The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-01-12
USE OF LIQUOR SHOULD
 BE LEFT 10 INDIVIDUAL
A Choice Between Regulation by
 Law or Open Violation.
Declares That Untii Fesersa Gsvszss saent Ferbias s1sazsactura s.A Sale ef Liquor. It is Net Pes-
 sibIe to Have Fro.
 hibftion Law.

Nashville, Tenn, Jan. 11.---In spe- ciai message to the Legislature shis afternoon, Governor Patterson dis. eussed in detail the subject of state. wide prohibition. .
 He declared that Statewide prohi- bition Is fundamentally and profoundly wrong as a governmental policy ana does not accomplish the result hoped for. He says it violates the plaiuest and most obvious rule of individual age tions and personal freedom. He e. clares that the use or non-use Of l1e quor should be left to the individu&1 He reviews the legislation by States oa this subject. declaring that States o&n. not prevent the manufacture of liQuow In other States and the shipment from other States. He declares that untis the United States forbids the manufac- ture and sale of liquor, 1t Is not possi- ble to have a prohibition law. sssl
 He declares that to destroy the value of existing plants without remuner- ation is confiscation without compen- sation. He asserts that prohibition States are filled with. open and secret violations of the lay and that the ato- lition of the sale of liquor by law, ia an "impossibility and an empty dream"
 The Governor says 1t is a choice be+ tween the regulation and control by law and the secret or open violation of the law. The Governor declares thak the regulation and control of the sa. looms Is the best solution of a difficult problem. He recomends theraf0re. high license, strict regulation and forfeiture of license for violations of the law. He makes a strong plea for local option, for permitting the people of each community to voice their sen- sNa Nf.. Na. A this is in accordance with Democrakie principles.
 He asserts that a majority of tht people are not dersanding athtswids prohibition. They have spoken mora than once on this propoaltiou. He aays there Is nothing in the ai9ine law which makes prohibition itself moral Issue. He urges that the Lesigfatnfe proceed with deiiberatlon and caution and with due regard for the welfare oa the State.
 He recommends that no bin or bltis be passed prohibiting the nanufacture and sale of liquor in Tennessee. He reviews Democratic Legislation on the temperance question. declaring that II was understood that this question would be eliminated from politics af- ter the passage of the PendIeton biIT He recommends that the people of Ls Toilette, Chattanooga Nashville and Memphis be given An opportunity to declare for themselves whether they want liquor manufactured and aold in their communities and if they do. that law be passed to prohibit it. but # they do not so express themselves that their wishes be respected.
 Flight ia Bitter.
 Advocates of statewide prohibition in Tennesseeare tonight freely predict. ing that by Wednesday night suck legislation will have been enacted.
 Tonight the Senate committee s9 on liquor traffic after a most exciting and largely attended public hearing ca arguments for and against. voted to TO. port favOrably tomorrow on the Hollt- day Bill
 The House committee sat. with the Senate committee. through courtesy, but took no formal action. It is ex- pected to report Wednesday on the bill before 1t.
 The day has been one of sensations in legislative circles. Charges were made at a meeting of Methodist min isters that not only was money being used in large sums in an effort to de- feat anti whiskey legislation, but that beautiful fallen women" had been brought here for the same purpose.
 This was but one of the day,s de- velopments in the light for and against Statewide prohibition. Among oth- CTS, which came thick and fast. were mtttees and a special message to the Legislature this afternoon from the Governor. vigorously opposing such legislation.
 The climax was reached in the hear Ing tonight.
 The committees sat in the Hall of Representatives. The session openinK O 1so hxr nfQlnrh khA nrnfiar4MN were packed and the available space on the main floor was filled to over flowing Many women workers for came early with lunch baa- kets and the hours of waiting was hli- ed with songs of Tennessee is Going Dry" and others of a similar nature. Crowds of students were on hand and tainmept.
 Hundreds of business men from and Memphis were here to oppose the bill and send their rep before the committees but all their efforts were futile. The ses- sion was long and exciting ones hue the final action was pretty generally expected.
 Tn the Senate tomorrow, il, membera vote as they did in organizing thaG body. the measure's passage Is assured, seventeen votes being necessary.
 In the House enough members have committed themselves on paper to assure It's passage there. The GoR- ernor, 1t Is conceded. will veto the measure, when the fight will be on again with renewed vtgor. Only a majority Is required to pass a nleaa- ure over the Governors veto. Prayers ssr LeStaHatsEs.
 Following the regular routine Of business at the meeting of Methedask Rev. E. B. Chappell thts asked that c prayer bo offered for the legislators who, he asserted, be knew from sources that he could not publicly announce, were being sorele tried by bribes from the whiskey loBR byists. Money, he said. was being oee fered in large amounts. and he begged that a fervent invocation be seat up to God to aid the lawmakers and keep