The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-04-09
CIVIC Ii AGUE IS
NOW ORGA MED
elimination of Law and Order
League Movement
A MEETING LAST NIGHT
Attendance Not Large, But Several
Earnest Speeches Were Made.
Leagues Object Is to Ele-
vate Morals of the City.

At a meeting last night in the First
Presbyterian church the Law and Order
League was formally organized under the
name of the Civic League and steering
committee was appointed 10 draft con-
stitution and bylaws, nominate perm
anent officers and outline the policy of
the organization.
The committee consists of the Rev.
Frank Willis Barnett, the Rev. DR.. A. j..
Dickinson, Frank Leslie and Prof w. p.
Taylor. The committee meets tonight at
the resi- lenee of DIR. Dickinson at O. clock
and it is expected that another meeting
of the league will be called for Monday
night
There were twenty-three people, includ-
ing four ministers, at the meeting last
night. Several persons speaking. giving
their idea about what should be done to
raise the moral standpoint of the people
of Birmingham and to improve the poll
teal and social condition.
DIR. Dickinson opened the meeting by
moving that Civic League be formed.
The motion was seconded by the Rev.
DR.. ]. W. Stage and carried after sew
eTdI lengthy dHu eoino vi eNN
evils of birmingham.
Publication Necessary.
Among the speakers were Frank Leslie,
who stated that at some time in the his
tory of every city a general publication
was necessary, and that the only way
to accomplish this was for the good peo-
pie to organize and make their influence
felt
Mr. Leslie said that the good people
should get together, get busy and do
things" He said that it was too late to
make tn cir influence felt in the election
that is soon to come off, and that there
would be hot times in the old town Mon
day night" He remarked that there
would be other elections and that the
moral citiiiens should take hand In them
and make their power known.
DR.. Dickinson spoke at length on the
object of the Civic League, as he con-
ceived it, dwelling on the statement that
the mayor and board of aldermen of
Birmingham has given away valuable
franchises to the street railway COM
pany. This, he said, should be stopped,
as these franchises were worth money,
and if they had been charged for the
city would be able to build schools, and
even dress every child that attended,
as well as do many other things which
could not be done now for want Of
money.
About Gamblers.
The speaker then touched on the
gambling question, and told number
of things which he said other people
had told him were true, and even stated
that recently a gambler hailed him on
the street and asked him If he was
looking for a poker game. This occurred
on Second avenue and Nineteenth street.
He also told of how he had aided In
breaking up gambling in Selma, where
he once lived.
A list of names from the Jefferson
County Christian Endeavor was present.
ed for membership in the league, and it
was reported that the Endeavor was with
the league in everything. The Rev. Mr.
Barnett said that this was the most
hopeful sign that has appeared since the
league was first mentioned.
The Rev. DIR. Stage then told of his
idea of the league, and said that the best
way to accomplish things was to get
public sentiment aroused. The Rev. Mr.
Angus Bowling, pastor of the Methodist
church at West End, made rather sar-
castle talk on the absence of the pastors
of the city and county from the meet
ing, and suggested that the best thing
for the laymen to do was to go to work
on the pastors
The meeting adjourned subject to the
call of the chairman.