The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-12-24
sLANDERING ALABAMA.

Rev. Brooks Lawrence. Superintend-
League. has not lived long enough in
Alabama TO become thoroughly ac-
quainted with the people. He displays
an inexcusable ignorance of Alabamains
as well as a certain maliciousness,
when he deliberately said at the meet
ing of the Anti-Saioon League in Chi
cago. making his report on the amend
ment election, which was so disas-
trous to his political forces:
'The most gross forms of political
corruption were carried on at various
points In the State"
The charge is grave. It is serious
charge. 1t is made by the response
BILE head OF political organization.
which by its control of the Legisla-
ture of Alabama. and by the manner
in which II exercised that control. had
drawn national attention to the state.
The report with its SANDER on the
people of the State. was made few
days after the amendment election. at
a time. when the attention of the
country was directed to Alabama and
to the results of its election. Mr..
Lawrence spoke to national au-
dience.
Before making THIS blistering at
tack on the State which had been
most generous to him. Mr.. Lawrence
said:
81 am exceedingly anxious that this
word shall go out over the United
States"
In making excuses he sent out the
bitter attack on Alabama contained in
the words:
The most gross forms of corruption
were carried on at various points in
the State"
Mr.. Lawrence owes 1t to the people
of Alabama who have prospered him
so well; he, owes 1t to the good name
of the State of Alabama to tell when
and how that corruption was prac-
ticed. He should. in common honesty
and fairness. make good that grave
charge against the integrity of a
State, from which he has received
nothing but benefits. Where was the
corruption? Where was 1t practiced?
Who was bought? Who bought them?
How much was paid for 10000 Ala
bama voters? An answer is due from
Mr.. Lawrence.
When he lives a little longer In
Alabama. when he becomes better ae-
quainted with the men of Alabama.
he win know that enough money has
not been coined to purchase the votes
of 10000 citizens of this State.
His ignorance of Alabama is fur
Their shown when he said: I'VE have
in Alabama about 10000 qualified vo-
ters There were about $4,000 votes
cast in the election"
AS matter OF fact $4,000 votes
were cast I'm the election. Mr.. Law
renee therefore charges that $4,000 IL
legal votes were cast in the amend
ment election.
In making his slanderous charge
Mr.. Lawrence ignores the fact that
there are in Alabama nearly 100, 900
men who are exempt from poll tax
and who have only to go to the polls
to vote in any election. a great ma
jority OF these men are over As years
of age and have no poll tax to pay
while many others are exempt from
various causes. The records show
that 1900 men paid their poll tax.
and that there were. therefore. 177,0OC
qualified voters for the special amend
ment election.
The largest vote in recent years
was polled in the amendment election,
ii is true, but 1t was polled because
the people Of Alabama, in the face of
tyrannical attempt to deprive them
of vested rights were aroused. as they
have never been aroused before. 1t
is true that many of our people in re-
cent years have been Indifferent as to
voting in elections, but when they un-
derstood the schemes of Mr.. Lawrence
and his political allies they rose as
they never rose before to destroy the
scheme and confouhd the schemers
The Indignation of the people was
made manifest throughout the heated
campaign. which preceded the cleo
ton. Whenever a meeting was held
to protest against the amendment