The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-10-18
LEAGUES NEW HEAD
MATTER OF INTEREST
Anti-SalOOn Executive Com
mittee to Meet October 30
LAWRENCE SUGGESTED
Former Superintendent Would Be
Acceptable, But 1t Is Believed He
Could Not Be Secured.
Thank Persinger

A meeting of the executive or head
quarters committee of the Anti-Saloon
league will be held here Monday, Octo-
Der So at which a successor to Super
intendent ]. c. Persnger, resigned, will
be selected
An announcement to that effect was
made last night by George H. Estes, a
member of the committee. The resigna-
ton of DIR. Persinger was rendered last
week, effective November /, after which
time he will resume his place as one
OF the active ministers of the Methodist
church.
The question of successor to the re-
firing superintendent is matter of the
Ieenest interest throughout the state, not
only among those who favor it's policies
but on the part of those who have all
ways opposed it's activities. During the
10 years the organization has been oper-
alive in Alabama it has played a most
conspicuous part in the politics of the
state. Under it's direction largely the
fight for prohibition has been waged
which has resulted in the statewide pro-
hibition and kindred measures. 1t has
also played an important part in the
selection of candidates to the legisla-
ture and to other high offices both with
in the state and in Congress.
Under the direction of the Rev. Brooks
Lawrence, some of the bitterest cam
paigns in Alabama history have been
waged. He was credited with being one
of the shrewdest political leaders and
~ IN, +ba ota "a
in matters relating to work to be done
by the Anti-Saloon league and its po-
litical policies.
NO ONE AGREED ON YET
No successor to Superintendent Per-
singer has been agreed upon yet, ac-
cording to announcement made by mem
bers of the executive committee. mas
much as the resignation of Mr.. Per-
singer is effective two days after the
executive committee meeting, it is GER
tain that no new man can be secured
to take charge at once. In that event
a member of the executive committee
will direct the activities of the league
until the new man takes charge.
Mr.. Estes last night stated that the
report that DIR. L. c. Branscomb, pre-
siding elder of the Birmingham district,
Methodist church, would be selected, was
an error. DIR. Branscomb could not af-
ford to take the place and for that rea-
son his name will not be considered"
said Mr. Estes. "Of course, we would
be glad to have him, but he told US
last year when the selection of a sue
cessor to Brooks Lawrence was taken
up, that we must not consider him"
A similar announcement was made by
DR.. Branscomb, who said that he would
continue on the active list of ministers
of his denomination
Mr. Estes would not affirm the re-
port that an effort might be made to
get the Rev. Brooks Lawrence, former
Superintendent, to return to this state
and take charge. Il understand that it
would be impossible to get Mr.. Lawrence
away from Georgia, where he is now
the head of that state league said Mr.
Estes. 1.-The affairs of the league there
became badly tangled and the nation
al association induced Mr.. Lawrence to
straighten things out"
THANK MR.. PERSINGER
Mr.. Estes admitted that Mr. Lawrence
would doubtless prove a most accept
able man to the executive committee
OF the Alabama league. Nothing, how
ever, has been done in regard to the
matter, according to Mr.. Estes, and no
steps will be taken until the meeting
on October 80. The members of the COM
mittee which will select the new SUI
perintendent are. DIR. w. B. Crumpton
of Montgomery, president; George H.
Estes, DR.. L. c. Branscomb, P. c. Rat
lift, r. M. Goodall and E. F. Ballard
The committee yesterday adopted reso-
lutions thanking the Rev. j. c. Per-
singer, the retiring superintendent, for
his efficient work. Regret was expressed
that he had seen fit to retire and he
was commended to the denomination from
whose active work he retired for one
year to take up the league work. He
was likewise commended to Bishop Col
Inns Denny. who will conduct the con-
ference which will again assign the Rev
Mr.. Persinger to some active minis
fcrial work. Mr.. Persinger is consid-
cred one of the leading ministers of
the north Alabama conference and the
mem hers of that denOminat inn eener-