The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-12
AT MONTGOMERY
AND WASHINGTON
BY NED BRACE.


Queen proceedings at Montgomery yester-
day. A mongrel dispensary bill passed the
house. 1t only applies to few counties.
The house made grand stand play. 1t put
dspensaries upon counties that had but one
representative in the house and in most
cases this representative was a dispensary
advocate or a prohibitinist. Yet when 1t
was proposed that the dispensary system
be applied to all counties alike the vote
against the proposition was overwhelming.
Jefferson county was in the original bill.
The house excluded Jefferson by vote of
Il to 49, Jefferson and a few other counties
out, the mongrel bill passed by the tidal
wave vote of 81 to II. To the honest OBJ
server this would mean that the house en-
dorses the dispensary system. Yet 1t en-
| dorses for the other fellow. The controlling
spirits log roll, get what they want, and put
burdens upon the other poor fellows 1t
would have been more honest to have pass
ed bill providing for all election in each
county In the state on a fixed day for dis
pensary or no dispensary, allowing the peo-
pie of each county to decide for themselves
what they want.
Montgomery was left out of the bill by
unanimous consent, yet Birmingham had to
crawl through crack in the fence to es-
cape. A change of three votes would have
made Birmingham dispensary town, and
left Montgomery wet enough to retain the
state capital, the legislature and all the
political conventions. Politicians and states
men shun towns where their friends are
unable to get apollinaris on the side.
When the bill which passed the house yes
f- ,o1r- fe Int 1attff tor,
counties in which whisky is now sold are
made dispensary counties.
News comes from Washington that the
administration is determined to Tush
through the Hull army BILL even at the cost
of an extra session. This bill provides for
a standing army of 100000 men, 1t increases
the old standing army by 5000 men. 1t
means an imperialistic policy of great pro-
portions 1t means expensive army camps
all over this country. 1t means troops
about polling places. 1t means troops to
enforce government by injunction. 1t
means troops to enforce the will of poll
teal administration. 1t means the build
ing up of a great military class In this
country with nothing to do but draw gov
eminent salaries and make themselves OBJ
noxious to civilians. No such army is need
ed. The war with Spain has demonstrated
that the national guard-the state troops
volunteers-are sufficient to defend and pro-
tect this country when needed. The vol
unteers did as good fighting at Santiago as
the regulars. They have fought nobly and
well at Manila.
There is no need of great and expensive
standing army. The urgency of it Is politi-
cal. 1t is republican political measure.
1t is force bill, pure and simple. 1t is an
effort to perpetuate republican rule. Con-
gress has offered to give the president all
the troops needed at Mania-one hundred
thousand if necessary. He don't ask this.
Yet he urges a standing army of 100000 to
provide against contingencies that may
arise. A political bulldozing army the re-
publican party wants.
This bill is before the senate. The demo-
Gratis are vigorously fighting 1.-THE repub-
licans vigorously pushing it. 1t stands
ahead of the appropriation bills, and may
continue to be pushed ahead of them, thus
forcing an extra session for appropriation
bills.
The democrats should fight this bill to a
finish. Its passage means troops at the
polls and troops everywhere that the repub-
lican party needs troops.