The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-10-22

The developments of yesterday around the city hall were various. Mayor Ward, as the chief executive of this city, closest in touch with the financial prospects, as chairman of the financial committee of the City Council. made the statement that in hls opinion prohibi- tion will not dol
 Hearing of his action the Jefferson County Pastors union, and a number of citizens formed a party numbering more than a hundred and marched to the city hall. They informed him that the men who elected him to office wanted to know his attitude, and when he told them, they said that while they were his personal friends, they would have to kill him politically. One of them illustrated what he meant by skipping himself in the face.
 However, the Mayor was not changed in his conviction, and gave out this statement, whio is in substanceV the same as that which he outlined to the minister's
 Statement By the Mayor.
 "It appears that many others are supporting prohibition merely on sus- picion that it may prohibit.
 "There is only one thing we can be positive 1t will do. It will free liquors from n heavy tax, the historic device that has always been used to crush or restrain any undesirable traffic.
 '.One thing I believe 1t will do. It will mark the commencement of n long, bitter, hnrassing conflict that will un- settle salaries and incomes, wreck friendships and paralyze the spirit of public cooperation; then repeal of the law will follow.
 "For many months Iehave fought faithfully and hard for high license. believing 1t to be the most effective way to curtaiI the consumption of whisky.
 "Up to a .short time ago large majority of the people now in the pro- hibition ranks agreed that high license was the wiser plan and backed up the fight. Is it not possible that they were right then. I have seen no reason tO change my belief.
 "On coming into office I sSore to do everything In my power to protect the faith and credit of the city. "As il result, in small degree at least, this municipality Is richer today than ever before and Is steadily evoIv- ing. into a financial condition that should cause general satisfaction. q therefore cannot honestly share responsibility. even tacitly, for n move ment which if successful must ncccs- sarily undo what 1t has taken years to build up and cripple every depart- ment of the city government for au In- definite period.
 "The liquor interests have no liking for me and I am no friend of theirs. If prohibitions fails those saloons left in Birmingham will be handled with an iron hand and in good faith.
 "If 1t carries l will do my best to give an enforcement of the law-so vigorous that even extremists will not make criticism.
 "No mau can impugn the motive of | the prohibitions party or deny that 1t is
 aiming at the betterment of mankind | Should not its members he equally 1 gracious to those who diner and who perchance may he right.
 "AII my sympathies are with the ob- | jects aimed at by the good men and women. supporting ,prohibition-ns judgment is against their pIan." Office Could Not Hold Then. It was about 11:30 o'clock yesterday morning when the ministers reached the Mayors office. So many were there that the office would not hold them all. and the Mayor asked them to meet him in the armory. He did not expect them but was ready to meet their arguments.
 In the large armory they grouped around the chief executive, and pr. A. l. Dickinson introduced pr. J. A. Dun can. who put the proposition before the Mayor as he sees 1t. Mir. Ward then told them his opinion. He asked them what they would do if their con gregations insisted on their doing what was against their belief. One minister said. "Pd resign"
 The Mayor said. "If the people who elected me want me to resign l will do it. I can be of greater use to you after the election if prohibition car ries than I can now. I will promise vou full enforcement of the law"
 Every minister put in his word, and tha general drift was that the-people