The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-04
MOORE AND VANHOOS
 FOR PROHIBITION
BOTH BELIEVE IN HIGH LICENSE, BUT THINK IT CANNOT BE PRO- CURED IN RlRMlNGHAM-IssUE STATEMENTS.

You may quote me as saying that any statement to the effect that I will manage the campaign against prohibition is abso- lutely groundless" said j. A Van Hoose yesterday. This was brought about when he was questioned relative to an article in a Chattanooga paper stating that MT. Van Hoose had agreed to lead the anti prohibition forces.
 T would like to know who started such rumor, for there Is not the shadow of a fact in the whole article. l not only will not fight against prohibition but I am heartily in favor of 1t, and will lend the forces as much aid as I pos sioly can
 r "I am first a high license man, but since that Is an impossibility in Birming- ham why l say give prohibition a trial, and I believe it will prove practical.
 We cannot help but see the harmful results, both to the district and to the homes of our city that come from the present system of saloons. It has got- ten to the place where the voters owe it to themselves to vote 1t down. Let the Chattanooga papers understand that l am in the prohibition ranks"
 The statement of Walter Moore, alder man and chairman, until recently, of the excite committee of the City Council, given out yesterday, was along the same lines. MT. Moore takes prohibition, be- cause he cannot get the high license. He said:
 Within the past few days l have been i, a public declaration of my views upon the whisky question: which is the sub ject of so much agitation and controversy in our city and county at the present time. Having occupied place In the leg islative department of the city govern ment for many years and having keenly felt a sense of the responsibility i'm posed upon me and the confidence re- posed In me, l have endeavored consci- entlously to study and understand the real interests of Birmingham
 q believe that in all matters of public importance conservatism and fairness should direct and inspire the action of those upon whom rest the duty and re- sponsibility of deciding such matters, and I am firmly of the belief that the crisis which is al present upon us, would have been postponed almost indefinitely if the views of a very large number of law abid- ing and conservative citizens had been recognized and respected. They believe, as l do, that the best solution of the whisky traffic is high license In the city and absolute prohibition In the coun- try or rural sections where police protec- ffA,, ho1 hatf I do that if you restrict the sale to a small area and place the traffic under the most rigid supervision and discipline. that there will be no room or opportunity for the conduct of low dives or for the sale to minors. They believe as I do that while you cannot entirely prevent the sale and use of intoxicants by any human scheme or system, that has been devised, better results can be had by the plan of high license, restricted area and rural prohibition
 But the time has passed for them and me to confine our views to the con sideration of matters of cold judgment, because the controlling faction of our city council has steadfastly refused to adopt the high license and restriction plan, ana that Wlln q Iull knOWleuSe of countless crimes committed under the present system. They have refused to even consider resolutions which l have presented looking to the abolishment of the present plan. l have discharged my duty in my representative capacity as I saw it.
 "I have for months past tried to secure such solution of the whisky question as would in my judgment have saved our city from a campaign which will be fraught with turmoil and bitterness but with no hope of obtaining at the hands of our city council relief from the evils of the liquor traffic at present per mitted, and with no prospect of getting I new order of things along that line from the dominant factor of the city council l must take what l conveive to be the next best course for Birmingham and that is to alingn myself with that element in our community who believe that prohibit tion will bring benefits and blessings to humanity. In doing this I shall at least have the satisfaction of believing that I have voted for the welfare of the homes and the protection of the children of my community"
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