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

Dr. Lincoln Mcconnell. nf letter
burning with sarcastic criticism and
innuendoes, made heated reply Tues
day to the attack made upon him %,
Mayor Woodward.
The minister after implying that
Mayor Woodward had been an ex-
drunkard and other unenviable
things branded him as common
scold' and flung down the gauntIe.
TO him in the declaration that he wa.
perfectly willing to doR his clerical
garments at any time the Mayor felt
that his health and happiness de-
manded satisfaction.
DR.. Mcconnell denied that he had
inveished against "spooning." "Heav.
en- forbid" he declared. Il merely
was taking a stand for law and order
which the Mayor had attacked"
McConneIFs Letter.
His reply to the Mayor. except for
one unprintabIe expression. is given
here in full.
Here is DR.. McConnelrs letter:
James G. Woodward. in the Mayor.
Office, Atlanta, Ca:
sir have your very interesting
letter OF this date and think # bu,
proper, in view OF the fact that Won
have honored me with three sheets c,
matter and 10 cents postage to re-
ply to you in somewhat extends3
fashion.
In the first place, you were not my
subject Sunday night ! had a larg-
subject. You were merely an Illus
tration. was preaching on Sowing
the Wind and Reaping the Whirl-
wind" Hosea viii:O, and was irving
to show that the laws Of cause ana
effect operated In all realms. no.
merely the physical l was showing
that the wind" Of bad thinking re-
suited in the destructive moral
'whirlwinds," etc, etc, md in de-
veloping the thought l came natural
y to that bad conduct called crime
and lawlessness, and here is where
you came in | was talking againyl
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 be the breaking
down of The last vestige of fear or Re
hot },
the criminally inclined for the law"
| said. Il was amazed the other dav
to read what seemed to be an inter
view from our Mayor himself, In
which he scathingly attacked the po-
lice referring to them In such cor
temptous terms as to indicate his
utter lack Of respect for them TAX
ing as an excuse the recent arrests NJ
some person for 'spooning, ne
sneered at the snake In the grass
methods etc, etc, in such mann IT
and terms as TO bring the very office
into disrep-te, AccC- ding to the &c
port he did not contine his sneers a
the particular men who made the ar
ItSlSs But the lAilplt SSlOu - lHtFlld
BILE that he, the head Of this great
city, feels a contempt for the officers
of the law
Actually and More.
I said further: IF Mr.. Woodwarj
does not know that such expressions
from a man in his high position are
dangerous and have a tend ncy TO ea-
courage the vicious, he is too big &
fool to be the head Of this city, whils
if he really feels as he seems to feel,
he is unfit for the place"
As nearly as | can recall my words,
that is what I said on that subject,
SO you see l was not accurately re-
ported, for l actually said more about
you than the report indicates.
The fact is, no reporter was here.