The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-22
BLACKMON AGAINST
THE EXTRA SESSION
Calhoun Delegation Will Be
Split on Issues
PROHIBITION SENTIMENT
Senator BIackmon Believes Calling of
Solons Is III Advised Because
of Shock 1t Will Cause Bus
mess Interests.

Admission, July 21.-(Special )-Referring
to the letter of Attorney Leon McCord of
Montgomery. secretary to the supreme
, court in which he claims to have the
support of 10000 safe and sane business
men of Alabama and seeks the support of
members of the legislature in an effort to
defeat the proposed legislation at the ex-
ira session, local representatives spoke
Interestingly today. State Senator Black
mon opposed the session for business rea :
sons, Mr.. Cooper declared for stronger
prohibition. while Mr. Arnold remained
non-committal
Representative w. H. Cooper was the
first to be seen. He said that he be-
lieves Mr.. McCord's letter is representa-
tive only Of the Montgomery sentiment.
where the prohibition law is largely op-
posed and loosely enforced, and that in
sofar as he Is concerned he will do all
in his power to uphold Governor Conner in
his efforts to reinforce the prohibition
laws. This he considers to be his duty
to his constituents, inasmuch as Calhoun
county voted for prohibition by a ma
jority of about 8 to 1. Referring to con-
stitutional prohibition, however, he was
non-commttal. He says that he favors
first the Strengthening of statutory pro-
hibtion In every way possible, and If this
should prove a failure, he will then give
his support to prohibition by constitu-
tional amendment. He opposed constitu-
tional prohibition, he says, at the last
session.
Representative Arnold is a prohibition
list at heart and says he will never vote
for a return to open saloons, but he re-
mains nen-oommittal in regard to Mr.. Mo
Cords letter and the governors call.
stating that he is not sufficiently informed
as to the governors intentions to make
a positive statement as to his alignment.
Blackmon Strongly Opposed.
Senator Blackmon was seen at his
office and dictated the following inter-
view:
II am opposed to an extra session of
the legislature because I see no possible
reason for 1t at this time. Business an
pears to be again assuming it's normal
condition, and 1t cannot be doubted that
recent legislation in Alabama, as well as
elsewhere, has had tendency to dis
turb business conditions to the detriment
of all classes and all interests in the
state 1t will take a great deal of
money to handle the cotton crop and
necessarily more or less capital will have
to be obtained from those who will let
1t for this purpose. In my opinion any
stringency In the money market at this
time will cost the people Of Alabama
several million dollars by reason Of low
er prices for cotton and other farm prod
ucts. With the legislature in session
no one knows or can predict what laws
will be passed, making 1t indeed difficult
to secure necessary funds with which to
move the present crop.
Whether 1t be true or not great many
look upon the Alabama legislature as
lacking in conservatism. 1t would take at
least 60 days or longer to properly con-
slider the bills embraced in the gov
ernors call, and with the constitutional
limitation of 80 days, the business world
may well expect ill-advised legislation If
rushed through, as it must be If the
matters mentioned by the governor are
considered. The lawyers have barely had
time to familiarize themselves with the
laws that have recently been passed,
and certainly II they have not had suf-
fcient time so to do, the business people
are, of course, without knowledge as to
what the laws really are. and certainly
II will distrub business conditions when
the legislature reconvenes, to say nothing
of the cost of holding this session. be-
lieve 1t will cost the state many thou
sands OF dollars in loss of business and
Generalization Of the same"