The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-25
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Root and Branch Men.

To the Editor of The Age-Herald
 The extremists who governed England during B years of tyranny boastingly styled themselves root and branch men, In his debate with Spragins, Judge Weakley declared himself a root and branch men. Does the judge mean, by chasing himself ''root and branch man. to inform us that he glories in the cruelty and barbarity practiced by the root and branch men of that awful period of mis- rule? Or does he, by the use of this term, made hideous by association, boldly declare to Mallory and Seed and press home to these amendists, that he as au- thor of the amendment is cutting up their ambitions, root and branch, as he proud ly proclaims his fatherhood of the amend ment from every stump? And what of Statesman Fuller? It would seem but fair that he should be allowed to reap what ever honor there is from the bill which bears his name. But not so, for now comes Root and Branch" Weakley, and declares that the bill was conceived by his eagle eye and brought forth by his gigantic brain This painful truth is thus borne in upon us that the Fuller bill is a misnomer, and alas! poor Fuller: To-day he puts forth
 The tender leaves of hopes; tomorrow
 blossoms,
 And bears his blushing honors thick
 upon him;
 The third day comes a frost, a killing
 frost,
 And-when he thinks, good easy man, full surely
 His greatness is a-ripening-nips his root, And then he falls"
 : Thus from a political aspect the situ- ation would appear to be prohibition now. prospectant Is all in all Weakley-"Root and Branch" Weakley. The political am l bitions of Mallory, Seed and Fuller are thus cut up root and branch, but then like good prohibitonists, they may con sole themselves with the thought that their ambitions were sacrificed upon the alter of Root and Branch Weakley and surely, as the clown in the Land of l Nod'' would say, That's fair enough J. E. MATLOCk.
 Birmingham. September "A, 1909.
 Railroads and Prohibition.
 To the Editor of The Age Herald:
 The Law and Order league chages the railroads of Alabama with being behind | the movement to defeat the amendment. 1 Several speakers charged this openly at the meeting held in the Baptist church, and stated they sent their lawyers to | Montgomery to accomplish this end Per init me to say that l was employed for IS years as a conductor by rail roads in this state and know that if you are discharged for drinking no railroad will give you employment. Go to any superintendent of any railroad you want to and ask him to let you see their book of rules. You will find they will be glad to point out this rule to you and they will all tell you they enforce it. There is no appeal for man who is discharged for drinking. Now, why should the Law and Order league endeavor to drag the railroads into this controversy? I don't understand 1t, unless it was done to foo some voters as has been done before and perhaps prejudice some men who die not favor this amendment They clain the reason they ordered a special cleo tion. was to keep it out of politics. bu there seems to be more politics now thai | ever before in Alabama.
 - . R. E. HOWARD.
 North Birmingham, September 22, 1909