The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-09-11
FIGHT FOR DISPENSARY
MR. MOODY SAYS HE Is NOT DTS
 CoURA0ED.
Tuscaloosa Leader of Reform Move ment Declares Some Sort of Legislation on Liquor
 Question Will Be
 Passed.

| In an interview yesterday Hon. Frank | g. Moody, of Tuscaloosa, leader of the advocates of a general dispensary law. outlined the plan of campaign of him self and associates.
 Of course we feel little disappointed that the Werner bill was adversed." said Mir Moody. But as a matter of fact. the dispensary committee was not over confident The Dispensary Committee was much pleased with the fact that the opponents of the measure found no fault with the machinery provided in the bill for an election and found no fault with the provisions of the bill in reference to | the operation of the dispensary. The opponents of the measure. by their si- lence on these points. practically con- ceded that under the bill there ought | to be and would be a fair election. and that If the dispensary carried in given | county. 1t would. under the provisions of the bill. be operated in a business-like manner and with a view to temperance and reform. One of the principal objec- tions that was made to the bill was the contention that the people of the coun- ties affected by the bill had not asked their representatives to introduce such a measure, and that. therefore. the people of such counties did not want the bill
 Well. what does your committee pro- pose to do about the matter?" he was asked. '
 We have decided, with the consent and concurrence of MT. Werner. who Is giving the bill special attention, to ask the House to amend the bill so as to
 meet the objection stated. The Dispen- sary Committee does not wish to be
 obstinate In the matter. What the Dis
 pensary Committee asks for Is an cleo
 tion in the different counties. It makes
 but little difference with the Dispensary
 Committee whether the election is or
 dered by the Legislature or comes by d.
 rect action of the people themselves. The
 amendment proposed will provide that
 in the counties affected by the bill. qual-
 flied voters, to the number of twenty
 five per cent. of the qualified voters at
 the last State election, may file a peti-
 tion with the probate judge asking for
 dispensary election In such case the probate judge shall order an election. Of course the matter of obtaining such a petition would give some trouble. But : this would be about the only inconven- fence. Unless the Dispensary advocates could get twenty-five per cent. of the voters to sign the petition. they could
 not expect to get majority at the elec- tion. Twenty-Five per cent. is reason
 able percentage in reference to filing the . petition. If a much larger percentage
 were required, the petition itself would . is better to have percentage than 2 , specified number because more sIgner. , should be required in large county thar : in a small county.
 . "The Dispensary Committee hopes tha this amendment, which authorizes, bu , does not require an election, will mee = the approval of the House, at least O . those members of the House who ar, not opposed to the dispensary per SC
 The Dispensary Committee, in the ligh
 of the discussion. cannot see why, witl this amendment, there should be any ob f jection to the bill that would not b. = made to any dispensary bill that migh !. be offered. The amendment would leav = the matter to a reasonable percentage O :. the voters of the counties affected as t
 whether an election should be held, an,
 then a majority of the voters of tn 4 county could decide whether they want IF ed this dispensary law, and all thi m would occur at a time when the bill r. would not be mixed up with personal an,
 party politics.
 Your Dispensary Committee, then, i
 ready to carry on the fight?'
 F. "Oh, yes, we are In for the war ,an, l. of course, we can't be run off by tn effect of little skirmish. All great re II forms. especially a reform of this ma ,e ture. must be fought out by patient an, " laborious effort. We feel that we ar
 bound to win in the end. It Is only
 question of time. and of comparatiyel II short time. when the people of Alabama e who have been grooming under the evil 10 of the licensed saloon for so many year ,a will demand and secure relief. The sa
 looms. as they exist to-day in Alabama
 will have to go."