The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-11
THINK EAST NEEDS SALOON BODY
Officials Explain Removal Of Convention From Birming-
 ham to Washington

Official explanation has been made by executives of the Anti-Saloon League of America for their decision mot to hold the national convention in Birmingham. Several important considerations moved the executive committee to change it's convention city from Birmingham, Ala, to Washington and the dates from December 13-2o, to January 11-17, according to pr. Ernest H. Cherring- ton, secretary of the executive com mittee of the organization. In Dr. Cherrington's mind the Washington meeting will be one of the most inn portant of the league since it's or ganixation 90 years ago.
 There are three principal reasons which impelled the executive com mittee to make the changes. pr. Cherrington says. In the first place, the south and west, which are more thoroughly in accord with prohibit ton and the laws governing 1t, and which have fewer infractions of the law than some other sections, do not need the influence of such a conven ton so much as the Atlantic sea board, where discussion of enforce ment is practically rife, and where the most serious and persistent law defiance occurs, as well as where the population is densest.
 Secondly, in Washington are quar- tered the official and semi official representatives of all foreign gov ernments, and 1t is to Washington that every investigator and every writer and journalist from abroad is prohibition went into effect, and especially since the formation at Washington of the World League Against Alcoholism, through. which the AntiSaloon League works out Nts world prohibition policy, the whole world has been at attention regarding the success of the consti- tutional amendment and the laws passed to put 1t into effect.
 Interest Of Foreigners.
 Recent evidences indicate, says Dr. Cherrington, that many foreign gov ernments are becoming deeply in terested in prohibition, so much so. in fact, that they have requested country. to make official reports on prohibition in America.
 Holding the convention at Wash ington, the executive committee de- cided, would give the foreign repre- sentatives and their compatriots every advantage to see and hear what the Anti-Saloon league and World League Against Alcoholism have done and are planning to do
 Thirdly, Birmingham, though doing it's utmost to provide for entertain inE the convention, has been found lacking In sufficient hotel accommo- dations for all who wish to attend environs, it is pointed out, can take care of much larger attendance, and the executive committee expects the coming convention to be larger than heretofore anticipated.
 Change of date of the convention makes it. possible, Dr. Cherrington shows, to make the culmination of the gathering a great celebration of the fourth anniversary of the going into effect. Of the Eighteenth Amendment. It is suggested that no more appro- priate and effective celebration of the event could be had than the assem- bling in the national capital of the organized temperance forces, in convention which will plan largely for more complete enforcement and for the carrying of prohibition efforts to all the countries of the world. One of the plans which, he says, may be worked out by the committee in charge is a march of allegiance to the constitution. up Pennsylvania avenue.
 Preliminary Conference.
 Preceding the convention proper there will be a conference of all the Anti-Saloon league workers, national and state, in Washington, January g to II.
 Conference Sunday, January IS. will be the date of the Anti-Saloon league field day, and hundreds of churches in Washington and vicinity will be filled with league speakers it is planned.
 Progress is reported by the pro- gram committee. whose declaration it is that the speaking personnel will be stronger than ever. Maj. Roy Haynes, federal prohibition commissioner, and William Jennings Bryan are two of the speakers certain to be present. A number of governors will speak.
 Holding of the convention in Washington" pr. Cherrington says, will give notice that the league is ready to back up the prohibition amendment and laws. and to carry out. through the World League Against Alcoholism, it's policy of world trough.
 Every individual church congre- gation, sunday school, young peoples society and civic organization Is en- titled to send delegates, and we ex- pect larger attendance and more effective convention than ever be- fore. It is suggested that so far as possible churches send their pastors as delegates,
 Governors of several states already have named official delegates and 1t is expected this plan vii be followed by practically all the state executives In the country. Hotel reservations and plans to attend the conYantion