Atlanta Georgian., 1913-09-18
He CAN 7 BLUFF
Me- DECLARES
NJ 'CONNELL
Tabernacle Pastor Determined to
Fight Sin in His Own Way,
Calls Spooning Side Issue.

The Rev. Lincoln Mcconnell, pas
tor Of the Baptist Tabernacle, in a
interview given to The Georgia
Wednesday, fearlessly outlined hi
plans to aid in the betterment OF tn
city and wage war on evil. Here
his statement:
l am here to fight the forces
Of evil in Atlanta. I will not be
intimidated. l will not be turned
back by any politician or any set
of politicians. I do not fear any
man or set of men. ! shall con-
duct my campaign for civic right
eousness in the manner 1 think
best, regardless Of the criticisms
or threats of anyone.
Mayor Woodward has obscured
the real issue by making 1t ap-
pear that the minister was MAX
ing a war on "spooning" and
kissing.
Why, l probably would be an
unhappy single man to-day if It
had not been for the divine right
Of this so-called spooning. Far
be it from me to inveigh against
such a necessary institution.
would be the last man.
What I was criticising was the
Mayors general and invariable
policy of attacking, ridiculing and
belitting the police. They are the
personifcation of law and order.
If the influential people Of the
city can laugh at them, scoff at
them and oppose them in their
every move, what will the thugs
and thieves and people of the
underworld do? 1t would be only
a matter of time before the de-
partment would be disorganized if
other officials of the city Joined
with the Mayor.
AS for the individual cases Of
spooning on the Capitol grounds,
know nothing of them except
as I was informed by the Chief
of Police. l did not attempt to
pass judgment on any couple who
innocentIy were present when the
two policemen came to make the
arrest.
In fact, il I'd seen young cou-
pie spooning and at the same time
noticed some plainclothes men
sneaking and prying about in the
hope of gathering the two in their
net, think l would whistle and
warn the young people of their
danger.
Pastor After "Big Game"
No, my plan of campaign is
bigger than any crusade against
kissing or any fight against May
or Woodward, except as he may
stand for principles which l be-
lieve are inimical to the interests
of the city. My purpose is to lead
people back to the fundamental
truths of life. Specific instances
at times may serve me as illus
trations, but you never will find
me using a cannon to kill swaI-
low. l am after big game in the
wilderness of sin.
No one deprecates more than
do that my advent in Atlanta
was introduced by this contro-
versy with the Mayor 1t was
because my stand totally was
misunderstood. I did not come
here looking for a scrap. I had
no chip on my shoulder. At the
same time. shall not run to COW
er if l see an honest stand-up
and knock down fight coming my
way
Into every city that one goes to
do good we will see the forces of
evil aligned against him. This is
inevitable. Sometimes it is the
gamblers. Sometimes It is the
proprietors of disreputable re-
sorts. Sometimes It is the saloon
and liquor interests. Not infre-
quently it is all combined.
Denounces LawIessness.
But 1 am not afraid of them.
I have met them before. Why,
down in Enid, Okla, I had a
deputation wait upon me to in
form me that they were going to
run me out of town. Did they
do it? Well, I should rather say
not. Instead, within a short time
they had Mcconnell converts in
not a few Of the influential posi-
tions where the gang politicians
and representatives of the under
world formerly had held sway.
expect to do my work here
fearlessly. l hope l Will do 1t
inteligently My fight always
will be to uphold the morals and
the laws of the city. 1 suppose
am almost a monomaniac on the
subject of law and order. l be-
lieve that the greatest menace of
the American people to-day is the
menace Of lawlessness. Some
talk about the menace Of Social
ism and the menace of this idea
and that idea, but l tell that the
greatest danger lies in the
growing disrespect for law and
the officers who are sworn to
enforce 1t.
Tired of "Sorrowinq" PEOPLE,