The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-04

ever that the pacifist element in Ala
 bama is compa ratively small. It is reasonable to presume that the patriot ism which fired the southern heart
 in the days preceding the civil war,
 is still to be found in the sons of the
 sires. Tt is established before all ques-
 tion of doubt that in the civil war;
 the southern Confectionery made a sac
 rifice unparalleled in the history of
 the world. The south put in the field
 one man for every five white men
 women and children of all ages and
 conditions Were Rusisa in the pres-
 ent war to do likewise, there would be
 ptted against Germany just 24,OO0,O00
 Russians.
 LETTERS FROM ALABAMA
 The pacifist element in Alabama prob- ably is small. It is clamorous, however. For there is no question but that the letters addressed by their constituents to Alabamians in Congress are practically evenly divided in three parts The first urges compulsory military service. The second advises that haste be made slowly that Congress stand behind the Pres- dent only when there is no other place to stand The third demands that the United States be kept out of war, and this third employs all the adroit argu- ment so skllfully used by those of social istic temperaments.
 In letter received today by cer-
 tain member of the House delega-
 ton from one of his constituents, this
 language appears: Let me pray that you use your influence to check the
 greedy manufacturers of munitions
 who would force the United States into the awful European war. Should our precious boys be sent as cannon fodder to the fields of Europe to the
 end that England might be saved from
 destruction. and merchant princes, al-
 ready too rich, be made richer? Why should we become servilely amenable
 to the eastern press which is alleged to be the property, body and soul of
 English propagandists? And is the
 war our war? Did we start it? Is the
 quarrel ours? In what way is our
 honor involved? God forbid that we
 be made the tools of dark un- scrupulous conspirators.'
 SONS OF THE POOR" I Another letter received from Alabama by member of the delegation reads in part: If we are thrust into the Euro pean war by manufacturers and for blood profits, who will bear the Stars and Stripes on the bullet torn fields of Europe? The sons of the rich who have profited from the existence of the war? Oh, no. Will the editors who in safety sit in their sanctums pointing out with skillful effort the fragrant violations against American honor and dignity, shoulder muskets and invite death from gas and fire and gun shot? Oh, no. The boys from the farms will do the fighting The boys who have struggled through college will do the fighting. The boys whose widowed mothers gave the blood of their hearts and the light of their eyes that they might take their places with other boys-these will do the fighting.
 Tt is slSillfully said that already the sons of the rich are in battle array. It is true. They are flying over the trenches of Europe-flying high. They are adven- turers tired with driving automobiles and tangoing in lobster palaces. But when we resort to conscription, what will hap pen? When has it occurred that the rich and politically influential could not evade the law? In the penitentiary right here in Alabama, are poor men who commit ted crimes which have been committed by others in Alabama who today parade the streets, honored, not fettered."
 THE COTTON STORY A third letter which will serve to illus trate the point that there are pacifists in Alabama, says in part: President Will son should tell the munition manufac- turers just what he told the southern planters two. years ago. Then, as you will recall Germany offered 25. 30 and ven 50 cents for American cotton. We .ried Ito sell cotton to Germany. It was invariably confiscated by the ships en- gagged in blockading German ports When we appealed to the, President. when we asked that we be given protection, by battleship if necessary, in our right to sell our product wherever we desired to sell it, he replied: You are letting your heart run away with your head" Com ing from our President. southern born, we were told, We thought the advice very good. We accepted it and made the best of a bad bargain Our President now should tell the intuition manufacturers. thirsting for still greater profits-thirst- ing despite the fact that they are glutted 1 to the bursting point with the money of blood drenched Europe. and crying out 1 for war because Germany interferes with | their traffic-the same kindly story: You are letting your heart run away with | your head"
 REPLYING TO LETTERS Alabama congressman are answering such letters with difficulty. For, despite the belief that fundamentally they are wrong. the writers do present in part, at least, reasonable argument. And they are not Germans. In many instances, they