The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-05-09
WEAKLEY RESENTS BRYAN'S INTRUSION
 IN ALABAMA RACE
Bryan Refuses Divisions of Time, But Fails to Reply
 to Weakley's Questions :.

The coming of William J. Bryan tc Alabama in the closing days of the campaign in behalf of L. B Nusgrove has aroused storm of re- sentiment particularly among the friends of Judge Samuel D. Weakley. Joel F. Webb, campaign manager fol Indge Weakley yesterday made pub llce some correspondence betweeI Judge Weakley and MT. Bryan which throws new light on the situation. MT Webb issued statement in which h' said that Judge Weakley had severa engagements to speak in Lauderdal' county yesterday, but cancelled then when he reached Decatur and founC that MT. Bryan had been trying to takt first choice votes from Weakley anC give them to Musgrove. Judge Weak ey immediately sent the following tel esram to Mir Bryan at Huntsville;
 Hon. William J. Bryan, Hunts
 vile, Ala:
 Understand that you spoke to-
 day at Decatur for the candidacy
 of Musgrove. urging the people to
 vote for him. I think you knew
 of my candidacy for the same po-
 sition, and thus took a position of hostility to me. I am a lifelong
 total abstainer and prohibitionist, and have served the cause, as you know, in several states, including Alabama and Nebraska. My belief is you have been sent to Alabama
 by the Anti-Saloon League of
 America for the purpose of en-
 deavoring to defeat me and to elect MusgroNe; said league has always
 claimed to be a league of churches
 and not a,political organization. If
 your purpose is to continue tho
 same propaganda at other Alabama
 appointments. I ask a division of
 time to enable me to defend my
 candidacy against your efforts and
 those of the National Anti-Saloon
 League. Kindly wire answer to
 me at Sheffield at my expense. If
 l have been msinformed, will be
 glad to be corrected.
 SAMUEL D. WEAKLEY."
 In Birmingham yesterday morning Judge Henry B. Foster. campaign man aeer for MT. Musgrove. sent Judg Weakley message from MT. Bryal for personal delivery in the followinl terms:
 Judge Samuel D. weakley: Tel egram received Am sure you
 would not object to my treatment
 of your candidacy. I praise your
 work and mention your trip to
 Nebraska. I say I would vote for
 Musgrove first choice because he
 has best chance of defeating Un-
 derwood. but would vote for you
 as second choice and urge all Mus
 groves friends to vote for you for
 T -l,~
 to vote for Musgrove second
 choice. We must unite all friends
 of prohibition against Underwood
 Have not sufficient time to divide,
 but glad to have you follow me at
 any meeting, provided you attack
 Underwood and not Musgrove. No-
 body criticizes you at my meet
 ings."
 To which message of MT. Bryan's re ply was made as follows:
 Hon. William J. Bryan. Annis-
 ton, Ala: Your message of today
 is unsatisfactory, and does not
 meet my objection. You do not
 deny the statement that you have
 been sent to Alabama by the Anti
 Saloon League of America for the
 purpose of endeavoring to defeat
 me and to elect Musgrove. Your
 statement is the most insidious at
 tack on my candidacy possible. If
 you will divide time with me at
 Gadsden tonight, without under
 taking to prescribe the conditions
 under, which 1 shall speak, l will
 appear there and defend my candi-
 dacy: otherwise, my only recourse
 is to deal with the matter through
 the state press, which l will do.
 1-o
 mentary, within the rules of de-
 bate usual between gentlemen
 SAMUEL D. WEAKLEY."
 INSIDIOUS PROPAGANDA
 MT. Bryan does not deny that h. has been sent to Alabama by the Anti salon League of America for the pur pose of endeavoring to defeat Judg and of electing Musgrove, says Chairman Webb's statement Hi statement that he Is saying he woult vote for Musgrove first, because h tMusgrove) has the best chance o defeating Underwood, is the most in sidious character of propaganda, an tag onistic to Judge Weakley's candi dacy, that could be devised It con tajns a statement of an alleged fac as to which MT. Bryan cannot ,possibl, have any accurate information. Hi in this way in the long term senatorial race in the last day IS wholly inconsistent with the princi oles of the Anti-Saloon League O. A merica, which has always claimed tt nc a league of churches, and IS an ac of gross want of neutrality towart Judge Weakley, a lifelong total ab ;tainer and a prohibitionist, whose rec ,rd and services are known through put the south and the country; agains Judge Weakley, who is a member ant ,fficer of the Presbyterian church, anC n favor of man who has no church n membership and never has had. so fal IS can be ascertained.
 If it were true that Musgrove 1. stronger than Judge Weakley, and tha le has all of the prohibitionists ant H. of the labor people. and. all of tho farmers pledged to his election, wh, s it necessary to bring this speaker md orator of nation- wide and world vide reputation to Alabama as the bis gun of the Anti-Saloon League organi. .ation. to undertake to destroy a can iiGate who, it is claimed. has nc
 (Couffuued ou PcrA EIeveut