The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-06-07
ACTION OF COUNCIL STARTS MORE TALK Saloon Regulation VS. Prohibit
 ton is Latest Line-Up BROOKS LAWRENCE TALKS Regards Councils Action as a Victory for Prohibition-Mayor Ward
 Will Continue the Fight for
 Stricter Regulations.
BROOKS LAWRENCE TALKS

The victory of the saloons in the coun-
 cil chamber Wednesday night is regarded
 by saloon men as amounting to little f
 anything at all. One of them stated yes-
 terday that he would rather have seen
 the license schedule pass than bear the | brunt of the possible result.
 Brooks Lawrence of the Anti-Saloou league said last night he considered the
 action of the council as a victory for pro- hibition, as it would influence the think
 ing class of people against the saloons.
 Wherever the authorities fail to show strong regulation spirit, the people can
 more easily see the value of prohibition.
 While I am glad to see the moral spirit of the aldermen, regulation must be admitted as imperfect. Wherever tried
 it is a complete failure, and while l do
 not know the motives, I am glad to see
 that the City Council does not favor it."
 Divided as to Tactics.
 Those who do not want to see the pro-
 hibition fight come on this fall are d-
 vided as to the best tactics to pursue. Some would go ahead fighting all attacks for regulation, or anything else and striking back with an attack upon the
 local option law, and the character of
 those favoring prohibition to the last ditch.
 Others believe that by passing strict laws regulating the saloons in the city,
 keeping them under exact surveillance
 and enforcing all the laws to the letter, fba Rn
 down. This class asks first for trial and brings forth the argument that Bir-
 mingham with all her working people and industrial trades cannot hope to thrive without the sale of liquor in her limits.
 Are In Direct Opposition. This much is certain, the fight for reg
 ulation is directly in opposition to that for prohibition. The regulation fight has begun, while the prohibition fight Is still in embryo. Those who favor regulation
 will not be stopped for a moment by the loss in the council chamber Wednesday, but have hardly started their tactics. Mayor Ward believes that the situation can be handled by the passage of strict laws, and the seven who voted for in 1 crease of license intend to call up the | question again at the first opportunity. They believe that the majority will I change to their side.
 | Aldermen Heidt and Hogan, who voted against the s25Oo license Wednesday, are
 ready to switch to the other side provided ! the figures be lowered. They consider the | proposed license too high, but would vote
 to increase it to $1500.
 1 Saloon men may look to see the question come up repeatedly at almost every coun- ci meeting until some increase is made.
 They will be in a special hurry since the Anti-Saloon league is getting busier. Yesterday the campaign headquarters
 committee of the Anti-Saloon league held 1 an advisory meeting in the office of
 Brooks Lawrence. and talked over the proposition. One member of the board
 said: Recent developments have demon
 strated the fact that tke conditions are now ripe for liquor reform fight in this county
 The meeting was presided over by the Rev. w. B. Crumpton, president of tho league, and reports were read from the
 Mobile station to tho effect that a fight
 might begin there shortly.
 Claims Law Is General.
 Brooks Lawrence called attention to the impending attack by saloon men on the local option law. which will be based on | the claim that it does nto apply to the
 whole state, and is not a general law ac-
 oording to the constitution. MT. Law renee had this to say
 "The county local option law applies to every county in the state, as an election can be held in every county of the state. In all present prohibition territory, by special legislation, the effects of such an l election are held in abeyance until such local prohibition laws are repealed. The | Anti-Saloon league will be glad to have | the liquor people test the constitutionality | of this measure. It is not in any sense 9 local law and ycu may be assured we will defend this measure to the supreme court of the state and on to the supreme | court of the United States"