The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-01-23
MANY OPPOSE THE
MAYORS ACTION
Petition Him to Sign New Sum
day Ordinances
SULLIVAN SAYS TWILL NOT"
More Than One Hundred Citizens OF
Bessemer Hold Mass Meeting and
Discuss Features Of Pro
posed Laws.
SULLIVAN SAYS TWILL NOT"

will never sign the ordinances passed by
the city council last week prohibiting the
sale of liquor on Sunday.
These, in substance, are the words used
by Mayor J. J. Sullivan at Robbie hall
tonight before a mass meeting of more
than one hundred of the best citizens of
the city, including several ladies', who had
assembled for the purpose of protesting
against the published statement of tho
Mayor that he would not sign the ordi-
nances and to petition him to affix his
4 signature to the proposed laws.
The scene was dramatic one and no
one in the hall. while most of them dis
agreed with the Mayor. could help but ad-
mire his courage and hrmness. He stated
that he had said that he would not sign
the ordinances, that he meant what he
had said and would not change his po-
sition.
w. II. Hard had offered a resolution
protesting against the published intention
of the Mayor to veto the ordinance and
asking that he sign them and that he see
to it that they are strictly enforced after
being made part OF the laws OF the city
After considerable discussion by those
present and Just as the resolution was
about TO be voted upon Mayor Sullivan
arose and made his vigorous assertion.
Judge Jones Chairman.
Judge B. Clay Jones was made chair
man of the meeting. and in opening stated
that the object of the mass meeting was
to consider the two ordinances passed by
the council at the last meeting prohibit
Ing the sale of liquors on Sunday and to
prohibit any one except the proprietor or
his authorized agent from entering any
saloon or place where liquor is kept for
sale on Sunday.
He stated that according to newspaper
reports the Mayor had stated that he
would veto the ordinances when presented
for his official signature.
Mayor Sullivan was present and stated
that he had made the assertion and that
he meant 1t and would not change his
mind. He stated further that he consid-
cred the ordinances unjust and an unfair
discrimination against individual con-
GERMS lie said that If the ordinances
were made general and covering every
line of business or occupation conducted
in the city that he would gladly affix his
signature.
Bssett's Position.
Councilman Bissett, who introduced the
ordinances In the council was present
and stated that while there was an ordi-
nance in the code already regulating the
matter of Sunday liquor selling the pen
atty attached was not sufficient to pre-
vent the violation of the law. He stated
that one liquor dealer In Bessemer had
told him that his Sunday liquor business
was worth $1,000. He pointed out that such
a business could afford the nominal fines
usually imposed under the present law
and that he had introduced the ordinances
for the purpose of securing more severe
penalty, that of FORGETTING the license Of
such dealers as violated the law and re-
fusing renewal of license for the term
of two years. Mr.. Bssett was warmly
| applauded
The Banana Blind.
William Doyle, who announced that he
was from the red hills of North Georgia
! but had been In Bessemer seven years,
| and had taken notice of many things said
that the ordinances under consideration
might well be extended to other lines OF
business than the saloons. He said that
many fruit stands operating in the city
were used as mere blind to sell gro
ceries, dry goods and other merchandise
Continuing, he said:
IAN that dago has to do TO run a
wide open grocery and dry goods store
in this city on Sunday Is to hang bunch
of bananas In front of his door. Our
city officials never see anything behind
that bunch of bananas and nearly every
dago's stand in the city is nothing more
than Il general store where all manner of
goods are sold on Sunday. II Rarden q
Scott open their dry goods store on Sun
day policeman nabs him on the spot,
but these same policemen pass bunch
OF bananas behind which everything that
Rarden & Scott sell is being sold openly
on Sunday and see nothing. The mayor
talks of discrimination. What sort of
discrimination is this? | would favor an
ordinance that would take down that
bunch of bananas on Sunday. More than
this. | would favor law that would
close up the drug store where few bot
ties of paregoric are used as blind to
wide open liquor saloon which runs in
full blast on Sunday"
Hard's Resolution Passed.
After considerable discussion along
these lines Mr. Hard's resolution was
adopted by almost unanimous vote OF
those present. including one or two liq
uor dealers who are interested In seeing
the new law passed for their protection
against INSCRIPTIONS dealers who would
violate the Sunday law.
7 In answer to the Mayors assertion that
he would veto the ordinances, Chairman
| Jones made the announcement that If il
was the wish of the people present he
would prepare an ordinance to be pre-
nf "
council prohibiting the opening OF all
places of business in the city that can
be regulated under the constitution. May
or Sullivan stated that IL such ordinance
was passed by the council he would sign
II readily and do everything in his power
to have In enforced
Just before the meeting adjourned At
torney c. l.. O'Dell offered motion that
the organization be made permanent and
that Judge Jones be made permanent
president OF the organization. the object
Of which should be to push the adoption
of some effective Sunday law to see to it
that such law Is enforced when adopted
The motion was adopted unanimously
and the meeting adjourned subject to the
call OF the president.
Board of Trade Meeting.
The Bessemed board of tr Nill meet
n regular session at the to-
morrow afternoon at 8 o'c6 Seral
matters of Importance tc and
the district are schedule .ussion
and consideration.