The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-12

guished gentlemen from LAuderdaIe has seen 1t to say that whenever these exceptions are mentioned whenever sn attempt Is made to widen this p-oposi- tfon so that the State of Alabama may be advanced morally, that there is a certain element on this floor that be- come nervous and almost has nervous prostration. desire to say if any, Dody on this hoor has shown signs of nervous prostration 1t has been the fury of the gentleman himself when he meets that disposition on the part of this house. and the temper which he has displayed. desire to say that the banner of moral reform is up in Alabama, and that proposition to leave room for moral growth does stand here. and that the gentleman from Lauderdale, or the gentleman from the Local Legislative Committee. or any other Committee. will be met and he will be called upon every time he at- tempts to lay down a hard and fast rule which threatens the onward march of the dispensary or prohibition.
 MT. O'Neal-will the gentleman per init an interruption? I said on behalf of the Committee I was willing, ard the Committee was willing to accept a proposition that this section should not be applicable or control the ale of whiskey.
 MT. Gilmore-I rise to a point of order.
 The President-The gentleman will state his point of order.
 MT. Gilmore-The gentleman from Lauderdale did not address the Presi- dent.
 The President-The point of order is we'll taken.
 MT. Fitts-It is the complaint every time we ask room for this reform that we ask for leaway. that the friends of the dispensary system rise up de- sire to say that we do rise up, desire to say that with these other ample limitations set here. there Is no rhyme or reason for putting anything in the Constitution that will nnake it ques- tionable in the future as to the power of the people of Alabama to absolutely prohibit the sale of liquor even within a half square mile in the black belt, if they desire it, and there is no rhyme or reason for putting into this Con- stitution anything that win prevent the people in any locality from establish ine dispensaries whenever and where ever they please. We are taking this issue with the gentleman. and he de- sires to leave the impression here that advocates of the dispensary have form ed some hidden combination with the advocates of some corporation that de- sires something improper at the hands of this Convention. I desire to say that have never heard of such a com bination, and that 1t exists only In the fertile brain and excited imagination | of the chairman of this committee. I | desire furthermore to say that when | ever--
 A vcice-Louder!
 MT. Fitts-That is all right about the louder part: am going to say what | propose to say upon this subject of dis pensary right here and now. and don't care whether gentlemen holler 'Iouder" or not, I mean for 1t to be heard. Becsuse objection is made about these limitations it Is complained that 1t comes from the dispensary element. | If there is a probability that it might innibit a dispensary that is reason enough for leaving 1t out. and further more the proposition that there is a 1 great hidden mystery or some eombi- nation of which he speaks, exists only in his own imagination. He says that if the advocates of the Mobile school attack him-he makes some great | threat of what he will do then. 1 have nothing to do with that. They can draw . ring and fight 1t out so far as am concerned, but as one of the advo- cates of the dispensary, as one of those l who does care about anything likely to | the growth of this movement in this State, or the restraint of the liquor traffic in this country which will send the money into the general sources of revenue. can Say we should be watch | ful and guarded to see that nothing is put in here to threaten the life of these | institutions. and the very disposition l ha IA lhnyUG fight SO much vigor, and to abuse with so | much venom in this particular instance f is a very good reason for being on the | watchtower and upon guard.
 Mir. O'Neal-May interrupt the gen. tlepan for a moment?
 The President-Does the gentleman from Tuscaloosa yield?
 Mir. Fitts-Certainly.
 MT O'Neal-Didn't I expressly dis claim any intention to impugn the mo- tives of any gentleman or make any charge?
 MT. Fitts-And at the same time the very words you used, and your manner was a greater accusation in that re- gard. And say that even if there is a municipal corporation in this State. where the proceeds of the liquor traffic goes to the upbuilding of schools-in Mobile or elsewhere, where the revenue derived from the liquor traffic goes towards education, that it is a step in the right direction, and that 1t ought to be left wide open, abundant leeeway for local laws to be passed to allow that revenue to go to the education of the children of this State in other To- calities in the future. The very best dispensary argument is that the aound- ant profit which is taken by the saloon keeeper and by the dram-s seller Is taken away from the individual and put into the revenues of the State and county and a portion of it devoted to the edu- cation of the children of the county therefore, whether in Eufaula or Mo
 bile that is a good system which ac- complishes this. This is system which
 is a twin brother of the dispensary. and
 the same hand which would guard the
 dspensary from the attack of any law
 that would bind 1t down and prevent
 it's being built up In localities, ought to
 watch and guard the local laws which
 take a profit from this traffic and de-
 vote it to the education of the children The timehas come in Alabama when
 this is five and vital question. when
 the people of Alabama have their eyes
 upon the dispensary project. when it
 is on trial in many counties Of the
 State. It is a system that has never
 been abandoned in any country of Eu-
 rope, In any State in America or n any locality wherever tried. It !s q plan that has met the appreciation ot
 the people of Alabama whenever tried | sS