The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-11-24
Letter From E. o. Mccord.

The following letter was received at The
Age-Herald office yesterday afternoon:
To the Editor of The Herald:
My attention has been called to the
signed interview of my brother, Leon Nc
Cord. in the issue of your paper of the
18th inst. which calls for and demands
certain proof AS the interview appeared
only in your paper l kindly ask that you
give publicity to this my reply in or
der that your readers may have the facts
at my command.
That portion of my Admission speech
which calls forth this demand is quoted
in the press as follows:
Il know, because | am in position to
know, that the money of the brewers and
distillers is being used In this state to de-
feat the adoption of this amendment. My
brother l am ashamed to say. is the
campaign manager of the Safe and Sane
league at Montgomery. and know
whereof l speak when | make the state
ment."
So far as l now remember, this state
ment is a reasonably fair reproduction
of what | did say in that speech, and, as
my brother has made demand for the
proof I hasten to comply.
1t is scarcely necessary for me to refer
to the private interviews with my brother
in order TO prove the statement as set
out, nor is 1t needful that the question of
his or my own veracity be brought in
controversy in order to verify the same.
AS to who is furnishing the Safe and
Sane leagues campaign expenses did not
undertake to say in my Admission speech,
but SO far as l am able to ascertain
these expenses are quite heavy and ut
terly beyond the volume of voluntary con-
tributions from the patriotic" citizens
to whom petitions for contributions were
sent
That my brother was regularly en-
ployed as attorney for the interests, both
in the state and out Of the state, which
desired a modification of the prohibition
laws and the defeat of the amendment
bill, l do most positively assert, and that
this employment began at about the time
that the correspondent of The Age-Herald
learned that these interests had employed
a young lawyer in Montgomery and were
going to spend a large amount of money
to defeat the prohibition laws and the
amendment l likewise assert. That this
contract was carried out during the re-
cent special session of the Legislature
every member of both houses will bear
me out, for my brother was directing the
entire fight against all such measures, and
especially against the amendment bill.
That my brothers retainer for these
interests is for a stipulated amount he has
admitted to some of his intimate friends
in Marshall and give nthis as his reason
for his vigorous and active participation
in this campaign.
That my brother was employed as attor-
ney for these interests before the Safe
and Sane movement was inaugurated
assert as a fact Now. If he Is not at
torney for the brewers and distillers who
has him employed? And If he is EN-
I'll Nv no .of,
money In this campaign to defeat this
amendment" as charged In my Admission
speech? ! submit this inquiry in all can
dor and fairness and IL my statement Is
further questioned l demand a SPECIFIC
and unevasive answer. That my brother
paid $40 per day to the anti amendment
speaker in this county | did not assert
and it was scarcely necessary for him to
be in such great haste to deny it. In this
connection, however. l will say that it is
beginning to be an open secret here in
north Alabama that many of the anti
amendment speakers are being paid reg
ular salaries and, according to the ru-
mors afioat as to the amounts paid. and
Judging from the quality of the speeches
made, those who employed them either
had money to burn or else were poor trad
ers when it came to buying speakers
The friends of my brother In this part
of the state have no criticism to Offer
on account OF his being engaged for these
interests opposed to prohibition and the
amendment, but many Of them do assert
that 1t is but fair that II he comes among
them in the role Of instructor and aa-
visor in this great campaign they should
be informed Of the fact thai ne comes as
the attorney for the interests ne repre-
SCENTS and not as Leon McCord individ-
ually.
In conclusion I will say that the mos'
fraternal feeling exists between my
h,>4hAr sd naxAalk anA> / Do sa.ca<als