The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-01
Members of the Anti-SalOOn
League, However, Decline
to Discuss Action Taken
PROTEST WAS MADE
BY UNDERWOOD MEN
Objected to Having Campaign Book
Containing Their Signatures
characterized as
Book of Lies"

While it was especially provided that
no statement as to the verdict rendered
be made to the press of Birmingham. it
is confidently believed and confidently
stated that the headquarters committee
of the Alabama Anti-Saloon league has
ruled adversely in regard to the request
OF prominent members of the league that
the league retire from the senatorial fight.
and the demand that 1t offer proof to SUBJ
stantiate the charge contained in the
Alabama Citizen, the publication of the
league, that the Oscar W. Underwood
campaign committee book was book of
lies"
The verdict, In the form of a resolution
will be published, it is stated. in the next
issue of the Alabama Citizen.
The members of the headquarters COM
mittee of the Anti-Saloon league, all of
whom 1t is stated were in attendance
yesterday follows: The Re V. w. b.
Crumpton of Montgomery the Rev. II. Il.
McNell of Opelika, r. NJ. Goodall of
Birmingham, f. f. Ballard of Birming-
ham, the Rev. l.. c. Branscomb of Bir-
mingham, George II. Estes of Birming-
ham, and p. c. Ratliff of Birmingham.
1t is stated that the verdict or resolu-
ton was unanimously adopted.
Five Leaders Protest
The complaining members of the league
were Judge n. d. benson of Opelika, for
mer justice of the supreme coure and
member of the Underwood campaign COM
mittee; State Senator James ID. Norman
of Lanett member of the Underwood
campaign committee: c. w Ashcraft
of Florence. member of the Underwood
campaign committee; j. Carter Wright of
Roanoke, for many years recognized as
one of the leaders of temperance causes
In the state. and chairman of the Ala
bama Baptist Educational commission,
and r. j. Wooten of Roanoke. Underwood
manager for Randolph county.
Each OF these gentlemen made strong
speech. They contended that the activ-
ity of the league in the senatorial cam
paign was an injury to the cause of tenn
perance that this view was taken by the
great number of members of the league
who are ardent in their support of Mr..
Underwood.
In regard to the charge OF the Alabama
Citizen that the Underwood campaign
book was book of lies" each of the
gentlemen demanded proof They Of
fered, Furthermore. to prove that each
statement in the book was true, and sug-
gested that Forney Johnston manager for
Mr.. Underwood, be permitted to prove
by congressional records and official affi-
davits that each statement was true.
Origin of Rupture
The trouble originated when the Citizen
made its charge in regard to the Under
wood campaign book, to which eight lead
ing prohibitionists OF the state, members
of the Alabama Anti-Saloon league, had
signed their names
This was construed as a reflection on
the honor of the members of the league.
1t was construed as violation of the
alleged contract entered into by j. Carter
Wright of Roanoke. the donor, and the
league the receiver. when the. printing
press on which the Citizen Is published
was given.
The sessions lasted from Friday at noon
to Saturday at noon, and were most spir-
tied The members who are supporting
Mr.. Underwood were, it is said. very
frank in their statements. Following the
session, all those who attended, melud-
ing the Rev. Brooks Lawrence, seere-
tary, were non-committal both in regard
to exptession of opinion and as to what is
actually contained in the verdict.
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