The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-07
Hope Of Keeping Prohibition
Out Of Constitution
SCRAMBLE TO VOTE "AYE"
Nothing Has Ever Been Seen in the
State Like the OverWhe Iminq
Sentiment In Favor of Dras-
tic Prohibition Laws.
BY c. M. STANLEY.

Montgomery, August 6.-(Special )-The
situation at Montgomery is probably the
most unique In the history of the state.
The statutory prohibition measures are
going through like lightning and the
unanimity Is the remarkable feature.
There is never the least delay or clogging
of the machinery. 1t makes no difference
whether 1t be in the house or the senate.
Members are apparently falling over them
selves to vote for them as fast as they
come Every statutory measure intro
duced will be passed by both houses with
out question. When the roll is called the
nays are SO infrequent as to make every
body in the chambers sit up and take
notice when one is heard.
l was in the senate chamber today and
heard the speeches on the Carmichael bill
and they are a sample of the sentiment
existing at both ends of the capitol There
was nothing new, but how they did
"orate." Everybody knew the bill would
pass Overwhelmingly and yet senator after
senator could not resist the large crowd
that was present, but must necessarily get
in some icks at the demon rum in general
anu his lIllpS Ill AldDdllld III pal LlCuidi.
One man with some humor said in the
corridor that it was like the Arkansas
sheriff who was about to hang a man and
an immense crowd had gathered to see
the affair. At the last moment parole
arrived from the governor, but the sheriff
said he was sorry but that the crowd must
not be disappointed.
While the statutory measures are all
going through with a rush there is some
slight hope that the senate will decline
to put prohibition into the organic law
at this time. There are several of the
senators who are preserving their equili-
brium in the general riot to get into the
band wagon and they hold to the view that
prohibition should not be put into the
constitution of the state until the statu-
tory measures have been given a more
thorough trial and have more clearly
proved their efficiency.
In montgomery today there seemed to
be feeling that some sort of agreement
had been made whereby some of the anti
prohibitionists agreed to vote for the
statutory measures as they came up in re-
turn for which certain of the senators
who have voted for the prohibition laws
so far will vote against incorporating pro-
hibition in the constitution. This is given
for what II Is worth but 1t is especially
significant in view of the vote on the Car
michael bill today which was 80 to 3.
In this connection there are some other
rumors ahoat that are given for what
they are worth. For instance it was said
that the prohbitionists have 19 votes in
the senate in favor of constitutional pro-
hibition. 1t will take q to pass the meas
ure. One senator was approached today
and was offered the influence OF the en-
tire prohibition organization to send him
TO Congress to take Tom Hefiins seat IL
he could see his way clear to vote for
constitutional prohibition. Another sem
ator was offered the office of solicitor of
his county If he could conscientiously
bring himself into line with vote No. Il.
These may be merely street rumors but
it seems to be understood that two and
possibly three more votes must be forth
coming to carry the day on the constitu-
tional proposition.
Old hands at the capitol say they have
never seen anything like the sentiment
existing for the prohibition measures.
Most of the members never read the
bills but take them as submitted, the
only privilege they ask in return being
that OF being allowed to make a speech.
The Fuller bill is the most sweeping and
most drastic measure Of the kind ever
drawn in this country. 1t has not been
visions saam to cover averv nossIble ex-
,gencv ana nudge 8 n WeakIev who
f,aroed u th,nLs n will bo,d In Ito on
t,raty 4, tha higbar court, II will nroh-
ah,v nose the house Monday ana w,l,
get to the senate about Wednesday.
Members are getting anxious to get
home, and the indications are that there
,'u,. o~o a,snoaa 20 oo,,,a o,,,,,,,.t,o
100 .a, 49,, 81. III, ~. h.,
-. o,.,'rsa, lille otha,s ss,,a,,s ths,,
. sr,sh It.. 49,, 80, fror,
1s-aasuaa' " '"
10 .S ,.u,,.,o ,o,.,..,, .haro ,s
,s,..,o., al 49,. re ,,.,,o aaa1.ns
.,s.,.,,,aa 49,. ,.,,ht ~, s.ar,,,
r.,e.".. s,..a ~ ~ ara,,sad n,,h,,o
,,st,s,as+ -, ,,t.,,,,rsho,, ,,a r.s,ops,h,s
g. tha o,,o,ona -" nf nroh,h,,,an sentin,ent
r'.,,,ol e 80. ~ 60 ,ha stata tn ION Wan