The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-19
Victory Now Regarded as Assured as Question Is
 Absolutely Nonpartisan
DR. CRUMPTON MADE
 STRONG ARGUMENT
Wellborn Also Struck Vigorous Note in Favor of This Means of Meeting Just Debt
 of State
By L. S. BETTY

Montgomery, December 1S.-(Specal) The campaign is now on in earnest for the ratification of the bond issue State | and county committees have been appoint ed and all plans have been made by the aominlstration for the passage of the amendment. During the next four weeks the merits of the cause will be presented before every voter in the state and, from present indications, there is little specula | tion to be indulged in as to the outcome of the contest
 The bond issue is certain to carry Even opponents of the measure have little faith In their ability to defeat it. and. for that
 matter, few of them will waste time fight ing it. Those who have the temerity to
 take positive stand against it are either actuated by the hope that it will furnish
 them political capital for future use, or else are constrained to do so through their opposition to the administration. There will be no organized fight against the bond issue. Those who have cher isEed hopes to the contrary must resign themselves to bitter disappointment The few Who are speaking in opposition to the amendment are waging lonely con test, for none of them has been able to make of the proposed constitutional change either party or a political issue. SIGNIFICANT STATEMENTS This was made evident this week by a statement of Dr. W. B. Crumpton, presi- dent of the Anti-Saloon League of Ala bama Dr. Crumpton declared unequivo- cally that he would support the bond is- Gfa% %f,ae 1.1 best interest of the state that it pay off it's floating debt by means of bonds More over, Dr. Crumpton made the statement that the bond issue was no partisan ques- ton.
 This latter declaration of the president of the Anti-Saloon league was a sad blow to the hopes of those few politicians of the state who had harbored the delusion that the bond amendment fight might be made a prohibition issue. It was also a bitter disappointment to those who had attempted to make of the bond issue an- other anti-Comer fight.
 In other words, sufficient assurance has been given that no political issue is in- volved in the proposed constitutional amendment. The only question involved in the opinion of the governor and other leaders advocating the plan, is one of principle or expediency-whether the state shall pay off its large floating debt immediately by means of Short-terlr bonds, or whether it shall continue it's present course of selling it's warrants to financial institutions of the east at a. higher rate of interest than the state would be required to pay on it's bonds
 NO FEDERAL AID
 Simultaneous with the publication of Dr. Crumpton's statement appeared a significant one from M. B. Welborn, for merly of Anniston. but now chairman of the federal reserve bank of Atlanta. MT. Wellborn shattered the arguments of cer- tain opponents of the bond issue when he declared that in his opinion the state of Alabama would be unable to secure funds from the federal reserve bank with which to pay off its floating debt Alabama warrants, according to MT. Wellborn, have no fixed maturity within six months. and. for that reason, could not be handled by the government institution at Atlanta
 It is known that number of people of the state have suggested that Alabama borrow from the federal reserve bank some politicians having even suggested that a special session of the legislature be called in order that machinery be pro- vided for the securing of funds from that institution. Chairman We1lborn's state ment makes it evident that the state, even should it desire to do so, would not be able to make such arrangements.
 It will be seen, therefore, that the op- ponents of the bond issue must fall back on other arguments. They cannot make of it a prohibition. or a party issue, and neither can they suggest a better plan of financing the state. The most prominent leaders of the state represent ing every interest, every political fac tion, and every party. hve declared in favor of the bond issue and there seems to be every ground for the belief that the amendment will carry not only by a jOrity