The age-herald., 1899-01-26

houses at an average of S1,000 per year, in which to do business, would make $S0,0J0 more Three men to the saloon at an aver age of $500 per annum, would make S144.OOO for operating expenses, total Of $3o0,W0 before the proprietor of the saloon enjoys a dollar of profit. Under this bill the city of Birmingham would have four dispen- saries, which could be operated at cost of $5, 900 each, including bounty to the state and county total of $20,000 If these dis pensaries would sell during the year as much liquor as the gross expenses of the saloons, it would amount to $3OOooO. IT the profit on this was 50 per cent, It would be $100,000 which, after deducting expenses, would leave 0,000 net profit to the city or Birmingham. The argument that applies to Birmingham applies to Pratt City ana Bessemer and all other incorporated cities and towns where whskey is now sold. The same argument applies to communities not incorporated where the dispensary Wouiu be operated by the commissioners court the county deriving the benefit Of the rev. enue.
 State in Liquor Traffic
 "T-here are two arguments that can be made against the economic features ei tne hill First 1t is the state going into the lio,1or traffic. or authorizing it by its mu- nicipalities; second, the destructon or the saloon business. There are arguments Ill favor of the first proposition The oniy ar RumeDt that cOulQ De OhSISu III iofoA OA N--> last would be that the state should roster and maintain an individual interest. Inls should never be done at the sacrifice Of the common veal.
 T have no fight to make against the saloonkeeper For the life of me, cannot see great deal of difference between the two men who stand, the one on the one side and the other on the other side or the cou Aer. No trade can be prosperous With out ' customer and when 1, as a customer, as I do when I feel like it, patronlze the saloon man, I am not prepared to ostra- cize him and ennoble myself. The truth IS, too much has been said against the per sonnel of the saloon interest, and too little has been said against the business. The saloon proprietor who goes into thls DUST ness does so with the full understanuihs that the business is subject to regulations by the law-making power He knows thas this business may be modified or apolshed by law, but propose to do him justice ,and would vote against the bill were 1t to come into operation during the year lss9.
 'The argument that the state could go into other business, as hardware, cio1nlhg' etc. is too fallacious to need any answer and merits no discussion" Gle then dis cussed in detail some of the environments and associations of the saloon as compared
 with those of dispensary)
 Great silent Majority
 "Mr. President. There is great silent
 majority who favors the passage of this Dill. They have voice in politics, no nand Ill legislation; they are the women or this state, rich and poor, in our elite society ana the society of the common masses. Ihere are few women who, mothers, wives, sisters daughters and sweethearts, in some of these relations, who have not felt the deadly effect of intemperance oe- sire to say a word for the homes or the state. For that home which Is cheerless x1laa fnr minds growing up in ignorance and pow erty because the honest earnings Of the breadwinner are squandered at the counter of the liquor traffic.
 '"This may be to the supporters of this bill political suicide We all come to the forks of the road in every relation of life IT this were mere personal matter concern ing my own interests, 1 might decide dif- ferently, but in my representative capacity as one of the lawmakers of this body, feei- ing that it is my duty to discharge my duty regardless of consequences to myself, and believing that this bill will add to the hap piness, the safety, the morals, the honor, and the virtue of my people, and VIII put into their treasury the profits of the pusi- ness, which may be used in the education of their children, or for other benevolent or public purposes, l shall support this bill Should I take the opposite road, there might be at the other end political preferment, honor and emolument; but, as l see 1t, II would be over the grinning skulls, the vast ed skeletons, the desolated homes and the impoverished people who suffer from the in- temperate use of liquor under our present system It may be political tomb, put I would rather have a political tomb With monument over it which reads, Died for the sake of his honest convictions upon
 great public question: than to live in a palace amid the splendor of wealth ana honor at the expense and sacrifice or the best interests of my people.
 "The bill as amended does not create single prohibition spot It does not take away from one of my constituents who drinks single privilege. except that 1t diminishes his opportunities for obtaining it, and prohibits him from drinking it upon tho premises. My constituents in the cities. towns and country where whisky is now sold can still obtain 1t if this bill should LC,1.1,tina,nd Secnla6 Pa