i'm
possible for the Anti-Saloon League tc
unite with partisan movement with
out sacrificing a chief fundamental
principle. We would, of course, treat
the candidates of any new major po-
litical party as to their attitude or
this question. We see no reason why
all the rest of the organizations thai