The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-07-24

/ homes (convents) of the girls of Ala
/ bama
Mrs. Julia Sterne of MONTGOMERY,
probation officer, asked the commission
| to disapprove the West bill, substitut-
| ing therefor the bill of the Welfare
organizations of the state. Mrs Sterne
! told the committee the state of Alabama
did not appropriate enough money to
care for the delinquent girls, and that
| she mad found 1t necessary to send
many to converts and Catholic insti-
tutions at Louisville and other cities
Beautiful compliments were paid the
little sisters of charity of Mobile by
Gordan Smith of the Gulf city He SAYS
the sisters took care of old women and
men who were not wanted by anyone
Money with which to do this work. he
said was raised by the sisters on the
street, begging. He warned the legis-
iature not to enact the bill. saying that
the biggest wars of history werefought
over religion.
Il do not impugn the motive of Mr..
West, but l do say this bill will bring
on unnecessary strife and set us back
at least 500 years" said Mr.. Smith
The result to be gained from the
enactment of the inspection bill is too
small to take up the time of the legis-
lature, according to w. H. Reynolds,
Picolucilt OIL tlt CTdm Der OIL commerce
who spoke in opposition to the meas
ure. He said the bill was an insu,t
to the noble women of Alabama who
are working in the interest of the
children of the state
Otner speakers against the bill follow:
S. j. Griffith of Cullman, Senator Griffith,
OF Cullman. George Sullivan, former rep
resentative in the legislature from Mo-
pile county. John p. Kohn of Montgomery
ut har- x.,h<x
lies
COLONEL SCREWS SPEAKS
An ovation was given Col William p
screws, commander OF the 167th infantry
when he arose to explain how gallantry
the catholics fought along side protest
ants and Jews in France He did not
approve or oppose the measure. but he
told the committee the soldiers. who
fought and died in France for freedom Of
the world. thought they would come back
to Alabama and rest in peace without
the small differences coming I'D daily
Speakers against the measure vehement
ly denied that the pope of Rome directed
activities in politics in America One said
that his son would fight the pope of Rome
If the pope should come to New York
with hostile force TO fight America. He
charged that the author of the bill aimed
IT at the Catholic converts and said there
vent has been left out
LAWRENCE LEE FAVORS IT
Speaking for the bill, Lawrence Lee o.
Montgomery. chairman of the board or
trustees OF the Alabama Masonic home,
charged that there was something wrong
otherwise all the opposition would not
come from Catholics of the state H
believed the bill was a good one, that /.
would apply to the Masonic home jus.
as it applied to other institutions. He
said there would have developed no op
position in the state if the word con
vent had not been a part of the bill
The strength of the opposition, he said,
is coming from Mobile and Cullman.
II do not deny the right of the state
of Alabama to say what shall be the
of the children of the state. .
he said. Inspection of all institutions, he
believed, would cause better conditions
He said he had found himself denying
reports on the Masonic home, and that
an inspection would show the condition
at the home.
Dr. A. j. Dickinson of Birmingham,
former pastor of the First Baptist church,
denied that the bill was blow at the
liberty of a certain class of people He
that the state could not afford
to neglect the wards OF the state. and
that the measure Is thoroughly American.
Mr.. McDougall charged that the pope
of Rome rules that the state has no juris-
diction over the converts and Catholic
institutions. He said the Catholics were
not friends of~the state in this matter.
Defending his bill. Senator West saia
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