The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-15
.DR. BRANSCOMB AND
 DR. BAILEY EXPLAIN CLASH OF WORDS
Letters Brought Out by Controversy at Commis- sion Meeting on Sun
 day Movies

The Age-Herald yesterday received a letter from Dr. L. c. Branscomb re- garding the words that passed between him and pr. D. s. Bayley at the Sun day movie hearing before the commission Tuesday. Dr. Bayley also explained his position in a formal letter. DrA Brans- comb wrote as follows:
 To the Editor of The Age-Herald: In your paper of Thursday morning reporting the meeting before the board of city commissioners, in reference to the closing of the Sunday movies, you put in big black type the statement that 'Dr Branscomb and Dr. Bayley clash on the question of sincerity" In the body of your story you say: Dr. Brans- comb raised the ire of Dr. Bayley, who tort, I am just as sincere in my state ment as you are.
 In justice to myself let me say that there was no question in my mind as to the sincerity of Dr. Bayley's statements, nor did I in any way ques- tion his sincerity. The clash between us was over the statement that he made, reflecting upon the business women of our city. He insisted that the Sunday movies should be allowed, to protect and save the character of our working girls In the name of this most worthy class. I resented any such insinuation declaring that the women of Birmingham need no such protection as the Sunday movies would give them. At this point Dr. Bay ley asked: '.What about the stenogra- phers % It was then that Dr. Brans- combs ire was raised rather than pr. Bayleys, for I know hundreds of these women and I was indignant that in the discussion of the Sunday movie ques- tion a minister of the gospel should make any such charges. Very sincerely yours, L. C. BRANSCOMB
 In order that Dr. Bagley might have opportunity to state his position in the same issue, pr. Branscomb's letter was submitted to him last night, and he wrote:
 To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 Thank you for giving me the oppor- tunity to see Dr. Branscombs letter ana make reply to it. This is in keeping with your most commendable spirit Of fairness I regret that any such mat ter should have been brought into your columns, for I dislike personal contro- versy and assume that the public is not much interested in it.
 I wish only to state my position on the matter which was under discussion be- fore the commissioners. I told them the Sunday movie should be considered from the standpoint of public welfare and from that standpoint only. I said that in my judgment the Sunday movie con- tributes to the public welfare by pro- viding harmless amusement for certain hours which otherwise would be idle ones for great numbers of people. That idleness leads easily to mischief is known to all. And I said that the young men and young women of our city need every protection and safe guard possible. To anyone who knows city life this is a truism.
 I think as highly of Birmingham and of womanhood as anyone can, and have been wholly at a loss to see how anyone who heard me with fairly un- prejudiced mind could have interpreted my remarks as pr. Branscomb seems to have done. Very truly yours.
 DWIGHT S. BAYLEY.