The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-11-20
b|bB COUNTY IS
ALERT AND WILL
Be FOUND IN LINE
How Families Are Divided on
the Amendment Issue
In Centreville
Conner HAS LOST HOLD
IN FORMER STRONGHOLD
Some of the Men Who Have Changed
Over and What They Say About
the Prospects In
BY HUGH w. ROBERTS.


| Though Centreville is not as large as other
cities of this state, in the current political
| campaign it has played a part as Inn
i portant as that of any possible rival-and
| 1t is probable that for several reasons II
has been more in the eye of the public.
| In the first place this, the actual center
/ of the state and which in contest Tor
the home of the capitol lost TO Tuscaloosa
| by the margin of one vote, is where lives
| Jerome T. Fuller, whose name is borne by
| the most voluminous and most drastic bill
| ever enacted by the legislature of this or
| any other southern state.
| In the second place, Centreville is where
| the Rev W. I. Sinnott lives and where
he breaches the gospel of Christ and Him
crucified and that only; and is the place
from where he has sent throughout the
state the defense of his position against
the amendment which defense, for its act
ual worth, has elected the praise of every
real scholar. of whatever political belief.
in Alabama
In the third place, as the county site OF
Bibb, Centreville occupies a prominent
place In the eye Of the public, for in spite
of the fact that Governor Comer,sin his
race for the position which he now holds
with SO much grace and dignity. by an
enormous majority, defeated DR.. r. NJ.
Cunningham in this county, Bibb will pile
up a greater majority, in proportion to
voting strength. against the amendment,
the pet scheme OF the Conner administra-
ton, than any other county of the state.
Corner Loses Hold.
Although Bib, on account of the effect
of that secret cabal in Montgomery, Will
poll a very small vote in proportion to Its
population, there is no doubt but that in
this county the amendment will lose over
whelmingly.
The amenders in the ranks for Conner,
weakley and Lawrence admit that they
| have no chance to carry the county. They
| do contend, however, that the majority
| against the amendment will not be as
| large as the defenders now think prob
| able.
| But In view of the facts that Bibb coun-
| ty has had prohibition for a long number
| of years, that 1t went overwhelmingly for
| Conner when he ran for the governorship,
| that 1t Is the home of Jerome 7. Fuller, of
| Solicitor Fritz Thompson, and of Senator
Herbert Reynolds, the majority against
| the amendment will be so large that the
great triumvirate which has had its
fingers around the throat of Alabama for
a period now too long. will have its props
completely smashed beneath its ponderous
weight.
Friends Though Divided.
Centreville proper will go against the
| amendment. The city, 1t is believed. will
| poll about lbs votes. 1t is doubtful II the
| amendment will receive the favorable ex-
preston gilmore than 10 of that number.
In this city, however, there are some
unique facts which might commend them
| selves to the reading public.
Jerome T. Fuller. whose name Weakley
applied to that unmentionable document.
is. of course, for the amendment. His
law partner, J. Henry White, is violently
| opposed to the amendment
| Solicitor J. Fritz Thompson is in favor
throughout the district in its behalf His
law partner, w. w. Lavender. is vio-
lently opposed to the scheme of the ad-
ministraion, and is making speeches in
behalf of its destruction.
George Partridge, q member of the jury
commission of this county, is. of course
| for tho amendment. His brother, H. b
| Partridge. a police officer Of Bessemer, is
| against the amendment.
stonewall Jackson Gardner is the only
attaohs of the sherifrs Office who Is In
| favor of the amendment His brother
| Judge J. g, Gardner, tax collector of the
] county, Is a member of tho ant-amend-
mont campaign committee of this county
| County Treasurer w. T. Steele is in
| favor of tho amendment. But he is the
only county official who is.
Most Interesting Person.
The most interesting person whom YOU
correspondent has encountered in this cit,
today is not the Rev. sinnott. whose
moral courage stamps him one of thu
really great churchmen of the state II
not Jerome T. Fuller, whose name b,
Judge Weakley was plastered to tina
| most ludicrous of all the ludicrous enact
] ments Of that most extraordinary legisla
| ture: is not James G. Oakley, the sheriff
of the county, the recent popular land
| slide in whose favor indicates his almos
unparalleled popularity among his owl
people: is not Judge w. i. Pratt, the jov
ial presiding officer of the probate court
and is not i. II. Nunnelee, register II
chancery and editor of the Press. Tha
person is none other than Mrs. It. E
Scholar Mrs. Schooler, like thousand
of other good and wise women of tn
state. Is opposed to the amendment. She
too, is an active opponent. She is fearless
In her position. and what Is more sh
has ability to defend herself She is tn
wife of DR.. T. E. Scholar, and Is tn
sister of ]. Fritz Thompson, Fourth cir
cult SOLICITOR, and an able speaker In tn
cause Of the amendment.
DR.. Scholar, incidentally, Is the brothe
OF M. G. schoosr OF West End, who 1
we'll known in practically every beat o
JEFFERSON county.
s4 One on Thompson.
From what your correspondent ha
learned DR.. Sinnott has been subjected t
considerable criticism because Of hi
stand against the amendment lie has re
caived anonymous cards and anonymoQ
letters. and others not anonymous.
And he has been subjected to criticism
81 the amendment speakers in spite o