The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-10
DR. CRUMPTO ION IS RIGHTEOUS ABOUT
 GOVERNORS RACE
Baptist Leader and Anti Saloon League President Reminisces and Philoso-
 phizes on Politics

pr. w. B. Crumpton of Montgomery, frequently called the Bishop of the Baptists of Alabama president of the Anti-Saloon league and for half a century the arch enemy of the demon rum," declines to discuss in a personal way the situation confronting the pro hibtionists in the matter Of possible can didateS for governor. However, he re- marks with more or less facetiousness that since he is now 75 years of age, probably he had better accept the office and let the other dry candidates wait They are young enough, he says.
 In a reminiscent and philosophical vein, the venerable leader of the Baptists, who was one of the pioneers in the movement for prohibition long before it gained any headway, discusses the situation. He outlines what he would consider an ideal programme for the state and declares that if the people will vote that way, he will be content to remain as the humblest private citizen in the state When asked in regard to the situation, Dr. Crumpton said;
 Maybe I'd better get into the race myself. Of course the boys who have announced would all be polite enough to come down in my favor. This is my last chance if I am ever to be governor; they can afford to wait I am now 75 and in 4diliy Soou Heditil.
 AN IDEAL STATE
 Going out of office at S0 leaving all the states debts paid, every boy and girl going to a first-class school for 10 months each year, every officer of the state working tremendously together, like a band of brothers for the up- building of Alabama. the negro exodus stopped, Alabama feeding herself and shipping foodstuffs abroad, employe and employer labor and capital, the borrower and lender, all bent upon doing only the right thing; the blind tiger men and their patrons, manufacturers of booze their abettors, defenders and sympathizers, all converted and following decent occupa- tions; William Jennings Bryan and Hob- son, having won the fight for nation wide prohibition, gone to Europe to wage worldwide emancipation from drink; Woodrow Wilson, having led the nations to a permanent peace, elected president of the federated nations, surely I could retire to spend my remaining days in peace and quiet.
 Meantime, while I was governor, the seed 1 had been planting through the years, getting Christians to remember Christ, their best friend, in their wills inducing the boys to plant an ear of corn, a quart of goobers, or & peck of Irish potatoes for the Lord, the girls to plant tomatoes or okra or Strawberries for the Lord, their mothers to save their Sunday eggs or consecrate a peach tree and their fathers to mark a pig or kid or lamb or calf, or plant an acre of corn or alfalfa each year for the Lord; the spirit of liberality had so possessed them all that they had grown to be great army of cheerful givers. tithing their incomes, until every denomination of Christians had all the money they needed to maintain their churches, orphanages, colleges, old preachers and missionaries, surely my cup would be running over and would be ready to say with old Simeon: Now Lord. lettest thou thy servant de- part in peace; for mine eye hath seen thy salvation