Evening star., 1934-03-12
Plan Reorgani7ed Dry Forces
As Result of Church Demand
Anti-Saloon League Faces Possible
Shake-Up of Officers-Public Senti.
ment Declared Controlling Factor.

HtCILL DCCLeLTSu u
The Anti-Saloon League Of America,
once wielder of vast political power,
faces drastic reorganization and pos
sible shake-up of those who control
Its destinies as result of a mandate
from its supporting churches. This
was decided at a recent meeting in
Philadelphia.
Admitting its cause defeated and
It's fortunes at low ebb. the league has
gone back to its people and said:
I'VE lost the battle. II We were at
fault, tell us, and help us plan for the
future"
Churchmen from the entire country
met in Philadelphia February % and
March ! to wrestle with the problem.
Four definite recommendations came
out of the meeting Shortly another
such conference will take place. the
time to be> set by DR.. William S.
Abernethy of the Calvary Baptist
Church here, moderator Of the North
ern Baptist Convention. who was
chairman Of the Philadelphia meeting.
Then the directors of the league
will meet and are expected to make
The suggested changes.
Position Of Churchmen.
The churchmen said:
I'VE believe it to be not only highly
important. but utterly imperative,
that the various temperance organi-
cations in the United States be
brought into the closest cooperative
action and, as far as possible, into a
working union.
I'VE recommend that the board Of
from the standpoint Of efficiency the
services of national State and dis
trlCt leaders with a view to making
such changes as will strengthen the
personnel organization and work.
We recommend that such changes
be made in the constitution COT the
league) as to give greater State
that places upon the general super
mating State superintendents.
I'VE recommend that a careful
study be made of the possibilities of
enlisting youth to larger degree in
behak of temperance REFORM"
Quick Action Planned.
Immediately upon adjournment of
the church group, the leagues Execu-
tive Committee met and voted unani-
mously to put the mandate from the
churches into effect as soon as prac-
rectOrS must act.
A change in personnel Of the
leagues leaders was talked of at its
biennial convention here in January,
but DR.. F. Scott Mcbride, general
superintendent, was unanimously re-
elected.
At the same convention there was
rather determined attempt to divest
DR.. Mcbride of much Of his power
by taking from him the function of
naming superintendents of the State
Leagues The churchmen now have
recommended that this be done and
the Executive Committee has ac-
quiesced.
Under the present set-up the gen
eral superintendent nominateS the
State superintendent and the State
board Of directors may either accept
the candidate or reject him and ask
for another nominee. If the second
man named by the general super
intendent is unsatisfactory, the State
organization loses all right to even
vote for its own leader and the Execu-
tive Committee is called upon to name
him.
To make sure the churchmen would
be uninf1uenced by officials Of the
league, no league representatives we're
allowed to participate in the discus
sion except on request Of the church
group. They were barred from some
of the sessions.
The coming meeting Of the church
group is expected to consider unif1ca-
tion Of temperance organizations and
a plan of closer coordination.
Statement Read.
At the beginning of the conference
Bishop E. G. Richardson, president Of
the league, read statement from the
Executive Committee. The statement
reflected the doubt that any prohibi-
.lon law was worthwhile unless it had
the support of the entire Nation.
Bishop Richardson read:
I'm the repeal of the eighteenth
amendment through the convention
method, the framing of the amend
ment and the calling of the conven-
ton was provided through represen-
tative bodies, but under the plan fol-
lowed in most of the States providing
for the election Of the delegates by
q Statewide vote, the opportunity
was afforded every qualified voter to
express his views. While only "a per
cent Of the electorate voted for repeal
as against g. per cent who voted
against repeal. leaving e6 per cent Of
those qualified to vote who did not
express themselves, nevertheless the
fact remains, Notwithstanding what
one may think Of the political meth
ods used to secure . vote favorable
to repeal, that every voter In those
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