The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-12-04
Tyranpy Of Inc Le.ruc.

Tyranny of the League.
 Houston Post.
 The campaign for the prohibition amendment in Alabama was conducted under the auspices of the Anti Saloon League, the organization that has charge of the prohibition work in Texas. It had become strong enough to dominate the Legislature and secure State wide prohibition without consult ing the people and from that point of vantage. 1t attempted to throttle the libery of the people for all time. since were adopted it would be almost an impossibility to repeal 1t. As the matter now stands. the peo- pie of Ala5aTa .T .. ere sin P2gittcn t9 ley for dealing with the 1iqnof trafIIc They must learn, for instance. that II given the power. the ;Anti-Saloop League would halt at no form of ty- rany that might be calculated gram. They may learn that Alabama had experience of plain Statewide pro- hibition at frst and latterly of the ex- treme brand before constitutional pro- hibition was submitted to them. They were distinctly dissattsfied with both kinds and by rejecting the amendment condemned both of them. ii + A Salutary Rebule.
 Americus Times.
 1ne ueLeat OI IHe ulLtA pEOtipittOu- ists of Alabama in their effsrts to in- corporate prohibition of the most dras- tic type In the State Constitution Is not at all surprising. In fact, 1t would have been very much more surprising if the voters of the State had piled ur majority the other way.
 Alabama is simply an instance oi prohibition run wild, going to the ex- treme limit, and provoking an opposi' tion that is likely to grow in intensity Mo anf tofi xx.ff xttR gained the prohibitionists sought tC perpetuate a dry law through the me. dium of the State Constitution that would inaugurate a system of espion- age and domictliary ytsitations thai would render those prevalent in Russia | mild by comparison. The laws propos ed in that State are an evidence of ia natacism as regards the liquor question run to the widest limit The rebuks | that has been administered Is really l salutary one. It will bring the lead CTS of the movement to realiza l tton of the fact that common sense pro l tests must be needed and progress mad' more slowly.
 Not Q Nucleus but Whole Thing.
 Frank J. Scale teicgraphs to the ed itor from Denison. Texas. that 'ther' are only few of us left. but we arr the nucleus of greater and grandei 1 Democracy" Frank has it on straigh as to the existence of nucleus, but i he had been here and seen us Mondal l night he would not say that We ar | few. There was whole street full O us, and thousands more throughout tn | State, not only the nucleus of greate and grander Democracy. but a greate and grander Democracy itself. a De mocracy that has thrown of tn | shackles of opportunism and declare' itself devoted. as in the old time. t' the principles of representative gov l ernment.
 l AIabana'n Lesson.
 | Richmond Times Dispatch.
 The people of Alabama. we assume are much like the people of othe States. They look upon State prohibi tion under existing conditions as mere ly a well-meant experiment in reform | which is precisely what 1t Is. Desptt the invectives of the zeaiots, rnapy per sons who now oppose prohibition ar l really quite open-minded about 1t. the experiment can justify itself. If ! greatly improves moral and social con ditions. in short if it makes good, the violation of their Ideas of what tn proper scope of Legislation Is. Blu this Is exactly what State prohibition | from Maine down to the newest proba tionaf convert. has not done. Proba bly the people of Alabama are willinl to give the experiment a longer trial though their votes on Monday may ac tuaIly indicate the contrary. But [ give it the ultimate stamp of approva by incorporating 1t In their fundament ali law was quite another matter. an they evidently never had an Idea O doing any such thing
 Tribute to the Press.
 Houston Post.
 In congratulating the people of Ala hama on the great victory won by then Monday in tue overwhelming defeat Q the prohibition constitutional amend ment. Chairman Long. who was 1 charge of the fight against the amend ment' paid just tribute to the value c the work of the press of the State 1 arousInR the people to due sense 0
 their obligations as citizens and voter in resisting such further encroachment
 upon their personal rights and libertie
 as the adoption of the proposed amend
 ment would have opened the way for.
 To A certain extent. 1t was sought 1
 this contest to combat the Influence (
 the press by the power of the pulpi
 The result of the election shows ths
 the people have discriminating sens
 as to the respective spheres of prei
 and pulpit . t,. ..
 dents of our system of government wh