The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-07-16
O'NEAL TALKS ON
 ISSUES IN STATE Maintains Party Is Pledged to
 Local Option BURDENS OF PROHIBITION Stands for Temperance But Believes People Should Say Whether They
 Want Liquor Sold Under
 Legal Restraints.
BURDENS OF PROHIBITION

Emmet O'Neal of Florence was in Bir- mingham last night. He admitted that he is watching the political game in the state with considerable interest, but de- clared that he has not yet decided to yield to the pressure of many friends over the state to make the race for the governor ship next year.
 Tt is entirely too early to open cam paign. anyway. even though I was de- cided in the matter" said MT. O'Neal ''The farmers are busy trying to patch up crop that was badly damaged In the planting and in the early growing. The business men have their hands full trying to bring about normal conditions in the business world and the professional men do not want to be bored with the views of d few men who may feel 1t their duty to save the state.
 We have reached a very critical period In the history of Alabama. We have al- most lost our heads in the pursuit of re- form ideas. and some of us, am afraid, have lost sight of that practical conserva- tism that Is always safe and sane
 q am not sure that the people of Ala bama would indorse the extreme to which our executive and law-making powers have gone along several lines, especially as to statewide prohibition. The people have had no chance to express them selves.
 The Party Pledge.
 "The democratic party and platform are pledged to local option. This Is the demo- cratic idea and I am not sure but that the people would indorse 1t If they had the opportunity. The closing of a number of dispensaries and saloons in the state on short notice has almost bankrupted some Of the cities and small towns that were dependent upon revenues from these sources to make public improvements, conduct the schools and pay other neces- sary expenses of the municipalities.
 Tt is a settled fact that the federal government cannot enact an antf-shtpptng law without an amendment to the consti- tuition, and that may never be done This being the fact, Alabama and other prohi- bition states can never rid themselves of the wholesale shipment of liquors into .their territory. This will, of course, carry vast sums of money from the state. money that should be kept here. If we are un- able to rid the state of the bad effects we should certainly have some of the benefits. Any one that has been over the state will readily admit that we have a h .,it dispensaries and saloons The rural dis tricts are suffering under the present con- dition, and I am sure that the people in the country have different opinion about prohibition than before the state enact ment. There are more wildcat distilleries, rampant bootlegging at almost every pub lie gathering in the country, and the of- ficials are utterly helpless in controlling the disorders. I believe the people are ready for some sort of strict regulation and the elimination of the wildcatter and the blind tiger
 "A large number of second class towns of the state at the time prohibition went into effect had dispensaries that were not only well regulated but brought In handsome revenues to the counties and towns in which they were operated. Some of the counties were building good roads while others were improving their schools with the profits.
 "Eliminating this source of revenue the legislature failed to provide means for supplying the deficiency. The legislature will have to remove the limit from the taxing power of the towns or the mu-
 
 privilege taxes. These burdens are al- ready about as heavy as the people can bear, but there seems to be no alterna- tive. It must be remembered that while we are suffering all these burdens we still have all the evils of the whisky traffic In It's worst form.
 q do not advocate the return to the saloon Personally, I do not want it, but I do want the people of the counties as units to decide the matter for themselves Personally I am thoroughly satisfied that the we'll regulated saloon in the larger cities and the dispensary in the second class towns that want them is the best solution of the problem.
 "At any rate, the local option idea is democratic. It is what the party pledged the people and they should decide the matter. If they vote the state dry then, well and good. It would then be more effective.
 'The local option law would provide for prohibition in localities where 1t could be enforced and give to those who do not want 1t an opportunity to regulate the liquor traffic by high license, dis pensary or some other method that would be to the best interest and advantage of the people.
 q want it distinctly understood that in favorng local option I do not favor saloons. Local option does not mean the establishment of the traffic. It simply means allowing the people to decide the matter for themselves according to the best democratic doctrine that was ever conceived. I stand for true temperance at all times. The longer I live the more thoroughly realize the great evil of the liquor traffic But I am thoroughly con- vinced that statutory prohibition increases the bad effects of intemperance rather than corrects them.'
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