The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-11-03

REV. H. 4. JOHNSON AND ,. v. SMITH
THE SPEAE<ERS.

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Dexter Avenae Pastor Declares That
One-Thfrd ~ the Men who A.
semhlea IN Msntgomery Con-
ference WeFe Negroes.
Prattyille. Nov. Especial. )--There
were two speeches In the court house
here last night TO a representative
audience OF this city. 1t seems that
there was some misunderstanding
about who had secured the court house.
and both the amenders and anti
aincnders had billed speech for the
same hour.
The matter was adjusted by allow
ing both men chance to put forth
their views and yet 1t was understood.
not to be joint debate.
S The amenders were represented by
Rev. H. T. johnson, Of the Dexter Ave-
nue. Methodist Episcopal Church,
Montgomery. and the ants by Hon.
John ". Smith. of the same city.
Judge G. s. Livingston. leader of
the amenders. introduced the speakers.
He asked the audience to hear patient
ly. all the speakers had to say.
Rev. H. T. johnson started out by
saying that It was the greatest moral
issue ever inaugurated In the State Of
Alabama. He denied its being po-
liticaI movement.
He said he believed the devil lead
the opposition to the amendment,
Politicians always knew where to find
the preachers, on the side Of right and
justice. The preachers and women
were on the same side in this mat
ter. He said he had fought the devil
for twenty-nine years and would still
be found fighting him.
He referred to the search Of the Nell
son home In Mobile in q sarcastic
manner and said he knew something
of such houses himself, that he did not
join the church until he was rs years
old.
The speaker. in referring to the late
convention of the anti-amendmen
forces in Montgomery said vne-third of
that convention was composed OF me-
groes. He said he saw them and
knows they were there.
Hon. John ". Smith was introduced
and began his remarks by referring
to the fact that so many women were
present. He said he did not advocate
any measure that he was ashamed for
his mother and wife to know he advo-
Gated. He advocated temperance and
sacredness of the home, that he stood
for temperance and morality, but this
question was neither. but was purely
political.
The speaker asserted that Alabama
State of the Union. He said these laws
were the most far-reaching ever made.
and now before the people could as
certain whether they could be enforced
the amendment matter was brought up.
He said 1t was conceived in politics
and was engineered by politicians.
The speaker showed that the amend
ment would be dead letter until the
Legislature gave life by proper enact |
a ~ NJ IT "a tel ktsx.a
should be elected. the State would be
like Ohio.
1t was shown that 1t was a violation
of the present prohibition laws to
store whiskey In any place except the
homes. He said he asserted this, the |
Governor to the contrary notwith-
standing. and that the amendment was
for the purpose of preventing II from
being stored or kept In the home.
Reference was made to the fact that
many young men were unable to vote
this year on account of thinking 1t an
of year and they did not pay their poll
tax. He said the vote would not be a
true test of the people of Alabama, be-
sides it Is undemocratic and unfair;
that IL the amendment should be plac-
ed in the Constitution 1t would not
settle the prohibition question; that
the power to say whether the home
should be invaded In the State of Ala
hama was still with the people. and he
did not believe they would vote to give
such power to the Legislature under
which an enemy might conceal whis
key on the premises and thus secure q
conviction under the laws.
Mr.. Smith said he was a member of
the convention which met in Mont
gomery and was not ashamed of the
company which he was In there. 1t
was composed of many Of as good
men as are to be found in the State.
He recognized that there were good
men on both sides of this question. and
appealed to the women not to press
their husbands too hard to vote for
this amendment against the husbands
better judgment He said they need
not fear a return to the saloon whe-
ther the amendment was voted down
or not: that the Montgomery Conven-
tion was pledged to uphold reasonable
and sensible temperance laws.