The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-08-12

no good democrat no American deter mined in every respect to support the President in his war programme could do otherwise than respond to his call. During yesterday The Age-Herald was informed of the action of many other prominent democrats in cutting oose from the man the President had declared lin every way an opponent
 Mir Smiths statement follows:
 When this congressional campaign first opened up I intended to vote for my old college mate Erie Pettus.
 Tn the selection between the candi- dates to oppose MT. Huddleston, which resulted in the withdrawal of all candi- dates except MT. Jackson and pr. Dick inson. I was one of those who was not satisfied with the choice.
 NO PERSONAL CRITICISM
 'aThey are both estimable gentlemen, and I have no word of personal criticism against either. indeed I have high per sonal regard for them both, but believed that one of them was a member of the inner circles of that political corporation which has for 10 years. under the pseudo moral issue of prohibition, attempted to gain control of all the offices of the state, which has in my judgment been responsible in a large degree for what believe to be a certain loss of sincerity and independence in leadership on pub lie questions in the state, and which has encouraged intolerance and radical ism in public affairs. felt that the other of these gentlemen not only had to some degree the same disqualification as an ideal leader, but that he also was encouraging another political evil by hi, example, I refer to the injection of the religious question into politics-whicn, however harmless apparently to us in Alabama at the present time, Is charged with dangerous possibilities for the fu- ture, especially to the democratic party This agitation was last conceived, and I am sure that it was used, about the time of the recent national campaign to benefit the republican party and to injure the President and some upon whom he relies.
 "Both of these gentlemen knew to be forceful and magnetic, and felt that they would be effective in any sphere 10 which they were called
 READ SPEECHES CAREFULLY
 II had been to Washington believed that MT. Hrddleston's influence with ais colleagues was limited. l had read ms speeches carefully and while they re- vealed some tendency to array class against class, at this distance and rom a reading of them I could not detect that they evinced any desire to actually impede the prosecution of the war. knew that he had voted against some few of the war measures, and in this posi- tion by no means agreed With him, Dat at the same time there have been great number of these war bills, and It Was by understanding that in the main ne had voted for them. In this view was fortified by letters which he produced m his own behalf, written by some of the leading democrats in Congress.
 s.On the other hand, knew that wh'la he favored prohibition and woman sui- frage, he had taken what I consider ta be the sound position, vital to the soutn, that theseSare matters to be left to the states and that the federal government at Washington should not be given con trol of them.
 T felt, in other words that in the main he would be right, and that Wien wrong his influence would1not extend far beyond his own vote. I knew hirn also to be independent of any control
 s.For these reasons, after mature deiio. eration on the subject, and after reso lution of what doubts I had as to my proper course, had definitely decided to vote for Mir. Huddleston and nad made no secret of my determination lc' do so.
 SAW PRESIDENTS TELEGRAM
 .During a short absence from the city I have seen copy of the President telegram. have no reason to doupt lts authenticity, and I am now confronted with the necessity of deciding, as doubt- less many others are. whether snaH vote in accordance with my previously de- clared intention or in accordance with the plainly and forcibly expressed views and desires of the President
 .Tt seems to me that as 2 patriotic Americsn n there can be but one answer tn this question.
 These are not normal times. We are in- volyed in the greatest war of all his tory The trials, heartaches and depri- vaaons which we are already beginning to experience are doubtless but an in dication of what will come.
 If this war continues, and there IS no reason to believe that it will not; If we are to win it, which we will do If 1t takes the last man and the last dollar in the United States, the nation must de- velop. as it has never before had occa- sion to do. unity of faith of purpose. and of effort.
 "The only way in which this can be
 
 unfesitsting and an unquestioning loy- atty in all things that can reasonably relate to the necessities of the war situ- ation, that is to say, the winning of the war.
 "By law the President is the chief executive of the civil affairs of the na- tinn ard oommander-in-chief of it's ar mics: hy common consent he is now tl'e supreme leader of the domocracies of the world in this great struggle.
 ABILITY AS LEADER
 No man of this or any other genera tion has shown a greater familiarity with the precedents and traditions of our gov ernment than MT. Wilson has demon- strated, both by his writing and his acts. To his ability as a leader the allied na- tions have already given conclusive tes- timony. His sincerity and his patriot ism have never been questioned. His knowledge of governmental necessities is profound and his judgment is deferred to by the whole world.
 "Ie is our leader in the war and 1t is fortunate for the world that he if. During his war leadership he is entitled