The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-08
Declares Indenendence.

From the Richmond News-Leader.
 In communication printed elsewhere prominent member of the Anti-Saloon league, for whose allegiance to that or ganization we can Youch, commends strongly the refusal of MT. Harry St. George Tucker to permit himself to be catechised and cross-questioned by the league. He also condemns the league for the methods it Is using in the pres ent campaign and warns 1t that 1t is being made the instrument for promoting the success of petty politicians and place seekers. Very probably a large propor- tion of the rank and file of the league share the opinions and feelings of this correspondent and earnestly resent the dictatorial and domineering method of the leaders.
 One of the greatest of the Protestant religious denominations has as it's fun damental principle jealousy of any al- liance or association between church and state. Yet we are seeing now steadily increasing tendency to apply the power and influence of church organizations and representatives in political affairs. The Rev. James Cannon, Jr., broadly indicates his belief that the majority of voters of the city of Bristol were bribed or bought to vote for open saloons. We read of a definite movement in that same city to expel and exclude from the churches those who saw fit to vote for licenses We read also in the newspa- pers that pastors of several denomina- tions are requested to send lists of their voting church members to the Anti-Sa loon league leaders. These leaders ara taking 1t on themselves, as they did two years ago, to apply to candidates for all offices a yardstick with the implied threat that those who fail to measure up to league requirements shall meet its ad- verse influence and strong opposition.
 If the News Leader had been in doubt until now as to which of the two can didates for the democratic nomination for governor to support It's course would be determined by this letter of MT. Tuck CTS. It shows him to be man of es- tablished principles with the backbone to express and maintain them. He man. ifests independence, resistance to domina- tion and inquisition, characteristic of old Virginians who brought honor to the state and made her famous and potent. And it was time for some man of that kind holding such sentiments and with the courage to maintain them. to come to the front. The state has been drifting under the dominion and domination of few clergymen, excellent men In their personal lives and in their intentions, but certainly not licensed to boss Vir- ginia. to direct her policies and to con- trol her voters with the terrors of eccle- siastical wrath and threats of excommu- nication, future damnation and political extinction for those who dare differ from their opinions. That was the policy of the popes and priests of the Catholic church when it was at it's worst and in the darkest days of our civilization. Men who refused to be governed by tho church, or rather by those who assumed the power and right to speak for the church, were put under ban, cursed, de- nied Christian fellowship, rites and bu- rial.
 Something of the spirit of Patrick Hen ry when he thundered against the parsons in the old Hanover court house appears in the Declaration of Independence put forth by MT. Tucker. And we believe the great majority of the most rigid and earnest church members will be with him. They love their denominations and their churches and their names, but they have not forgotten to love liberty; and they resent as strongly as any every at- tempt to use the church organization for political and economic questions by pro- claiming them to be moral and religious questions.
 Any citizen has the right to ask any candidate of his views on pending ques- tions and to have respectful and frank answer. No religious or quasi religious organization has the right to intrude itself into politics and to require candi- dates before the people to answer its inquisitorial questions or measure up to It's requirements.