The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-29
8Hx LIQUOR INTEREST AMI

z BO8818A.
 One of the most pertinent questions
 before the voters of Montgomery is
 whether they are going to run it's affairs
 themselves or whether they are going to
 permit system of domination by one in-
 terest or a state of bossism by any | man.
 | The Advertiser does not hesitate to state as it's judgment that for number of years the liquor interest has grown more and more powerful in city affairs until far .as it pieases. There Is also abundant ground for the Fopinion that Chief of Police Gerald has long been the political boss of this city. tset
 These assertions ssFe not made in any offensive spirit The snssors interest Is always aggressive. in order to take care of itself, and liquor men are only human in acquiring power when the way is clear. Neitl,er.is it surprising that man who has great capAcity for politics and finds himself in position to exercise power. should make use of his talents and opportunities. Chief Gerald has sim ply made the most of situation he has found. He has used his power for good in some respects. but he has been an alert opportunist and has not hestated to use his power to maintain himself and his prestige. Sometimes this has led to conditions that have not redounded to the efficiency of his department or the best interests of the community. It cannot be denied that the bulk of the bar rooms in Mdntgomery do about as they please. Some of them, of course, are conducted by law-abiding men, who are either too conscientious or cautious to violate the law But there are many of the bars which lose no sort of opppruni- ty to make money, and some of them which are indifferent sas to the time or the method of making it. It is true that some of them have Kicked against the enforcement of the law upon them and have alleged discriminations, In some cases they have had hard time and they have quit business. They found l the way of the kickey hard.
 Neither can it be, denied that no man has been elected Mayor in years who was not supported by Chfef Gerald. He has always been either shrewd enough to pick the winner or powerful enough to put his choice through, possibly both. He has been long-headed enough not to pose as boss or to put on any airs about it. Probably he has been wise in that, and has been all the morel successful in bis | quiet way. Now the two features of this situation may not have any logical or actual con- nection. The Advertiser does not assert I tha< Chief Gerald has been in league with the liquor interest If there is any evidence to prove that. we haven't | heard of it, But it does look as if he has regarded that in terest as a powerful political factor | and has not dared offend it as a whole. There may have been occasions when he has found the liquor men more than pawns on his political chess-board. and has thought himself forced to play them for their full worth. in order to save his
 own head. Self-preservation is the first
 law of politicians. as well as of nature, ] and Chief Gerald has doubtless frequent- ly, had to get under obligations to the ] liquor interest.
 Whatever the facts may be, 1t is the duty of the bone and sinew of Montgom- cry to see to 1t in this campaign that there be no domination by Chief Gerald or any boss, or by the liquor interest
 The most capable and worthy men should
 be elected to the Mayoralty and Council
 and they should have backbone enough to succeed independently of any interest or any candidate for Chief of Police. The people of Montgomery want that sort
 of officias-men strong, brave, self-re- liant enough to take hold of this muni- cipal situation and bring Montgomery out of the rut without any entangling aili- ance.
 If any candidate for Mayor or Council
 man has any views on this subject, the
 voters of Montgomery would like to hear | them