The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-02

frightened the violators OF the law into
their holes, and believe that during the
past four months, as compared with the
open saloon, drinking and crime have
been greatly diminished.
Still an Experiment.
If this recital of recent history be ap-
proximateiy accurate, II would appear
that the logical deduction is that prohi-
bition In Alabama Is still an experiment.
1t seems to me that 1t would be pa
thettc blunder to put aside this expert
ment until 1t has been fully tried out. It
would appear that 1t should be given
such a trial as would either convince the
thoughtful opponents of prohibition that
1t Is success, or the thoughtful sup
porters of 1t that some other solution OF
the liquor problem must be sought. This
experiment cannot, be fairly tried out be-
fore the next Legislature. The election OF
candidates favoring the repeal of the pro-
hibition laws should therefore be OPP
posed, although it is probable that the
aggregate wisdom OF the legal adviser OF
the governor, and official craftsman OF
prohibition legislation, erred in some de-
tails. and that slight notifications OF the
present prohibition laws may be required
at the next session of the legislature.
Willingness of Jurors.
Personally l doubt the practicabiiity
of prohibition legislation because the sue
cess of all criminal legislation depends
at last upon the willingness OF jurors
selected from the great body OF cltizeh-
ship to convict for proved violations.
Our people, impulsive in passing laws
careless in enforcing them, resent leg.
islative interference with their personal
liberty. The total abstainer Will uphoid
prohibition laws; so will the man OF means
who buys by the case and keeps well
stocked cellar. Experience alone can de-
termine whether the great mass or our
citizens will give such support to our
prohibition laws as to guarantee con-
victions for violations. The innate cussed-
ness of mankind must be reckoned with.
But the experiment should be tried until
an intelligent verdict can be rendered
by the great jury OF thoughtful citizen
ship. And for all our struggles there Is
substantial compensation In the progress
Of public opinion. 1t seems far-cry
since the recent day when the aldermen
OF Birmingham. instieated by breweries
and saloons. contemptuously rejected the
earnest plea of Mayor George b. Ward
for a higher license and better regulation
of the open saloon If prohibition should
fail the dispensary and other methods
of solution should be tried. Inc low
grogsery and the gilded saloon with its
sednctiFe aiiuremehts' Hiteies Zinc -
selling the last possible drink. alike scorn-
fully violating all laws, sowing alike
harvest of poverty. misery and crime,
should be returned to only after all other
solutions of the liquor evil have proven
a failure.
Is It too much to hope that the next
legislature, recognizing prohibition as the
present fundamental policy. will lay aside
for a time discussion Of the liquor ques-
ton. will take up the better government
of our municipalities, the Improvement
of our public roads. encouragement by
AGRICULTURAL schools and public scientific
farms of modern agriculture and con-
tinuance of Governor Corners laudabie
work in behalf of better and more schools?
For the immediate future let US hope
and work for peace and material progress
WALKER PERCY.
Birmingham, December 1, lyvs.