The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-23
FORMER WHISKY MEN NOW
 SUPPORTING AMENDMENT
Capital Rumor Says Brooks Lawrence Going Into Insurance Business When the Campaign Is Over.
 Bowman Meets Jackson.
BY HUGH w. ROBERTS.

Montgomery, october 2-(Special)- Ray Rushton is one of the lights of the Montgomery bar. In church circles he stands exceedingly high. On church hs- tory he Is an authority He is one of the pillars of the Baptist church in Ala bama.
 In spite of all this he has been chosen to lead the fight against the amendment in Montgomery county. And he will ac- cept.
 On account of the fact that the senti- ment Is running in one direction in Mont gomery. the opponents of the amendment procrastinated in the matter of opening campaign. However, the word has gone down the line, "We will break all pre- viously established records for major ities,''
 The largest majority Montgomery coun- ty ever gave a candidate with oppo- sition was that accorded Congressman Hugh Dent 22oO.
 MT. Rushton and his able lieutenants, among the number being Mayor Gaston Gunter. Tax Collector Charles Teasley, formerly senator of the county; R. E. Steiner leading attorney, and others intend winning by even a larger vote
 Plan To Bankrupt WeakIey.
 The anti-amendment orators have adopt ed scheme for the bankrupting of s. D. Weakley, candidate for governor. In his rejoinder in a debate against Col. Emmett ONeal at Gadsden some time back he offered his opponent s25 for every man whom he could name who Is now tn1 ba meriy sold whisky or was known as a galnbler
 seIn my speech, at Union Springs to : norrow," stated Colonel O'Neal this aft ernoon. T will claim the forfeit. The name first mentioned Is that of his ex- cellency B. B. Conner, governor. He has admitted that he was once whisky deal CT in Barbour county He is certainly supporting the amendment at the pres ent time"
 Joe Willett of Anniston, who will speak with J. F. Stallings at Opelka tomor= row, added at this point the name or a well known gambler who is chairman or a county campaign committee in the in- terest of the amendment. "He Is no torious bucket shop gambler stated MT. Willett land he Is one of the kind that gambles under assumed names. These facts came to light at the trial Of a law suit His name will be mentioned on the stump
 And there is another whisky deal- CT managing county campaign for the amendemnt. His name will be called, too
 Situation in Jefferson.
 Col. P c. Bowman, who will speak to- morrow in Troy, related this afternoon some interesting sidelights on the cam paign.
 .arhey pretend to claim Jefferson coun- ha such claims are accurate. John Weak lev. who Is a brother of Judge s. D. Weakley, just said to me at the station in Birmingham that they would lose Jeff ferson This concession, in view of the claims of the amenders, struck me as sig nificant."
 Colonel Bowman states that his meeting at the Hippodrome will occur Sunday aft ernoon in spite of reports to the con trary He charges the circulation of these reports to amenders. He says that J. F. Stallings, Colonel ONeal and Tom Long will also appear at the Hippodrome meeting Each has agreed to go to the depths of the situation and call a spade by no other name than spade.
 q visited the office of F. M. Jackson the other day" said MT. Bowman, "and asked him to appear at this meeting and defend himself against the attack intend making. He declined. stating that he had a meeting of his own, and that they had the fight already whipped.
 q laughed, telling him my honest con viction that his side will not carry 1t counties in the state He flared up i'm mediately. and lost his temper. T do not desire to hear you talk in such manner in my office.' said be- laughed again and left.''
 Lawrence To Leave Ministry.
 One has often to get on foreign soil to learn the news of home. There is in Montgomery report that the Rev Brooks Lawrence plans to abandon the pulpit. It is said that he has received a fattering offer to enter business In Bir- mingham, It Is said that he agreed to accept after the amendment election. Ii is said that this business Is insm ance SO liciting. Lawrence is getting deal of advertising-it matters not the kind-and he will be well known when he doffs the sacred robes for the dress of the street.
 And then perhaps he will enter poli- ties. Some of these days he may be governor of the state. It is even hinted now that he will vie with Weakley Seed, Mallory and others in dividing the prohibition spells. But your correspond ent, be 1t said, doesn't believe that he vii make the race next year.