The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-11-08
CONGRESSMAN HOWARD IS
 SPEAKER OF AFTERNOON
As Baptist Church Worker and Ardent Prohbitionlst He Believes God Is on Side of the De-
 lenders.

 advocate of and worker for prohibition, and as firm believer in temperance in everything, I stand before this vast audi ence this afternoon and affirm that in my opinion, God, in this fight, Is on our sde
 "Women for witches, and in the name of religion. have been burned at the stake. In the name of religion countless hundreds have been massacred in cold blood. And God was not in 1t though it was done in the name of religion.
 God is with the right always. And we who stand for the homes are in the right
 Thus spoke ex-Congressman M. W. Howard of Fort Payne at the Hippodrome theatre yesterday afternoon before an audience of 5000 people-es per cent of whom were men.
 The well known orator delivered what was considered a capital speech. He ar gued the question of the amendment from beginning to end. He did not criticise the ministers who are stumping the state in the interest of the amendment. He merely referred to them as honest in their understanding of the question, though mis- guided as, to what Is the real Issue in the state. He declared they had been deceived into working for the political aggrandizement of politicians. "The preachers are honestly deceived" the speaker stated ''the politicians are not"
 Very Broad Challenge.
 q challenge any man on the side of the amenders," declared Congressman Howard, ito name single state in the union in which constitutional prohibition has been tried with any degree of suc- cess. l challenge them to name such a state wherein the agitation of the liquor question was ended by the adoption of constitutional amendment. or where morality was encouraged.
 They cannot refute the charge that In every state where constitutional prohibi- tion has existed constitutional prohibit ton has proved a failure and a farce. Therefore, 1t is with very poor grace that they endeavor to have inserted in our constitution an amendment, and It is with even poorer grace that they get up before the people of this common wealth and tell them that with the amendment adopted the whisky agita- tion will be concluded forever.
 Maine has had constitutional prohi- bition for 50 years. What is the issue in Maine at every election? Resubmis- sion of the amendment to the people The democrats want the question re- submitted. The republicans do not
 "In South Dakota they have had con- stitutional prohibition. The state entered the union with such a plank in its con stitution. Within the first Il years of South Dakota's existence as a state there were four changes made after four great upheavals.
 '"The same is true concerning dozen other states. What about Kansas? We'll, everyone is familiar with Kansas and it's handling of the liquor traffic. And why the amenders will ask the people to put the question In the constitution, or why any people will listen to such pleas. is more than the average individual, with an understanding of history and logic, can understand.
 "The United States government has is- sued a pamphlet showing that the state the people of which have shown the sec- ond greatest aversion to religious con- version is Maine.
 "The state the percentage of religious converts of which Is smaller than those of any other is bloody Kansas.
 Putting the amendment into the con- stitution cannot better the morals of Ala bama."
 Great Patriotic Demonstration.
 At the conclusion of Congressman How ards speech there followed the greatest demonstration witnessed in Birmingham since the beginning of the present po- litical agitation.
 The speaker, with words of eloquence, had stirred the patriotic zeal of the 5000 people who heard him.
 And when he sat down the Cullman band, which out of its love for the cause ard, had come on it's own expenses to attend the Hippodrome meeting played Home, Sweet Home!"
 It was the signal for the outpouring of the pent-up enthusiasm. Men sprang to their feet. Hats were waved with cheers Hats were tossed recklessly into the air. Tears came to the eyes of many, and none were ashamed.
 The hundred men who were sitting on the platform crowded upon the speaker, shaking his hands and expressing their satisfaction. Men from the audience ran alongside the stage and grabbed his hand.
 You cannot beat such men as these,' stated one, who coolly observed ''They are thrilled beyond expression with pa triotic fire They will stand in defense of their homes until the breath of life is stamped out of their bodies. The amendment Is beaten beyond all question if this demonstration Is a sample of the zeal which exists all over the state"
 Charges Are Made. Congressman Howard charged that the amendment election was put upon the people at the present time for two rea- sons. to make an issue for the perpetua- ton of the Conner administration, and to take advantage of the people at a time when their taxes had not been paid. He claimed the amendment could add nothing to the prohibition laws of the state of which he expressed hin1sslf as s,>su~ an ardent nupporter He deC1are6