The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-22
Passage of Bill Yesterday
ArouseS Enthusiasm Among
the Anti-SaIoon LeaguerS
DR.. |. D. STEELE TALKS ON
PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
Thinks 1t May Be Two Years Before
the Time Is Ripe to Begin Dis
pensary or Prohibition
Fight In Jefferson.

One of the most important measures
and one that has been watched with keen
interest by the people OF Alabama was
passed by the senate and will possibly
receive the signature of the governor in
a few days
The measure referred to is the local
option bill prepared and fostered by the
Anti-Saloon League of Alabama, and in
troduced in the legislature by Repre-
sentative Moody of Tuscaloosa.
The bill is far reaching in its pro
visions and 1t is expected that 1t will
bring about many revolutionary results
in the regulation of the liquor traffic
in this state in the next few years.
Call for Special Election.
The bill provides that when % per cent
of the voters of any county present a
petition the probate Judge is required
to call an election ito determine whether
the sale of liquor shall be prohibited
in the county,
The bill also provides that an election
on the establishment of dispensaries in
lieu of licensed saloons may be secured
in the same way.
Gives Absolute Power.
Indeed, the act gives the people in any
county absolute power to control the
liquor traffic in any manner they choose.
The Anti-Saloon league, which was or
ganized in this state a little more than
two years ago for the purpose of secur-
ing the enactment of a local option law
and also to see to the enforcement of
such law when enacted will now take
up the work of Kidding the state of Ii
censed saloons.
The machinery of the league has been
carefully organized and is said to be
one of the most powerful organizations
in the country, claiming the moral and
active support of every religious and
moral influence In the territory to which
it extends
The league claims to be liberal and
democratic and is said to be absolutely
non-political and undenominational. The
organization has strong and influential To-
cal representatives in every county in
Alabama who are looking carefully after
the interests of the movement and are
now preparing plans for the campaign
that will assume active proportions, it is
said, as soon as the local option bill Is
signed by the governor.
DR.. Steele Talks.
In discussing the purposes of the league
and the probable effects of the measure
DR.. l. d. Steele of Birmingham, treasurer
of the Anti-Saloon League of Alabama,
said last night:
1.-THE officers of the league are very
much rejoiced over the successful passage
of the local option bill by the senate to-
day. 1t will probably be signed by the
governor in few days, and the people
Of Alabama will be armed with weapon
of constitutional rights that l am conf
dent will soon result In the elimination of
the saloon evil in this state.
"The Anti-saloon league is strongly for
titled with the moral support of the best
people of the state and also has the imam
cial means of conducting the campaign
that has already been outlined.
1--WE do not expect to accomplish every
thing I'm a few months-not in few
years. The league has a stupendous task
now ripe for the work, and we pro-
coed with the campaign l feel confident
that public sentiment will grow in favor
of the movement.
There has been great development in
this direction in the past few years.
THE campaign will be begun in the
smaller counties of the state where the
sentiment favorng prohibition Is more
fully developed and where success will
be easier The fight will be pushed grad
ually toward the larger and more for
midable centers
Fight In Jefferson.
at is my opinion that the league will
not precipitate the campaign in Jeffer-
son county or one or two other large
centers of the state for some time to
come, possibly two years.
I'VE believe that by the time the CAM
paign has been pushed to final issue in
the smaller counties the larger centers
will be better prepared for the work and
that success will be more certain.
1.-THE intention of the Anti-Saoon
league, however, is to push the fight I'M
til prohibition is established in every
county in the state.
1.-The league will not stop at the mere
establishment of prohibit>on, but will re-
tain it's organization with every agency
necessary in the field to enforce the pro-
hibition laws, to fight blind tigers and
prosecute offenders of the law