The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-23
BAPTISTS STRONG
ON PROHIBITION
Where Religion Stops and Pol
itics Begins
CRUMPTON'S LEADERSHIP
Women of Montgomery Make Warm
Assault on Leon McCord for
Stand Taken Against the
Prohibition Movement.
BY HERVEY w. LAIRD.


Montgomery, July 22-(special)-Just
where religion leaves off and politics begin
in the present fight for and against pro-
hibition is a puzzle that perhaps the best
guesser in the business would not be
able to solve. That it is political ques-
ton every well posted man must agree.
That it is a religious question thousands
of church people, who make 1t SO, testify.
In three sets of resolutions at the state
Baptist convention at Andalusia this
week the movement for the elimination
of liquors was indorsed, one going so far
as to name in commentator the efforts
of Governor Conner to bring about con-
stitutional prohibition. And to drive the
question home it was agreed that every
preacher of that faith preach on the
evils of drink at his church next Sun
day.
Whatever 1t may be worth one way or
the other to them, the Baptists of the
state are, to greater extent than any
other sect, lined up behind the prohibit
ton movement. This has no doubt grown
largely out of the relations of DR.. w. B..
Crumpton, often called the Baptist bishop.
to the Anti-Saloon league, he being pres
ident of the state organization and an
ardent sponsor of the Rev. Brooks Law
renee, superintendent, at whose door most
of the evils that beset the sale Of liquors
are laid.
Led by Crumpton.
Led by DR.. Crumpton the Baptists have
made a long continued fight on the MAX
ing and selling of Intoxicating liquors,
and it is said that the 10000 members
are going to get behind the plans for con-
stitutional prohibition and push it to q
success. Another leader is helping, the
Rev. Harry L. Martin, lawyer, preacher
and editor, who lives at Ozark, and Is
about as shrewd politician as the state
affords, being the right hand man of GOV.
B. B. Conner in that part of the state.
Just to show how good politician Mar
tin Is, he got a resolution passed by the
convention praisng Governor Conner for
putting in his call for an extra session
the chance to adopt constitutional prohi-
bition, and lined up the entire church in
a measure behind the governor for any
thing he wants. All of which recalls the
opening suggestion of this letter that it
will take a wise man to divide the re-
ligious from the political in the contro-
versy that is getting up on the subject of
prohibition in Alabama.
Women After Mccord.
Leon McCord, leader of the safe and
sane business men, who are fighting the
prohibition laws, is coming in for a roast
from the women of the Woman's Chris
tan Temperance union. Mrs. ]. B. Nell,
president of the Montgomery organiza-
| ton, giving him fits in an open letter
| she is sending out Recalling that he
! is a member of the same church that
| she attends, is teacher in the Sunday
| school and "has always seemed to take
stand for the right" she is at loss
to account for his conduct.
Going into the situation Mrs. Nell con-
tinues: 1T somehow cannot believe
that you have weighed the matter as you
should and have thought Of the influence
you are welding We are personally re-
sponsible before God for our influence
and should not put a stumbling block
in our brothers. way" After expressing
the fear that Mr. McCord has sold his
birthright for a mes sof pottage, Mrs.
Nell concludes that he ought to prayer
fully consider II he is not making a
mistake.
Light Fight Decision.
Judge Thomas G. Jones Of the United
States court has denied the application
for an injunction on the part of the
Citizens Light and Power company to
restrain the Montgomery Light and
Water Power company from alternating
their business He holds that the latter
company, in process of good business. has
right to solicit the business of the other
organization If It sees fit offering such
inducements as 1t can to secure the busi-
+ ness. The judge ruled, however. that
the Montgomery company had no right
to indemnify those whom 1t induced to
leave the other corporation The case
grows out of a very warm fight for down.
town business, the Citizens company un-
dertaking to get the trade of this sec
ton only. The Citizens company is a small
concern. made up of home capital, while
the other company has a capital of s., :
e00,000 with a modern water power plant