The age-herald., 1899-01-17

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  of our two conferences to bring to bear their influence in having this bill passed.
 That as the matter will be taken up at once upon the reassembing of the legisla- ture, we urge instant action on the part of
 the friends of the measure.
 That we earnestly request the honorable senator and representatives of Jefferson county to advocate the passage of the bill.
 That we thank the Hon. Mr Moody for framing it and assure him of our appreca-
 ton of his efforts in behalf of the welfare of our state.
 That we request the Alabama Christian Advocate, the city and state press to kindly publish these resolutions"
 The following is the petition which all of
 the ministers and others interested will
 have circulated around the county: I've, the undersigned voters of Jefferson
 county, believing that the passage of the
 bill pending in the general assembly of the
 state of Alabama, entitled "An act to fur
 ther regulate the sale, giving away, or de-
 livery of spurious. vinous, malt liquors in the state of Alabama popularly known
 
 the moral and material welfare of our com monwealth, co hereby respectfully petition
 the honorable senator and representatives
 of Jefferson county, to earnestly seek the enactment of the same without amend- ments."
 Dr. Kelly at First Methodist
 The dispensary bill was the subject of Dr.
 Kellys sermon at the First Methodist church. large congregation was present
 and Dr. Kellys remarks were listened to attentvely He said in part
 q am not in the habit of using my pulpit to discuss political issues, but feel that would be remiss if I did not use this hour to awaken interest in the dispansary bill now pending before the senate of Alabama "a bill designed to regulate the sale of in-
 toxicating liquors and diminish the evils of intemperance. It is conceded by all students of our social problems that the open saloon is the greatest evil that threat ems our civilization. If the city, as has
 been described, is the storm center of the
 republic, the saloon is the cave where the
 winds are brewed. The power of the saloon
 in our city Is strikingy set forth in the
 following statement of the local Young NIGH ; CITlSlldH ASSOSldllOH.
 Facts About Birmingham
 Sixteen churches. Five thousand young men or more. Sixty-two saloons; see city directory. Thirty gambling places, known to the police.
 Thirty houses of ill-repute, known to. the police.
 Seventy-nine young men counted at the
 weekly prayer meeting in the sixteen churches.
 One thousand and fifteen young men counted going into sixteen saloons in one hour on Saturday night. Five hundred and young men counted in the sixteen churches on Sunday morning. Twenty saloons known to be selling liquor on Sunday.
 '"Ihe slogan of the moral forces of so- ciety for years has been, The Saloon MusL Co., But it does not betray any purpose or | necessity of taking its departure. On the contrary, 1t is ever vigilant to strengthen it's hold and to add to it's power. While the friends of temperance are idle the saloon
 power is seeking to have existant restric- tions lifted.
 An Available Measure "As I listened on last Thursday evening at Seals hall to a calm and forcefu dis cussion of what is popularly Anown as the 1 dspensary bilP by the author, the senator from Tuscaloosa, I was impressed that it is a thoroughly available measure that we would do well to try. It is free from the oDectons usually brought against temper ance legislation. It would be comparatively easy of execution. It would diminish the evils of intemperance and take the saloon out of politics.
 ''The following are few of the features of the dlspensary bill: No liquor is allowed to be drank on the premises on which it is sold. "Liquor cannot be sold between the hours of D. m of one day and a. m. of the next day.
 "A man can make only one purchase in
 one day.
 "Liquor cannot be sold in quantities less than half pint.
 '"The dispenser, or man who sells, re- ceives a salary, which is independent of the amount of sales As he makes no profit by increasing his business. he has temptation to solicit trade, sell to minors or keep open on Sunday This bill does not create state board of control. There would. therefore, be noth- ing to provoke a collision between the con- stabulary of the state and the police of the towns and cities. Instead of providing new and expensive machinery the bill utilizes organizations which are already here and equipped for service. Municipal govern ments would soon find that 1t was to their interest to suppress bind tigers, and uphold the law.
 While the bill does not prohibit drinking the foregoing provisions greatly diminish temptation, and have a strong, though gen. tie tendency to break up the habit of treat ing In ten or fifteen years many old topers will become gradually weaned off from their usual indulgence, and new generation will come on which will be all most, or wholly, free from the drink habit"