The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-10-22
Had No Motive Save to De His Duty As He
 Saw It
PASTORS SERVE NOTICE
 THEY ARE IN POLITICS
Words Are a Warning That Any Man Is Politically Doomed Who Does Net Bend to Their View of
 Things.

"The manly and courageous statement If Mayor George Ward, published in the afternoon papers, outlining his posi- ton. could come only from man who is not only honest but has the courage of his convictions" said J. w. Mcqueen last night.
 His position on this question is in exact accord with the platform on which he was elected; platform indorsed by ministers, church members and a great element of this community, who have stood for all there is of good in govern ment and society.
 MT. Ward comes out squarely for high license and strict saloon regulation. as against prohibition and stands on this platform unmoved by threats and en- treaties from numbers of those who helped to elect him. Expressing the greatest sympathy and respect for the motives and opinions of those who are fighting for prohibition, he announces his decision in these words, which are eX- auiiste in expression and feeling: All my sympathies are with the objects aimed at by the good men and women supporting prohibition-my judgment Is against their plan.
 Does Duty as He Sees 1t.
 His card, which gives in full his posi- ton on this question: has been or will be read by our people, and whether they agree with him or not, no one of them i'll honesty can charge to him any motive save that of doing his duty as he sees it. The News tells us that the Pastors union, composed of a great number of the min served on him a notice of political death served on him an otice of political death We have known that some of our preach CTS favored prohibition; we have known that some of them, at least, were so com mitted to the doctrine that it's success was desired even if Birbingham, this 1 imperial city, should go down in desola- | ton and ruin. We have known that the motives and intentions of the men
 who opposed it have been assailed, mis- l construed and condemned, but we have l felt that from their standpoint, at least.
 it was a-.religous and moral plane on
 which they stood and fought, and that
 whisky, and not men, was the object of | their attack.
 | that this is political fight and that the man or men who stand against them are politically doomed. One of the funda- | mental doctrines of our great country is | that church and state shall remain, sep- arate, and on this doctrine the church, religion, the personal liberties of our | people, the national life of our country, have been the greatest and best in mod ern civilization. May not this notice and
 warning, today served on George B. | Ward, for us at least, mean the parting | of the ways?' May it not mean that there l is amongst us a union, ministerial in name but political in purpose, which dares to rule or ruin those who do not
 bend to it's commands?
 Has Served Them We'll.
 "The good people of Birmingham elected l George B. Ward as mayor, and with honesty and ability he has served them well. He has never lied to them. He has never deceived them, and has never swerved one inch from that which was laid out for him, and expected of him | by the voters of this great city. Elected l on a platform which did not contemplate | prohibition, but did demand high license | and strict saloon regulation, because with sound reason and logic he defends | and stands on this platform, the Pastors
 union threatens and demands his political l death. If prohibition does lo other harma I bringing, as 1t has, our ministers into | politics, it has done enough to condemn | it in the minds of all men who love their country their churches, their families l a.ni,. h1