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The Commoner.
WILLIAM J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
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VOL. 9, NO. 32
Lincoln, Nebraska, August 20, 1909
Whole Number 448
The Church's Sphere
An important question has been raised in con
nection with the controversy between the South
Park Avenue Methodist church, of Chicago, and
its pastor, Rev. Morton Culver Hartzell. Mr.
Hartzell has taken an active part in "cleaning
up" the neighborhood and has entered heartily
into the work of the clubs which have been try
ing to purify and reform that section of the
city. The criticism of his conduct reached the
point of a protest and an effort was made to
compel his resignation. The pastor's friends
insist that the opposition comes from city offi
cials who ought to be reformed, and that the
Rev. M. Hartzell Is being persecuted for right
eousness sake. The question will be submitted
to the quarterly conference which meets June
1, and the pastor has presented his side in the
following statements:
"The timo has com,e in the discussion which
has been agitatingr the church for some days
past when it is right and proper for me as your
pastor to make a pulpit statement. My funda
mental attitude is that I am not going to
be put in the position of fighting to hold my
pulpit. The questions that are before this
church are questions of principle and not of per
sonality. What is the legitimate work of a
church in a modern city? What rights and what
duties . has a' 'minister of religion, as a citizen
in a community like yours? I stand for certain
principles the very principles which are in
volved in the present controversy.
"I believe in the broad evangelism that min
isters to the physical, intellectual and social
needs of men in the name of Jesus Christ, al
ways with the supreme religious aim as the dom
inating power of the whole organization. I be
lieve that the opportunity of this church is un
surpassed to become one of the most beneficial
centers of evangelistic, educational and social
power in the city of Chicago. The place is
strategic and the time critical.
"I believe that it iB the duty of the minister
and the members of every church to be integral
parts of the social life of the community. The
idea that a Christian's public duty ends with
loyalty to hls( church means that the church is
a burden rather than a help' to society, and is
absolutely opposed to the whole ideal of Christ
The conception of a minister's work that would
deny him liberty of speech and action in things
pertaining to our common human life, strikes
at the very ideals of genuine leadership. A min
ister of the gospel must lo a man first or his
ministry is ineffective.
"These things I believe with my whole heart.
I can not and will not recede from them. It a
the natural tendency of every organization to
become conservative and put the comfort of the
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CONTENTS
THE CHURCH'S SPHERE
A BLIND LEADER?
PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS
IT PAYS
SOCIAL GAMBLING
YOUNG MEN AND POLITICS
REPUBLICAN DOCTRINE
EDUCATIONAL SERIES STEPHEN A.
DOUGLAS' ATTITUDE TOWARD SLAVERY
PROGRESS OF INCOME TAX AMENDMENT
THE RUSSIAN OIL CLAUSE
TARIFF TALKS
EDITORIALS BY COMMONER READERS
LEST WE FORGET
CURRENT TOPICS
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE
HOME DEPARTMENT
WHETHER COM.MO-I OR NCT
NEWS OF THE WEEK
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PUBLIC BATING
These Aldrlch-Payne republicans, who
voted for revision upward and then so
about peddling the miserable apology
that the tariff bill is "tho best that could
bo secured under tho circumstances,"
really rate themselves a little bit lower
if possible than they are rated by the
people. Kansas City Star, Rep.
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organization itself above the very purpose for
which it was created. Every church. is likely
to face such a test and this church can not
escape her present ordeal.
"Such I believe to bo the issues Involved in
this controversy. I may bo wrong. I am a
Methodist and I believe in Methodist polity.
Some days ago I decided that Instead of an
acrimonious public debate, in which principles
would be forgotten and personalities would bo
pushed to tho foreground, tho more proper
thing would bo for me to state as clearly as I
could what I conceived to bo tho principles in
volved and then placo myself without reserve
in the hands of my ecclesiastical superiors, the
district superintendent and the bishop of the
conference.
"This proposition has appealed -favorably to
all, and at an informal gathering of representa
tive men of the congregation it was agreod that
the quarterly conference should appoint a" com
mittee of three to wait upon the district super
intendent and tho bishop. This commilteo is
to have no instructions from the quarterly con
ference and whatever tho bishop decides will be
acceded to by all.
"With this understanding, the chief purpose
for the meeting of the congregation, called for
the coming Tuesday evening, is accomplished.
Furthermore, thero is a difference of opinion
as to whether a meeting of the congregation to
elect trustees to fill vacancies may be held at
this time, according to our discipline."
