The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-19
Collection Taken.


 the expenses of the committee and about $40 was secured in a few minutes. This amount will not be sufficient and com mittee was appointed to secure additional subscriptions.
 All of those who took part In the meet ing said that every effort possible should be put forward to have the bill defeated in the legislature for if the pool selling matter came before the people for a vote the election would be a heated one and so much money would be used by those who favored 1t by schemers that it would be best to have the law makers vote it down. The Rev E. w. Jones said "The time to kill snake is when it shows it's head He further said that he was heartily in favor of sending commlt- tee to Montgomery.
 The Rev MT. West said there was pressing necessity for immediate action. as those who favored the bill were doing everything possible to secure its pas sage.
 pr. A. F. Montague, president of How ard college pointed out the evils of gambling and talked or it's influence over young men, in whom he was greatly in- terested
 The Rev. F. w. Barnett, editor of the Alabama Baptist, spoke next He said one argument advanced by those who wanted the pool selling law was that it would bring money into the community, and 1t will bring about as much money as a circus and take away great deal more, besides leaving the evil influences" He referred to several young men whom he knew who had lost large sums of money and for several minutes dwelt on the question of gambling in general.
 At this point the Rev. G. w. Reed of EnSlpV said that fbara moc no 1o,,b+ t... that everyone present knew of their at titude, and what they wanted to do was to provide ways and means for fighting the Dill He thought good committee should be selected to go to Montgomery.
 The Rev, W. T. Andrews then made a motion that committee on resolutions be appointed and that 1t name a commit tee to go to Montgomery. The chair ap. pointed after the motion was carried. J. D. simpson chairman, Frank W. Bar hett J. M Shelburne, T. H. Johnson and R. D. Jackson When the committee re. tired and while 1t was preparing the res- oiution afterwards adopted a number of snort talks were made Among the speakers were the Rev. pr. ]. P Me. Perrin, the Rev E. w. Jones, the Rev W. l. Hendrix and the Rev. Dr. L. s Handley.
 Strong Words for Austin.
 In his remarks pr. Handley referred to Chief of Police Austin, who was pres ent, saying he had made a hard debr against gambling in Birmingham. He said Chief Austin had been in office four years and 1t was known had refused to accept bribe of S9000 If he would 'let up on certain persons who wanted to conduct pool selling in the city Continu- Ing he said: 'Ie is man who has not been found wanting and we should sun port the man who has been tried. have seen doors he has torn down in his hat- tie between lisht and darkness. What We want to do is to suppress Sunday des. ecration too, and We do not desire what Is termed an open town"
 The Rev. w. l.. Hendrix said the argu- ment that pool selling would bring money into the community was weak one. mat large concerns who would want to locate here and who employed men would be afraid to locate In a city where pool selling was allowed, as the temptations would be so great to their employees who handled money.
 J. II. Johnston in his speech spoke of the present city executive committee and called several names, saying they repre- sented the citizens and that these are tthe men who have charge of our cits election" He said he thought the minis ters could do a great deal to stir up the public sentiment against the bill.
 One minister said he did not think 1t would be out of place for the preachers to refer to the matter in their pulpits though he did not think politics was good thing In the pulpit. He stated, how ever, that there were moral questions which often came up that he thought the ministers should refer to