Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-09-17
To
LAY ASIDE
CLERICAL
CLOTH
DR.. Lincoln Mcconnell, in Hot
Reply to Woodward, UphoIds
Anti-Kissing War. 4

Or Lincoln Mcconnell. in a letter
burning with sarcastic criticism and
innuendoes, made heated reply Tues
day 70 the attack made upon him BY
Mayor Woodward.
The minister, after implying that
Mayor Woodward had been an ex-
drunkard and other unenviabIe
things, branded him as a common
scold' and flung down the gauntle,
TO him In the declaration that he was
perfectly willing to doff his clerical
garments at any time the Mayor feIt
That his health and happiness de-
manded satisfaction.
Dr.. Mcconnell denied that he had
inveighed against "spooning." "Heav-
en- forbid!' he declared. IT merely
was taking a stand for law and order
which the Mayor had attacked"
MeconnelPs Letter.
HIS reply to the Mayor, except for
one unprintable expression. is given
here in full:
James c. Woodward, in the Mayors
Office, Atlanta, Ca:
Sir have your very interesting
letter Of this date and think il bur
proper In view Of the fact that Won
have honored me with three sheets OF
matter and 10 cents postage. to re-
ply to you in somewhat extended
fashion.
In the first place, you were not nv
subject Sunday night had a larg,
subject. You were merely an illus
tration. was preaching on SOWING
the Wind and Reaping the WhirI-
windP (Hosea viii:O, and was trying
to show that the laws Of cause and
effect operated in all realms, not
merely the physical / was showing
that the wind" OF bad thinking re-
suited in the destructive moral
'whirlwinds," etc, etc, and in de-
veloping the thought | came natural
ly TO that bad conduct called crime
and lawlessness, and here is where
you came in. l was talking against
the dangerous tendencies Of our time
and | referred to the fact that many
good men so talk at times as to cause
the thoughtless to believe that they
have no respect for the law, its Off
GERS or machinery, the inevitable -
suit of which must ne the breaking
down of me last vestige Of fear or re
spect that remains in the minds Of
the Criminally inclined for the law"
l said: Il was amazed the other day
to read what seemed to be an inter
view from our Mayor himself in
which he scathingly attacked the po-
lice referring t. them In such con
temptous terms as 10 indicate his
utter lack Of respect for them. TAX
ing as an excuse the recent arrests Of
some person for 'spooning, he
sneered at the snake in the grass
methods etc. etc, in such mann r
and terms as to bring the very office
into disrep tie. AccC. ding to the re-
port he did not confne his sneers -
the particular men who made the ar
rests, but the impression is 'inevita
BILE that he, the head Of this great
city. feels a contempt for the officers
of the law"
Actually and More.
l said further: II Mr.. WOODWARD
does not know that such expressions
from a man in his high position are
dangerous and have a tend ncy to en-
courage the vicious, ne is too big q
fool to be the head of this city, whils
if he really feels as he seems to feel.
ne is unfit for the place"
As nearly as l can recall my words,
that is what I said on that subject,
so you see l was not accurately re-
ported, for I actually said more about
you than the report indicates
The fact is, no reporter was here,