The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-10-01

necessary to allow them 10 say that we shall not keep liquors in our private homes for our own private uses and purposes.
 If we could be assured that the adop- tion of the amendment would have any effort toward putting stop to the con tinual agitation of the liquor question this would be some argument for it, but 1t has been publicly stated by able lawyers that with this provision in the Constitution subsequent Legislatures could repeal the present laws and leave us in the worst imaginable state. The constituencies saloon man could then ply his trade without let or hin- derance till another Legislature could be elected. Or if the Legislature SAW fit they could reduce the penalties now prescribed so that a conviction would not be dreaded. The saloon man would then be in his glory as he would have no license to pay and no punishment to dread. Every time members of the Legislature were to be elected the same eternal whisky question would arise.
 It is apparent that the amendment IS aimed at the use rather than the abuse of intoxication. It is not a rife shot at the saloon on the corner, but the reckless discharge along a thorough fare thronged with innocent people, of a blunder-b buss loaded to the muzzle with slugs and missiles.
 Nor can I believe that the rejection of this amendment would have any lasting or materially damaging effect upon the cause of true temperance. l believe that the people of Alabama are earnestly in favor of prohibition wheth- CT brought about by local option or State wide prohibition laws; and If the defeat of the amendment should result In a temporary check to the movement, 1t will speedily come again in better form and rise to higher. nobler and better things. While do believe that Legislatures are frequently swept off their balance by passing waves of pub lie sentiment, I can not believe that future Legislatures will be so corrupt. and so subject to bribery by the whis- key interests, that they will for the sake of money force the saloon upon an unwilling people. Nor do l think that the sentiment for temperonce Is a passing wave, but is a great moral awakening of the people. believe that there are large numbers of true advo- cates of the cause of temperance who will oppose the amend nent for the req sons I have mentioned and for others which seem good to them, who will gladly rally to the cause of temperance when that cause Is freed from the many embarrassing objections which accompany the present. iuoFo- At AS AS- grettable and unfortunate in the ex- treme that conscientious prohibition ists, and equally conscientious local op- ton prohibitionists, are impelled from a sense of duty to be placed in the ap- parent attitude of espousing the cause of the liquor interests; but to those who are so situated it is not purely a moral question, but, as they see it, there is a serious and vital question of personal liberty involved which does not. and should not, effect the temper ance cause. They oppose the amend ment for very different reasons from those which actuate the great majority of the whiskey people, and their ob- jects are far from the same. With them 1t is no false cry or pretense to say that the Constitution is 8 sacred document and should be removed from the influence of waves of public senti- ment which sometimes control our Legislatures. The Constitution should be 'as the shadow of a great rock in weary land; as a covert from the storm; as a hiding place from the winds"
 Monroeyille Ala Sept. 26.