If, as Mr. Hartzell says, it is not a personal
question, but a matter of principle, it will bo
interesting to see how tho controversy is set
tled. Surely ono must be very blind to tho
church's obligations if he condemns a minister
for Interesting himself in the work of social
reformation. What is a church for if it is not
to stand for morality in all things and every
where? With so many ministers failing to hold
up ethical standards in business and in politics,
it would certainly seem a strange proceeding If
a' preacher is censured or driven from his pulpit
becauses he refuses to be silent in the presence
of evil.
If Mr. Hartzell is condemned, the conference
ought to make it clear that he is condemned for
personal reasons and not because of the In
terest he has shown in the "ethical, Intellectual
and social needs" of the people of his commu
nity. It is to be hoped that the conference will
take occasion to encourage, rather than dis
courage, reforms, to the end that more ministers
may measure up to their great responsibility
and make tho church potent in the advance
ment of righteousness.
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" The revision of the tariff on
wool was substantially settled at Chi
cago on October 15, 1908, three weeks
before election, at a secret meeting be
tween representatives of the worsted in
terests and of the growers of heavy
shrinking wool in the four states of the
far West" Extract from the letter of
Robert Bleakle, of Hyde Park, ono of the
most prominent New England carded
woolen manufacturers, in reply to Col.
Albert Clarke, of the Home Market Club.
A Blind Leader?
Senator Cummins, speaking as tho representa
tive of tho progressiva republicans, has declared
war against tho Aldrlch crowd. That sounds
good but tho articles of war do not go far
enough. Tho senator thinks that everything
depends on tho PERSONNEL of tho republican
organization. Ho Is mistaken. Tho organization
Is a means to an end. Unless tho new organi
zation means to do somothlng for tho relief of
tho people a change from an Aldrlch organiza
tion to a Cummins organization will mean noth
ing more than a transfer of salaries from ono
crowd to tho other.
What does the Cummins organization propose
to do? Will It give us free lumber and choapor
homes? Will it give us freo wool and cheaper
clothing? Will it reduce the cotton schedule
and proceed with reductions until a rovonuo
basis Is reached.
If, after this wintor's experience, Senator Cum
mins still insists that tho tariff must be re
formed by thoBe who bollevo in using tho taxing
power for tho purposo of protecting those in
terests which can sccuro tho ear of cong.csa ho
will prove a blind leader of tho blind. Still
tho fact that ho wants to fight is a good sign.
Even if ho docs not go far enough to make his
fight effective ho may encourage a spirit of In
dependence among republicans and other repub
llcans may go farther than ho Is now willing
to go. Another sign of weakness Is his eulogy
of the president. Ho will find the president
with the Aldrlch republicans and ho cannot
make much headway. f .:,' V,
IT PAYS
When Senator Dolllver returned to his homo
at Fort Dodge, Iowa, after his unsuccessful fight
for somo measure of tariff reform, he found
15,000 of his constituents waiting to greet him
with cheers. Senator Cummins mot a similar
reception at his Des Moines home. These men
may not just now stand high In the favor of tho
trusts that provide the republican party with Its
campaign funds, but It Is 'enough for them to
know that their patriotic efforts are appreciated
by Americans of all political parties who have
no axe to grind. It pays to tako ono's stand
for tho right, it pays to work for tho public
welfare. Reckoned in dollars and cents men
who serve special interests may win what
seems to be large profits, but real recompense
comes to those who, doing their duty as they
see it, render real service to their fellow men-
THE PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS
Tho Chicago News in commending tho pro
gressive republicans is guilty of unfairness to
ward tho progressive democrats. It says that
In recent years tho progressive element In tho
democratic party "has not been of much service
in compelling progress at Washington." That
is a mistake; the progressive democrats have
furnished practically all the stimulus that reform
has received. All the progress made has been
along lines pointed out by the progressive demo
crats. The democrats have furnished the bulk
of tho votes on neaTly every reform proposition.
The only exceptions were in the tariff fight
where some of tho democrats voted for low
rates on certain raw materials. While the dem
ocrats erred in doing so it must not be forgotten
that In the main they stood for reform.
CANNON'S APPOINTMENTS
Speaker Cannon violated every rule of decency
and fairness when he used his power as speaker
to reward members of the minority for helping
the republicans. By every rule of fairness those
who represent the minority ought to reflect the
opinions of tho minority.
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