The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-10-22
WARD SHOCKS THEPREACHERS Birmingham Mayor Is Against Prohibition. HE GIVES OUT A STATEMENT Pastors Union Gives Him Its
 Ultimatum. Young Executive officer of Magic City ! Declares Result Would Be to
 Cripple Business
 of City.
HE GIVES OUT A STATEMENT


witnessed in the Birmingham City Hall was enacted when Mayor George B. Ward. In the presence of 100 preach CTS of Jefferson County. this morning announced his opposition to prohibi- ton in Jefferson County.
 The Mayors attitude has been re- warded as extremely important by both sides in the fight now on here. Members of the w. c. T. D. held prayer meetings in the Mayors ofiice and later the entire membership of the Birminghap Pastors' Union caiiedsupon him for afi expression of opinions The Mayor told the visitors he was elected to office on a high license and strict regulation platform and saw no reason to change his position. He coritended that prohibition at this time would embarrass the city financially. Ward And Tfe Ministers. The Jefferson County Pastors Union openly declared to Mayor Ward that his against prohibition sound cd his political death knelL It vas pointed out to him that the whiakey interests had always been against him. that the Catholics of the Birmingham district ito large degree opposed him politically and that his attitude in the present prohibition campaign would turn every prohibitionist, including women and children against any future political aspirations . Tn answer to all arguments Mayor Ward maintained that he opposes pro hibttfon because he proposed to be guided by his own convictions of what he though was best and nothing else The members of the pastors Union called on the mayor In a body and a conference was held in one of the large rooms in the city hall. With the min ieters. the men who had helpedsto elect him, standing aroundriI aseSni circle and Mayor Ward In the middle of the floor; pr. A ~ Rtclttnson, pastor Of the FirsS Baptfst church iftrudneed Rev. D. A. Duncan. pastor of the First Methodist church. who he'd been chosen fo make tfsA speech Of the occasion. pr. Duncan told Mayor WaFd that the men who had elected him were now for prohibition. and they wanted to know bis attitude He said they were at the time Of election for high license but that actions of the Ncity council while che mayor was In Europe precipitated the prohibition fight and they wanted to know where he stood on thel subject fAt
 Said Mir. Duncan l"The whiskey men have moved to high license and the high license men have moved up to prohibition. You. Mir. Mayor. are the only man that is stanting still" x Mayor, Ward began his answer on the subject by asiSing.
 do you want me to shirk and dodge the issue?" They all wanted an honest answer. Mayor Ward told them he realized that the great majority of his constituents we're for prohibition but that he did not believe 1t good thing. He thought 1t would affect the financial condition Of thes city and was not in favor of It. Mayor Ward said he thought prohibi- ton would carry two to one but he didn't think 1t wise measure. He spoke along the lines that he believed prohibition would carry. He said that when 1t did he would enforce the laws strictly. He said that he was elected on high license platform and that he still favored 1t. Mayor did not like to be placed in the position of being in favor of whiskey but the ministers union told him there were but two sides--tfor whiskey and against whis- key." Several members of the body spoke to Mayor Ward about his posi- tion and asked him many questions.
 The ministers showed keen disap- pointment. They told him at the close of the conference that they were his friend but they were going to kill him politically.
 Statement by wara.
 The following statement was given out by Mayor Ward:
 Tt appears that many others are supporting prohibition merely on sus- picton. that 1t may prohibit.
 There is only one thing we can be positive 1t will do. It will free liquors from a heavy tax, the historic device that has always been used to crush or restrain any undesirable traffic.
 'one thing I believe 1t will do. It will mark the commencement of long, settle salaries and incomes. wreck friendships and paralyze the spirit of public co-operatiOn; then repeal of the law will follow.
 "For many months l havo fought faithfully and hard for high license. believing it to be the most effective way to curtatl the consumption of whiskey
 Up to short time ago a large majority of the people now in the pro- hibition ranks agreed that high license was the wiser plant and backed up the fight. Is 1t not possible. that they were right then? l have seen no reason to change my belief.
 "On coming into office swore to do everything fin my power to protect the faith and credit of the city
 AS a result. in a small degree at least, this municipality Is richer today than ever before and Is steadily evolv- ing into a financial condition that should cause general satisfacuon.
 T therefore cannot honestly share responsibility, even tacitly, for a move ment which. if sauccessful, must neces- sarily undo what 1t has taken yeags to build up and cripple every depart ment of the city government for an indefinite period.
 "The liquor interests have no liking for me and am no friend of theirs. If prohibition fails those saloons left in Birmingham will be handled with an Iron hand and in good faith.
 'If it carries I will do my best to give an enforcement of the law--so vigorous that even, extremists will not make criticism.
 No man can inpugn the motives of the prohibition party or deny that 1t Is aiming at the betterment of mankind, Should not its members be equally