The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-11-28

on temperance which the synod adopted was one in which are these words: That alike by uniform practice and constitu- ton we are forbidden to intermeddle with political parties or questions: and this action 'is not to be construed to commit the church to the political theory of pro- hibitfon either pro or con-.
 In this connection the question arises, To what extent may the church as an organizations synod VIC will call it. take part in 8 political or state matter like the proposed amendment? To an- swer this question we must consider what the proposed amendment is, and tho re- spective nature and functions of the state and the church.
 The first section of the amendment the only one we will consider-prohibits the manufacture and sale of alcoholic and malt liquors and other intoxicating bev- erages, but permits the sale of alcohol for medical scientific and mechanical pur- poses and wine for sacramental pur- poses The phrase "alcoholic liquors ' used without any qualifications, includes all liquors in which in their manufacture alcohol in any perceptible quantity is formed. Contemporaneous legislation in the Carmichael biIi includes in forbidden beverages all that contain as much as one-half of per cent of alcohol. The supreme court of Alabama, on February 18, 1909, however, decided that in law: ''The term alcoholic liquors embraces all articles which contain alcohol or malt in such proportions, or form, or state, which are or may be used as an intoxicating beverage, no matter what 1t Is called" Wine, then. or any other vtnous liquor that contains per cent of alcohol Is legally an alcoholic liquor. ''The produc ton of articles for use from raw or pre- pared materials by giving to these mate rials new forms. qualities, properties or combinations, whether by hand labor or by machinery" is the manufacture of them according to the Century dictionary. Tho attempt to limit the word "manufac- ture," which means etymologically ''mak- ing by hand" only to the specific mean ing of making by machinery on a large scale for sale Is interesting, because 1t shows to what indefensible position some of our friends have gone in advocating the amendment.
 Permitting the sale of liquor the man ufacture of which is forbidden is a con- tradfction whether from the stand point of logic, morality or economies Before casting his ballot the intelligent voter will view the matter from the fol- lowing standpoints:
 l. Morality. The attempt has been made to place the manufacture and sale of al- coho1ic liquors in the same class as steal ing and lying. This Is false position. Stealing Is stealing whether the amount be 1 cent or $1 .0oo,0o0, and lying Is lying, whether the lie be ''white lie" or a ''biacks' one; but the manufacture and sale of alcohol for medicine. science and the mechanical arts. and of wine for sac- ramental purposes, is not morally wrong The moral question arises when for gain alcoholic liquors are manufactured that will be used to ruin the health, wealth, homes and lives of the consumers of them.
 2. Economies. The scienc of economies. or political economy, teaches that if there fs any profit fin the manufacture of any, thing that Is used legitimately in the state-unless the state itself monopoliaes for wise reasons this industry--it should permit its citizens to compete with those of other states for this profit There must be . profit in alcohol manufactured for medicine etc., otherwise this manufac- ture would cease. Dsnatured alcohol also may como into sich general use in few yeary for fuel and for illuminating pur- poses that its manufacture may become . great industry-prof1table to the farmer whose surplus produce Is purchased: prof itable to the manufacturer and econom- ical to the consumer. Alabama citizens should be permitted to get such of this profit as they can and economics cries out to them: "Do not tie your hands by this amendmentr' s.s,ss
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