The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-03-07
BOTH SIDES AFRAID
OF EACH OTHER
The DiSpenSary and Anti-DiSpenSary
People.
BOTH CHARGING TRlCkERY
WhiSkey Men Nov Say That DiSpenSary
Advocates Seek to
STAB THEM in THE CONVENTION
Birmingham Was Dry Sunday in Ac
cordance With Action of Liquor
Dealers Association-Petition
to Commissioner Lane.
STAB THEM in THE CONVENTION


The addresses to the people of the state
issued by the state committee of the
friends OF liquor dispensary legislation, as
published IN The Age-Herald Saturday, did
not Greats a sensation. 1t attracted at
tention, but excited very little unfavorable
comment in any direction.
County democratic politics and candi-
dates for delegates to the convention failed
to see anything wrong or very significant
In the address; and some of them declared
that there was nothing In 1t which they
could not readily subscribe to. The friends
of the dispensary wish the constitution to
remain as it is in respect to the liquor
traffic, leaving Its regulation at the discre-
ton of the legislature. In other words.
they object to the new constitution placing
any restrictions upon the power of the leg
islature to deal with the liquor traffic.
No objection TO the Address
Nobody was found who offered
the slightest objection. Amongst the sa-
loon-keepers there was a sense of uneasi-
ness os to the sincerity of the professions of
the dispensary committee The saloon men
were not at all confident that the friends
of the dispensary were not planning
trick whereby they would get control of
the constitutional convention. They are
willing for the situation to remain as it is;
and have determined to be watchful lest
there is a change in the organic law that
will strike a fatal blow at their business.
Saloon men declare that they have no
intention whatever of trying to get any
provision inserted in the constitution IA
vorable to themselves. They demand to be
left as they are.
The dispensary advocates fear that the
liquor men have some scheme on foot for
controlling the convention, and the latter
are of the mind that eternal vigilance is
essential at this time.
So there is the simple story. Each side
mistrusts the other.
1t is not believed that the dispensary adj
dress will materially affect the political sit
uation in this county.
Saloonkeepers Look Ahead
The saloon proprietors, however, are taxi
ing counsel of their fears and are looking
to the future Ever since the Moody dis
pensary agitation began the better class of
them in Birmingham have been discussing
amongst themselves the advisability of
Sunday closing. Nearly all of them ia
vored a strict observance of the Sunday
closing regulation of the city council, some
on principle and others upon the ground
of expediency. Sunday liquor selling was
held by these liquor sellers to be an affront
to large section of the public, and that
it Furthermore invited restrictive legisla-
ton. Therefore 1t were best abandoned.
Ask for Saloons to be Closed
The Saloonkeepers' association has held a
meeting at which about thirty of the lead
ing members were present. They resolved
to petition the police commission to direct
the police to see that every saloon in the
city was kept strictly closed on Sunday;
and to cause evry person seen to enter or
come out of any saloon on Sunday to be
arrested as being equally guilty with the
man in charge of such saloon. A paper to
this effect was produced for all present to
sign. Some member suggested that 1t might
be left to their honor Saloonkeeper Hents-
chel retorted that such a suggestion wasn't
satisfactory. Every man present must
sign. So the paper was signed according
ly, and a committee appointed to wait on
President Lane of the police commission in
regard to the matter
TTtSluenI Lille Sdlu Inat ne nau
received the committee, and that
he had reminded them that the
police already had the desired in
structions The officers were long
ago given directions to see that
the saloons were kept closed on
Sundays; but the law in the matter was
imperative, in that no convictions could
be obtained under it's provisions. Judge
Feagan had refused to convict persons ac-
cused of violating the law unless 1t could
be proved that money had actually passed
from the customer of the saloon to the
man or men in charge of it. The saloon
keepers had undertaken to get the law
amended by the city council SO that con-
victions could be obtained in Judge Fea-
gan's court.
~ Dry Sunday
Be all that as 1t may, Sunday was very
dry in Birmingham. The saloonkeepers
took the matter into their own hands and
closed their places of business from mid
night Saturday to midnight Sunday. There
was no drink obta.nable. Even the en-
ployes of the saloons remained at home.
Upon various saloon doors were posted ne
tees to the effect that the places would re-
main closed until midnight of Sunday, and
on one popular place of resort was the le-
gend, mo liquor sold here today"
The saloonkeepers having resolved to rig
idly enforce Sunday closing, there was no
evidence anywhere that their resolution
was not absolutely observed. Every saloon
In the business district was Theoretically
sealed. Nobody could get drink. To-
wards nightfall. when men were very
thirsty, there was a rumor that a second
class saloon In the lower section of the
city, name not given, which would give out
the ardent on the sly. But nobody was
known to venture in search of 1t. Later It
was said the police had raided the place;
but there is no proof of any such raid. The