The age-herald., 1899-01-13
Advocates His General DiSpen-
 Sary Bill.
TALKED TO SMALL AUDIENCE
Understood That Birmingham Saloon Keepers Hardly Knew When Sun- day Arrived-This City Should
 Take Lead in Moral Reform.

Moody, of Tuscaloosa, last night addressed small audience at Seals hall upon his General Dispensary Bill," now before the legislature.
 In introducing the senator, pr. D. B. Gray, pastor of the First Baptist church, stated that at a meeting of the Pastors union, held some weeks ago, it had been decided to invite Senator Moody to discuss his bill before the Birmingham public, and incidentally expressed great embarrassment at the small audience present. He alluded to the speaker as a student of the tenn perance question and as a thoughtful, pro- gressive and substantial citizen and states man.
 Senator Moody, in opening his remarks, expressed his pleasure in appearing before Birmingham audience, and excused the lack of numbers by stating that temperance lecturers were never discouraged by small audiences with which they were so often met. "If however, few sound seed could be planted" he said. ''they would surely sprout and bear fruit in time.''
 Lead in Moral Reform
 He alluded to the prominent position oc- cupied by Birmingham in the political, com
  asked why she should not also take the lead in moral reforms.
 The evils of intemperance which have been pointed out by old-time lecturers, he said, were evident upon the streets of every city, and the time had come when some remedy must be found.
 The advocates of temperance, he said had been met with the cry of moral suason" since the time of David. The argument that the will power of the incorporate must be appealed to had been tried and found want ing. It had proven feeble and imperfect and other remedies were necessary The exigencies of the times called for prompt action that immoral suason' might be counteracted, and it must be done by law.
 The enticements which are held out to young men to become intemperate were clearly pointed out in word picture, which disclosed the environments of city life. The speaker referred to the time of Socrates, the great Greek philosopher, when the first law for the protection of young pen had been enacted, Socrates having been con- demned for corrupting the morals of the Athenians. For almost twenty centuries, ne said. such laws had claimed little attention of the lawmakers until within the past thirty years when temperance measures had been advocated
 should Protect Young Manhood
 -Four years ago. he said, "a law was enacted by the Alabama legislature to pro- tect the young oysters in Mobile bay and at the present time measures were before the general assembly looking to the pro- lection of young fish, deer and other game, yet the author of a measure to protect the young manhood of the state is considered a crank.
 ouYr municipal authorities have enact ed laws forbidding the shooting of fire crackers in certain sectins f the city with a view of protecting persons from in juries which might result from runaways caused by the explosion of fireworks, yet saloons are allowed to run open, causing homicide, murder and poverty and other evil effects. Alcohol produces poverty and crime and robs children of their bread and eventually of their character.
 The senator then read a list of horrible crimes which had been committed by men under the influence of liquor Some of these were committed within the borders of our own state
 If the law" he said, "could not interfere on behalf of men who drink on the plea that their will power should be exercised, then it should interfere behalf of men who do not drink but who suffer from the evil practice of others and in behalf of the women and children who are the great est sufferers
 The first steps towards decreasing in- temperance was the levying of a small li- cense which it was thought would reduce the number of drinking places, but it proved ineffective, and a higher license was advocated.
 q am told" said the speaker ''that the license in Birmingham is $500; in Tuscaloo- sa you must pay $1,OO0 to corrupt the youth of our city. Some saloonkeepers favor high license, because it drives out the little saloons and gives them monopoly to deal out liquid damnation to whole commu- nity"
 Then and Now
 The evolution of the saloon trade was forcibly illustrated by Senator Moody, who drew a graphic picture of the grog shops of forty years ago which were situated in the back room of a grocery store, where sticky molasses barrels and greasy side meat were in close proximity to the whisky casks while a dirty glass was convenient to the thirsty customer. High license, he said, had driven the grog shop out of ex- istence, which had given way to the gilded saloon with its blazing mirrors and polished f1oors sparkling glasses, suggestive pie lures and polite bartenders. "The saloons" he said "are nests in which are matched whole brood of evils. They are the haunts of gamblers, and not of sober, temperate men. Lcentiousness is one of their evils, 4 and wine and women mean more than a mere alliteration" H1
 Don't Recognize Sunday
 The violation of the Sunday laws was then taken up by the speaker, who said that he understood that the saloon keep CTS of Birmingham scarcely knew there was such day as Sunday. He explained that he did not know this from his own knowledge, and did not want to do them an injustice