The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-09-29

been Induced by arguments OF pros
perity to immigrate TO this country.
The German with whom we deal In
this organization work Is the law -abid-
ing German. and most OF the Germans.
II one has ever noticed. are iaw-sbid-
ing.
"As an instance Of the work we are
carrying on, the Alliance officers en-
courage all German residents Of their
Jurisdiction to seek an education. We
want him to understand the principles
and institutions of America. to make
easier and simpler his contact with
the American public, and the American
individual. Every member 10 required
to qualify himself for the voting prfvi-
lege as soon as possible. He IL urged
and helped to be naturalized. to pay
his poll tax and to register. And 1t Is
nothing but right, They should be
awake to all the political questions
that confront them"
Resents Insinuatfon.
Mr.. Moersch resented the insinuation
which had come to his ears that the
reason the Germans were opposed to
the amendment was that they were not
law-abiding citizens.
1T Is absolutely false" he said. 1T
Is one of our first instructions to obey
the law. We feel that In consideration
of the liberties which were promised
US In America we should obey the laws
as laid down In the statute books.
believe You may see the fruits OF our
lawfulness wherever we have formed
a good proportion OF your citizenship.
1t is true that we are In large ma
jority against the prohibition amend
ment to the Constitution. The Ger
mans to whom have talked have al
most to the man condemned the multi
tude If drastic laws which have just
been passed by the Legislature Of Ala
bama.
I'VE believe that they are unwar-
ranted restrictions OF the liberties that
were promised the good German inn
migrant when he took passage for this
continent. Can you blame us for pro-
testing at the polls against the amend
ment which would perpetuate the reign
of zealots and selfish politicians In
Alabama?
Recently the Jefferson County ALI
ance of German-Americans passed
unanimous resolutions against the
amendment. Mr.. Moersch had with
him a copy of the resolutions which
he gave out as follows:
Whereas. the Legislature OF Ala
bama has adopted most drastic and
harsh prohibition laws and abridged
Hereby the sacred rights and privi-
Ieges accorded and guaranteed by the
Constitution of the United States; and
"whereas, these Laws invade the
sanctity of the home and provide for
and legalize the indiscriminate search
of the houses and homes of citizens
whether law-abiding or not, thereby
exposing the wives and children OF
these citizens to indignities, abuse and
insult; and,
whereas, an election has been or
dered for the purpose Of embodying
these prohibition laws or their spirit
into the Constitution of Alabama
therefore be 1t
Resolved, by the German American
Alliance of JEFFERSON County and the
city of Birmingham. assembled In
meeting, that we emphatically condemn
the proposed amendment as being ad-
verse to the best interests of our
state and people, and, be 1t further
Resolved. that we question the sin
certify of many of the promoters and
trainers of these prohibition laws, be-
lieving that personal and political In
terests have guided their hands; be 1t
further
.sResolved, that we pledge ourselves
as a unit to vote against the amend
ment and use our best efforts to secure
the cooperation of our fellow citizens
to defeat the measure and save our
State from oppression and humilia-
tion."
Mobile County has already been or
ganfzed in the Alliance.