The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-24
Eugene Brown Laments Era of Agitation Which Has Pres
 ent Fight As Continuation
HOPE WAS FELT THAT THE VIOLENT TIDE WOULD TURN
Wants Prohibition Given Trial, But Can See Nothing But Personal Politics in Proposed Amend
 nent to Constitution.

Eugene L. Brown, one of Birming- hams most prominent citizens, has written a striking portrayal of the political conditions in Alabama at the present time. MT. Browns words will naturally carry the weight that should be accorded to a man who has done much to build up his adopted city. He financed a number of Birmingham's great office buildings and is one of the men for whom the Brown Marx build ing Is named MT. Brown writes as fol- lows:
 To the Editor of The Age Herald.
 To a limited number of this com munity who know me and my views on the political question now agitating the public mind, anything I might say would probably be ignored, or imputed to whisky or other improper influences.
 am now, and have always been, op- posed to prohibition in cities, for the reason that it's trial has proven it to be unwise and hurtful. As to whether I or any other citizen of the state Is opposed to, or in favor of proh ibition has no bearing on the question at
 
 ly to remain so for years to come I should like to see it given fair and impartial trial, without a resort to the courts to test it's constitutionality. I should like to see it tried long enough to test its wisdom and long enough for 1t to be considered and judged by people free from partisan bias or political coercion. I believe that the great majority of our people are will ing for this to be done.
 The writing of these untried laws into the constitution, however is an- other and entirely more serious quest | tion. To my mind whisky and prohibi- l tio< are only incidents in the attempt being made to pass this amendment and I cannot help but view with de- l pression and alarm the harmful re- suits that its passage under present | conditions will bring to the people of Alabama.
 Getting Confidence of Outsiders. I can, with modesty, state that I have had some little part in the building up and improvement of the city of Bir- mingham. For some 10 years I have not only sought to advance my own interests, but I have also tried as best l could to assist In the permanent building of this city. My work in this direction is probably finished. In my various building and financial opera tions I have come in contact with men and interests upon whose confidence and help we must largely rely in the future development of our state. The honesty, ability and conservatism of our people were beginning to impress themselves upon the investing and lending public. We were considered a people and state with a future. The high rank of our supreme court decis- ions, the fair and reasonable laws passed by our lawmaking bodies. threw around the lender and investor whether corporation or individual a feeling of safety and security.
 Uuhappily, within the last few years some of these conditions have been suddenly and radically shifted The outside public which had begun to be- lieve In and trust us were startled and frightened by our sudden and un- 1ooked-for change. Laws were passed and sought to be enforced that not only staggered foreign capital, but dazed our own people as well. Political agi- tation and frequent and dangerous legislative sessions have been our lot and portion. New and drastic laws have been passed and we have stood bound and helpless at the mercy of the present administration.
 Has Been Safeguard.
 Up to now we have had at least one safeguard. We have felt that if the wishes of our governor were enacted into laws, We had as last resort a supreme court and constitution which would say, Thus far shalt thou go and no further"
 During all the critical anti-railroad and anti-corporation period, it was not openly suggested that the constitution should be amended to meet desired conditions or to make legal defective laws. The time and surroundings were not yet ripe or per- haps no native A1abamian could bring himself to the point of denouncing our su- preme court and declaring that if certain laws were not constitutional the constitu- ton itself should be remodeled, and the court with 1t. Perhaps a fear was felt that unless some cause was found, in which could be enlisted the church, with its new and mighty political activity and power, an effort to change would meet with defeat. It was therefore postponed until a prohibition law was declared un- sound by the supreme court, and then the brains and mouthpiece of the Anti-Saloon league, represented in the person of the Rev. Brooks Lawrence of Ohio, began his work.
 Is it reasonable to suppose that the powerful backing which he brought to his