The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-12-04
The Press and its VieU Of
 The Lesson Of The Election
READY.

have not lost confidence in the capacity of the people for self-government, of which we may say the press is the most vigilant and unyielding supporter. Tn this day and time the masses are more given to reading and study than they are to taking for granted statements made either on the rostrum or from the pulpit. It. therefore, follows nat to the things they read. In the quiet of home. separated from all extraneous influences, the Judgment and person. ality oftthe reader assert themselves. and In contests vital to the liberty. of the individual citizeps such as Alabama has just passed through. 1t, only, be- sSnss nscsssIsX to sseSse n,Ss tee sassss of that form of free government for which the fathers laid so secure foun- dalton.
 In paying tribute then. to. the efforts and influence of the press in the Ala bama contest, Chairman Long paid . two-foid tribute. since the evidence Of such influence testifies in unmistakable language to the intelligence and patri- otism of the citizenship of that com
 Well may we exclaim in the lan- guage of the immortal Story:
 Here shall the Press the Peoples right
 maintain.
 Unawed by influence and unbribed by Here patriot Truth her glorious pre-
 cepts draw.
 Pledged to Religion. Liberty and Law"
 AIabama's Decisive Victory.
 Two years ago Alabama spread upon her statute books a law providing for Statewide prohibition. Her action, to- gether with that of Georgia. which in provided prohibttlonists with great shibboleth. "The whole South dry" became their cry. And at one time their ambition seemed in a fair way. Of realization. Lately, however, there has been Hull. And now there is mate- rial setback.
 But 1t is not surprising. Only the less thoughtful prohibitionists will be much discouraged by Alabama's defec- ton. For where the drift has been so fin the natural course of events. all but inevitable. The Alabama anti prohibit tionists appear to have learned the election methods of the prohibitionists. and how to counteract their effects Thus we are told that brass bands sta toned near the polling places played lively tunes to drown out the prayers and songs and pleadings of the women and children. This Is most significant. Such a symptom of reaction the pro- hibittonists will perhaps Ind they have much more reason to fear than mere ma torities against them. It looks like the danger signals that the public tenn per sometimes flies.
 Admission ST weakness. Columbia State.
 TO attempt to fasten a prohibition law In the Constitution is, besides its unwisdom. a distinct admission of weakness; it exhibits a fear that con ditions under prohibition will cause | reversal of public sentiment on the subject. It Is better, too. for the en. l forcement of prohibition laws that all its advocates should be arrayed in act ton into the Constitution, and an inn | portant incentive to support the law and defend 1t from disrepute will be taken away.
 will never return iu those Southern | States that have voted them out, and that they will finally disappear from all the South. And after while there | will be a settlement along lines that will produce the best results for th< people--with the larger degree of so- | briety and the least degree of lawlss- ness To this end local option--witf prohibition here and some guarded manner for legal sale of liquor there will be the ruling principle. Public sentiment everywhere must be brought to support temperance--sobriet The | chronic or occasional drunkard snOulc become odious in the public sight anC be severely punished.
 The temperance people should bs united in understanding that senti' ment for temperance must be cultivat- ed and developed by work: 1t can no' be beaten into a community or State with club.
 The First Opportunity. | Hartford Times. l Alabama has enjoyed a system oi
 local option and this was the frs
 time n popular vote has been taker ! on absolute prohibition. In the large places the vote was almost universally
 against the amendment It had beer 1 supposed for some reason that thu
 farmers would favor the amendment but it seems to have been the othei way, and this is now attributed to tht
 srcond clause of the amendment whicl
 says the legislature may decide where | whiskey shall not be stored. F After all 1t Is difficult to see how
 any better plan than that Of local op
 ton can be devised. If fully carried
 out 1t gives every natural group O
 citizens the right to decide for them
 selves which course the town shal Hollow. In Alabama, we believe tn
 county unit was adopted, and although