Branigan's $1

To the Second Congregational Church at Beloit, Wis. three Sundays ago went Edward Robert Branigan, City Councilman. Into the collection plate he dropped $1. As soon as the sermon was over he demanded it back. Preacher Herbert Arthur Studebaker had preached as follows:

"We believe that our lovely city of homes, schools and churches is in the control of unscrupulous men. . .

"We shall never have a decent and clean city administration so long as we elect dishonest men. . . ."

Preacher Studebaker had flayed Beloit's city government before, inveighing particularly against Councilman Branigan. Last week Councilman Branigan, wise in the ways of publicity, thought of a way to get even. He announced he would sue Mr. Studebaker for $1, under the law against obtaining money under false pretenses. Said he: "He made a political speech when the congregation were led to expect a sermon. When a minister of the gospel pronounces himself the ambassador of God, inveigles me into his church ... to hear the word of God preached, which undoubtedly my soul needs very much, and then delivers a political oration instead, which I heard many times in the past and expect to hear many times in the future, I feel he has obtained my money under false pretenses."

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