The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-09
SPRAG|NS WILL
 NOT MEET WASSON State Senator Declines to De-
 bate With Minister GIVES HIS REASONS Does Not Wish to be Placed in At titude of Antaeonizne Church in
 Debating With Preacher on
 Prohibition Amendment.

Huntsville, September S.-(Speciai.) )-De- claring that he does not wish to be placed in the attitude of antagonizing the church, State Senator Robert E. Spragins has de- clined the invitation of the Rev. s. E. Wasson, pastor of the First Methodist church of this city, to debate the prohibit ton amendment question. The following letter was sent the minister in reply to his communication to Senator Spragins:
 Dear Sir-I am in receipt of your cour- teous invitation to enter into a joint de- bate with you in Madison county of the proposed prohibition amendment to the constitution. So far as 1 am concerned l concede that your calling as minister of the gospel does not debar you as citi- zen from going upon the hustings on this or any other question which appeals to you. It is a matter for you and your church to determine in what way you can accomplish the most good, which is the aim of both. In that 1 have no right. When you challenge me, however, to joint discussion my personal views on the subject do have a bearing on the con clusion I reach. 1 have considered the matter carefully and have concluded, re- spectfully, to decline your challenge. The reasons which control me in reaching this decision are as follows:
 q. I do not believe that in view of our respective positions either of us can in this way best promote the intelligent and dispassionate consideration of the ques- tion by the people. ?. l do not believe that you could. in the minds of the people, be disassociated from your high calling and l would be put in the attitude of an tagonizing the church, than which noth- ing is further from the truth B. l repre- sent a political unit of the state and you a church; our representative characters could not be lost sight of and I am un- willing, seemingly, to represent the state in a controversy with the representative of a great body of Christians. I believe that in the separation of church and state, as taught by MT. Jefferson, lies the safe ty and wellbeing of both, the perpetua- ton of our American institutions and the preservation of the liberties and rights of the people. 4. That I desire to discuss this question with Messrs. Carmichael, Weakley and Mallory, respectively, when they come to Madison county, and have written them to this effect, and have al- ready accepted a challenge from State Treasurer Seed, one of the prohibition candidates for governor to meet him in joint debate in the state for such time as I can spare. Will you permit me to correct an error in your letter to me, with reference to my asking the governor for a division of time? The publications which I saw were that the governor had de- clined to divide time with MT. Tate. a lawyer of Wetumpka. but indicated that he would enter joint discussion with MT. O'Neal or some of the leaders. Circum- stances, without regard to my merit, made me one of the leaders. and I hoped to be accorded the division of time asked for.
 .'R. E. SPRAGINS."