The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-07-31
CAN'T SUPPORT JESS
REV W. H. cnUMPToN SAYS STALL
 INGs IS UNFIT.
Secretary of stntes Baptist Mission Board, Answered Conner Candi- date for Alternate Senator
 Citing Candid Reasons.

Rev. Washington B. Crumpton, Sec I retary of thef Baptist State Board or l-afissions, yesterday made public Inter | esting correspondence between Hon Jesse F. Staliings and himself. Mr. 1 Stallings wrote to Mr. Crunpton solic- ting his support of the candidacy of l the writer for Alternate United States | Senator. Mir. Crumpton replied that l he could not support Mir. Stallinss be- cause he thought Mir. StalIings was un- 1 fit for the high office he Is seeking. Incidentally MT stallings. in his let ter to Mir. crumpton makes t known that he is q Conner candidate He does this by making an argument for MT. Conner.
 The letter of Mir. staiiings to Mr. Crumpton is as follows:
 Birmingham, Ala. July 26, is06- MT. w. B. Crumpton. East Lake. Ala My Dear sir--Is am. as you doubt less know, candidate for nomination as one of the two alternate United state Senator, am one among the large number who attracted by the many advantages of the Birmingham district, have come to Jefferson coun- 1 ty to live. X close study of the con- ditions throughout the State and sev- eral years in Congress. trust. fit me
 in measure to be Senator from Ala ! bama. Before the primary, hope to make several speeches In the county. "In a letter of this sort. one can not cuss at length pationai and state | affairs; however. f will say that I be- 1 lieve exhorbitant freight rates and re- bates are largely responsible for the creation of the trusts and monopolies | throughout the country. We must have l freight rate leigsIation. both nationai and state. for 1t to be effective.
 "Congress has recently passed a bill which may need amendment. The proper sort of Legislation within the State can be had, believe, under the administration of Hon. B. B. Conner. 'rhe encouragement am daily re- state leads me to believe that my can- didacy win prove successful. would appreciate letter from you
 'svery truly yours,
 a F. stailings." sMr !. F .stafiings. Birmingham. Ala
 sDear sir-Your letter. asking for
 my support In your canaiaasy a.ne sor ,ne I from Alabama with request that l write you. received.
 .You will excuse me. hope. for the a'ank answer I give you.
 T can not support you. My objec- ton fs not based on the platform you i announce; but on the honest convic-
 ton that you are not suitabie man | to fill the high office you seek. I do not believe you would reflect credit on our great state If you were elected. | Possibly you ar intellectually capable; l am not sufficiently acquainted with l you to be positive on that score, but have doubts amounting to almost conviction. My objection is based on moral grounds. You have peen pe1ofe | the public frequently for office: My | impressions come almost solely from reading the papers during those can ] vases and hearing from persons who l knew you and heard you. l do not I recall lust now the things you have said and done which are responsible I for these impressions: but think could. without the loss or much time' easily find them.
 .Honestiy, Mr. stallIngs, what claims have you on the Christian and moral voters of Alabama? Have you in your utterances ever impressed them with ! the thought that you are governed by I Christian principles? On the other hand, have you not publicly scoffed at religion? You may not believe It, | but 1t is nevertheless true. the Chris | tian and moral voters in Alabama are going to make their influence felt in I'nolifics more in the future than In lfhe past Public men will have to be more careful of their utteraices ana their habits, or they will pc maoe 70 | feel the power of the aroused moral sense of the Christian public. Fossil Div this sentiment Is not sufficiently atrong in this campaign to make It. self felt. but it is rapidly growing and before the next election. confidently l believe. unworthy candidates will not dare to offer for office
 you ask for a letter from me This | is the best I could write. Since your I letter Is a circular letter sent to all 1 inc voters. I suppose I do nothing wrong in making 1t and my reply respectfully yours, wv B. Crumptori."