The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-11-17
NeWsOf Bessemer Case ArousGs
the People Thoroughly
WORKERS ARE VERY ACTIVE
Prominent Men of Tuscaloosa City and
County Are Wide Awake on the
Amendment Question and
Will Aid to Defeat 1t.
BY HUGH w. ROBERTS.

| Tuscaloosa, November 16.-(Special)-
| If on an anonymous letter police Off
| GERS of Bessemer were induced to search
| home-to enter home wherein a
| good woman was in delicate health-the
people of Tuscaloosa believe that should
the amendment be adopted such out
RACES would become common.
In the Bessemer case the people have
all the facts. They know the name of
the husband and the name of the wife.
They know where he lives. They know
| that Mayor Lewis received a letter to
which no name was signed alleging that
In the Bell home whisky was being sold
contrary to law. They know the chief
of police who was suspended for hav-
ing permitted the search. They know
the name of the officers who did the
| searching. They know that no whisky
was discovered. They know that the
name of the person who addressed the
letter to Mayor Lewis cannot be men
toned. They know that the people of
Bessemer ascribe good character to Joe
Bell at Thirtieth street station.
Across the Warrior river in this county
these facts have taken root.
I'VE have heard about the searching
of homes" several said today 'but be-
cause there was something lacking in
each story we have doubted that under
any law the sanctity of the home could
be for any measure which gives such
authority.
Fight Is Keen.
Two days spent in Tuscaloosa county
has impressed your correspondent with
belief that the amendment will lose
here If the defenders of the home and
the constitution can hold the advantage
they have already gained.
Right recently the amenders have
awakened to the fact that the anti
amendment people had the country vote
we'll in hand. They are now working
morning noon and evening. Judge Henry
B. Foster. one of the strongest men of
the county and one of the best politicians
in the district, is leaving nothing undone
which he thinks might do the cause OF
the amenders good. There is no doubt
but that Judge Foster will have an eff
feet. He Is widely acquainted, calls the
farmers "Bill," "Jim," or Henry" as
the case might be and has always been
popular.
And the judge Is bringing imported
speakers into this county Last night
Mrs. Mary Armour, the reformer of Geor
gia, addressed a audience here. There
were number of women present and
a number of children. Mrs. Armour sailed
into whisky with all her eloquence and
everyone clapped his hands-for everyone
agreed with her OF course Mrs. Armour
gave no reasons, nor argument, why the
amendment should be adopted and she
made no votes. 1t is a question as to
whether or not she inspired the good
women of Tuscaloosa to such an extent
that they will go to the polls on the
morning of November 20.
Amendment speeches are being made
daily throughout the hills, and the lead
ers go into the country after the night
has fallen.
Defenders on Alert.
AS long as the amenders slept, Senator
Frank s. Moody, the father of temperance
in Alabama, who was working against
the evils of whisky at the time-years ago
when certain prominent amenders of to-
day were selling it to the ignorant ne
groes of a south Alabama county. con-
tented himself with looking over the field
casually. Now, however, he has hung his
coat on a peg in his office and gone into
the hills He Is making several speeches
in the county this week. Admittedly,
there is no man in this county stronger
than he, more beloved or more influential
There is absolutely no doubt in the mind
of your correspondent that when the polls
are closed and the votes counted Tusca-
! loosa will have failed to indorse an ad-
ministration against which many promi-
HI do 70 I,~ip
The young men of Tuscaloosa are lead
ing the fight against the amendment;
that is. they are doing the actual work
ing. Samuel III. Sprott, son of the we'll
known Judge of this circuit, and Robert
NJ Nabers are actively engaged in the
battle. Half a dozen other prominent
members Of the young school, are giving
valuable assistance.
"Old Guard" Too.
The "old guard too, is on duty. A.
S. Vandergraafft of the University of Ala
bama law school, is chairman of the Sixth
district fight Senator Moody. of course,
is striking heavy blows. DR.. Wyman and
! DIR. Richardson, the venerable scholars
and educators are lending effective as
sistance General Johnston, one of the
lawmakers of another day, and one of the
scholarly gentlemen of Alabama, is
against the amendment, and there are
against the amendment, and there are
many other well-known families of this
section who are marching TO the tune
of Home Sweet Home!
Concerning the city of Tuscaloosa there
is absolutely, no doubt 1t will require an
upheaval to put the county is the oppo-
site column.
And it might happen that the county
will go overwhelmingly against the effort
to perpetuate the pet scheme of the
Conner administration, for it is well known
| that the people of this county. as much
as the people of any other section OF this
or any other state. love their homes, and
II doesn't matter darn bit that some