The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-04-20
VOTERS ARE
ASKED NOT TO VOTE
|. ON SUNDAY MOVIES
Letter From Pastors Union
Addressed to Them in
Yesterdays Mails
CREATES STIR IN
LOCAL POLITICS
Request Is Based on Contention That
Question at Issue Touches
a Specific Christian
Institution

Something of a stir was caused IN
Birmingham yesterday by letters re-
eeived by the Jewish voters of the city
from the Birmingham Pastors union,
1t is understood that a copy of the let
ter was received by every Jewish voter
in the city during the day.
The unusual feature of the letter is
the fact that it calls upon Jewish
voters asking them not to participate
in the Sunday moving picture election
of May on the ground that sit is a
question touching a specific Christian
institution"
THE fact that the Jews of this city,
proceeds the letter, ARE taking sides
in this issue, which is strictly a
Christian issue, will undoubtedly Gre
ate an undesirable and, we think, most
unfortunate friction between some OF
the best Christian and some of the best
Jews in Birmingham"
The full letter reads as follows;
"Birmigha Ala, April II, 1918.
Dear Fried: We, the undersigned,
Christian citizens of the city of Biz
mingham, representing in this city
more than 100 Christian churches, with
constituency of nearly $4,000. beg to
call the attention of our Jewish friends
to the following facts relating to the
question of Sunday moving picture
shows in this city. We wish to say
that, in doing this. we have the most
kindly feeling for our Jewish friends,
and a sincere interest in their welfare
"In the contest concerning Sunday
moving picture shows we regret to
| find that the list of petitioners for a
referendum contains the names of such
| a large number of our Jewish friends
who have heretofore taken such high
position on matters touching the well
| fare of our city. Permit us to say that
| in past years the Christian and jew
| ish citizens of Birmingham have
worked most tremendously in all
patriotic, commercial and community
| interests; and it is greatly to be de-
sired that this harmony, SO necessary te
the highest development of our great
city, should continue.
| 1--WE remind you that this particular
question is a question touching a spe'
cific Christian institution, and that the
adherents to the Christian religion art
divided on this issue. If the Jews Of
4 Birmingham were in a contest touch
ing any tenet of faith or religious Gus
tom relating strictly to the Jewish
church, we, as Christians, would no
| feel that we were called upon to TAKE
sides with either party
1 1.-THE fact that the Jews of this city
are taking sides in this issue, which
| is strictly a Christian issue, will un.
| doubtedly create an undesirable and
we think, most unfortunate friction
between some of the best Christians
and some of the best Jews in Birming
ham.
1 "As we have said, this is contest
touching a Christian institution. We
deem it most unfortunate that oul
Jewish friends should have entered
into this fight.
eve wish to express our hearty APP
prevail of the statement, recently pub
\ lished, of one of our prominent Jew
( ish citizens, in which he admits that
/ this is a Christian question, and stat
4 ing that he has not heretofore inter
| fered with these UNCONVENTIONAL mat
tiers, and will not do SO in this case
| For the sake of our future patriotic
commercial and community solidarity
and for the sake of the great service
which we may render our city in
| patriotic, commercial and community
| interestes of large import, we express
| the hope that in this particular elec-
l.tion, to be held May 6, concerning .
4 strictly Christian institution, our
Jewish citizens will withdraw from
| this complication.
| Again assuring you that we have
the most kindly feeling for our Jew
/ ish friends. and sincere interest in
their welfore, we are yours most truly,
THE PASTORS UNION OF BIR-
\ MINGHAM.
by p. b. Wells, Chairman Publicity
| #Committee."