The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-17
CAMP A|GN OPENS FOR AMENDMENT
 AT LOCAL,>MEET|NG Fiery Speakers Charge 0ppo- sition With Being Identi-
 fled With Whisky
WOULD TAKE POLITICS
 OUT OF WHOLE FIGHT
Meetings Held in Churches Where Contributions Were Taken and Advertising Pacards Hung
 Across the Altars.

 committee, headed by F. M Jackson of Birmingham, was appointed, resolutions adopted. fiery speeches made denouncing the opponents of the measure as part of the liquor interests, and a s1O.0o0 cam paign fund was raised.
 Gov B. B. Conner and S. D. Weak ley, though In the city, did not attend the meeting A. H. Carmichael was q moving spirit, and took occasion to de- I, clare that he positively will not be a candidate for any office.
 The main purpose of the meeting seemed to be to separate personal pol tiles from the campaign and to pre- vent Conner from continuing his per- sonal method of speechmaking.
 Session at Baptist Church. The night session was held at the | First Baptist church, but at both churches a sign was stretched across the pulpit in red and white, bearing these words, "The Birmingham News, Fac | tor for the Constitutional Amendment, Mailed to Any Address from Now to | December 1, 1909, s1.25." During the aft ernoon large sign was placed at the | Christian church announcing the change | of meeting place.
 | J. F. Thompson, of Bibb, solicitor of l the Fourth district, was elected perma- | nent chairman of the meeting. Samuel Blackmon of Decatur opened the con- | ference with prayer. There were about | 400 people in the First Christian church when Dr. w. B. Crumpton called the meeting to order as temporary chair 1 man and addressed the audience. He | said that he would run the risk of be- l ing charged with getting old by be- coming reminiscent
 pr. crumpton Begins.
 ITO the few of us who began to strug- | gle years ago 1t is fine to see so many 1 taking interest in bringing about this | good time. We are not as many as some meetings that have been held but I think we are much and in November we will be many and much" He then told of the transition of the movement from the time of the dispen- sary to the organization of the Anti Saloon league, the local option laws and elections in counties
 Just imagine ourselves to be of the opposition and some of us going out to find a preacher to open the meeting l with prayer and if we did find him, what would he say? Then imagine me l going home to my family after taking l part in such a meeting. No, sir, we be- leve in God"
 l He continued to narrate history tell ' ing of the passage of the state prohi- l bition laws, the enforcement in Mobile which attempted to secede, and declared l that Mobiles lawlessness was the direct cause of the extra session. land you know what the extra sesison did.' l You noticed at the meeting the other | night the speakers said. I am a pro- | hibitionist and I don't want to see the laws change but did you hear any ap- 1 plause?
 | 'I want to promise you that the Bap- tist preachers are going to stand by l you. And have felt the pulse of the Methodists and they are even more ram pant than we are.'
 | He congratulated the anti speaker who had said. 'If you let that amendment pass the youngest of us will never live | to see it enforced" That's just what we want" he said. and then took up the political parson," declaring that they had been praying for this thing all their lives and were nst in politics | when they attempted to kill the evil.
 Dr. Crumpton reported a conversation with a prominent railroad man, to the | effect that the railroads are saving in | sober workmen what they lose in freight
 "If you laymen will come and take the lead we'll work anywhere you put us i You laymen who have been lying around 1 doing nothing must get busy."' | Crawford Made Secretary. l Eugene Crawford of Union Springs was elected secretary of the meeting. On suggestion of Brooks Lawrence all friends of constitutional prohibition present were given seats as members of the board of trustees. The Rev H. H. O'Neal of Mobile introduced the following resolu- tion. which was unanimously adopted: Whereas, the people of Alabama are facing campaign for the adoption of an amendment to the constitution of Ala bama. prohibiting the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors; and
 'whereas, determined opposition to | the adoption of said amendment having | developed among certain elements; be 1t
 Resolved, first, That this assembly pro- ceed to organize under the general di- rection of the board of trustees of the Anti-Saloon league for vigorous cam paign throughout the state looking to the 1 adoption of said amendment; and be 1t l further
 Resolved. That this meeting proceed to l elect a state central committee to con l sist of chairman, one vice chairman l from each congressional district in the state, the chairman and the nine vice | chairmen to constitute the executive com .mittee to have charge of the campaign"
 Committees Are Named. These committees were apponted On Nomination. c. c. Ratlir, J. B. Green, H. H. McNeel, R. M Goodall, w. L. Sessions. S. R. Russell, Eugene Bal lard, N. M. Grove, H. F. Merritt, w. F. | Feagin, Judge H. B. Foster. On Resolutions: A. H. Carmichael. J, H. Mccoy, A. J. Dickinson, J. T. Fuller, John w. Bowers, G. c. Miles. L. R. Boy  CONTINUED ON PAGn s)