The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-05-07
Absolute Prohibition or Nothing
Was Almost Unanimous
Sentiment of Meeting
NOTED WORKER WILL BE
BROUGHT HERE TO SPEAK
Resolution Approves the Stand Taken
BY the City Administration In Its
Effort to Regulate the Liquor
Traffic In Birmingham.

own tool" was the almost unanimous
sentiment expressed yesterday at the pas
tors union. And on the other hand they
were just as earnest and just as deter
mined in favor of prohibition.
1t may now be said without doubt that
as long as the present Birmingham pas
torate continues to stand and preach from
the various pulpits, no dispensaries will
be established in Jefferson county They
would fight the proposition even more
tiercely than they would the saloons.
While the meeting yesterday did not
place the union on record as favoring a
beginning of the fight against the saloon
interests this fall, they began a movement
of education to be capped with climax
in October which, if history repeats it.
self, may mean an agitation at that time.
w. C. T. U. Work Endorsed.
By a unanimous vote the union in
dorced the work of the Womans Chris
tian Temperance union and appointed a
committee to aid that organization in
bringing here Clinton N Howell, a tenn
perance leader who has led many pro-
hibition fight, and is said to be one of
the most eloquent speakers in the coun-
try. He is especially commended because
he throws away all the old foolish tenn
perance arguments, and gives his hearers
the real common sense of the proposition.
He will be here week In October.
The Union has as its guest E. E. Folk
of Tennessee, brother of Governor Folk
of Missouri, the superintendent of the
nj Col 7 IL, TT
whose direction the sale of whisky has
almost been stopped in the whole state.
Besides his address there were many 9TH
er matters of great interest that kept
the meeting full of spice and ginger.
Quotes Mayors Message.
The first action was the election of
Brooks Lawrence, superintendent of the
Alabama Anti-Saloon League to MEM
bership in the body. He was received by
a standing vote and allowed the floor,
whereupon he read this extract from the
message of Mayor Ward to the city coun-
ell:
Much of the time of this administration
has been taken up in regulating the liquor
traffic and trying to put it on higher
plane. When 1 came into office the city
was infested with great numbers of
vicious dives frequented Unfortunately
by both white and colored, male and fe-
male. These places have been cleaned out
and closed permanently.
"The first move twoards reform was
cutting all music out of saloons, the dice
and dominos then pool and billiards.
Every saloon has been given to UNDER
a1I0 ~,
same will be sufficient cause to close it
up. They expect also the same penalty
if the Sunday law is violated. Therefore,
saloons as now operated, are freer from
Migrants and the disorder and llcentious-
ness usually INDUCED in by such gather
ing than ever before
Notwithstanding all this regulation the
low class saloon is continuing to thrive
and people continue to be debauched and
turned into Migrants. In my opinion as a
step towards future and permanent regu-
lation and in justice to the saloon inter-
est, which is anxious to know what to
expect, the board should now commit it.
self firmly and boldly to the policy to be
pursued during the year 1907.
LAS a basis for this policy 1 herewith
recommends:
at not less than $780,
'2. That all saloons be confined to a
central district, either the fire limits or
some arbitrary boundaries called the sa-
loon limits.
IS. That no applicant be allowed to oper-
ate a saloon unless it be clearly shown
that he either owns the building and the
business or the lease and the business.
I'm other words, let 1t be plainly shown
bot lie tbo rt,S yeI-
instead of another's. This will stop the
custom now in vogue of the breweries
and wholesale dealers putting rrespon-
sibe and transient barkeepers in charge
of saloons with the knowledge or con-
sent of the authorities.
"a That all saloons now located in what
Is known as the segregated district of
the city be closed by July and that said
district hereafter be kept free from the
liquor traffic."
Administrators Act lndorsed
Mr.. Lawrence then said, II think that
this shows that no matter how great the
| effort to regulate 1t Is always a proof
that the evils cannot be eradicated. Yet,
wherever we see an administration that
attempts to regulate the saloons they
should receive our hearty commentator
and support, and l hope such motion
will be carried by our body"
| following resolution, which was adopted:
Whereas The recent annual message of
G.. B. Ward, Mayor of Birmingham. In
dicated his intention to further regulate
and restrict the liquor traffic in the city
of Birmingham; therefore, be 1t
Resolved, by the ministers assembled
in their regular meeting May g. 1907, That
we do most cordially commend every pro-
gressive act of our city government look
ing toward the lessening of the evils of
the liquor traffic, and we pledge our best
efforts to this end. Brooks Lawrence, S.
l.. Dobbs and J. A. j. Brock"
Dobbs Opens Discussion.
The discussion of the day on, Shall We
Have Saloons or Dispensaries?" was then
opened, and the Rev. s. J.. Dobbs was
manner the minister stated that he felt
himself on delicate ground when he spoke
in advocacy of the whisky traffic in any
form, but he was clear in his mind that
the dispensary Is preferable to the saloon.
He then stated that he believed the dis
cussion was untimely, giving as his reason
that the legislature is still making laws
on temperance questions, and that 1t is
better to wait and see just where they
stand.
He made a motion to defer the ques-
ton, and at a later day discuss it in
executive session. At the suggestion of
DIR. Steele, however, he withdrew the
motion, and stated that he was for local
option and prohibition. IF we cannot get
that when confronted with the saloon
question. I am. in favor Of the dispen-