The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-03
PAPERS MAY Be DEPRIVED
OF LIQUOR ADVERTISING
Lobbyists For and Against Greater
Birmingham Are Putting Up Spec
tacular Fight at Montgomery.
Ensley People Are Active.
BY HERVEY w. LAIRD,

Montgomery, August 2.-(speciaL)-Go
B. B. Conner, just in from a dove shoot,
Joined the prohibition forces in the rooms
of Judge S. d. Weakley tonight for a
conference on the bills that are to be
presented between now and the end of the
week. Speaker Carmichael, T. C. Rat
life, Fred jackson and w. L. Sessions of
Birmingham made up part of the bunch,
along with Brooks Lawrence and Harry
L. Martin, the Ozark leader of the Cover
nor's forces. There was an air of con-
fidence about the whole meeting that in
dicated that the outlook is good for what
they want to do.
Speaker Carmichael said just before
going into the conference that the prohi-
bitionists had no set plans. They felt
that the bill set for tomorrow, the first,
or basis bill, presented by Speaker Car
michael and in with favor of the COM
mittee, would pass If not speech was
made. Hence they were going to let mat
ters shape themselves. The opposition
seems to be as much in the woods as to
action. Mr. Lyons of Mobile had no notion
of what was going to be done other than
the offering of a few amendments Most
all classes believed that the bill would
pass the house by a large vote
Bills With Features.
At the conference tonight several bills
that will be introduced, among them
measures to control the soft drink stands
and prevent newspapers advertising
liquors, were gone over and revised after
having been written by Judge WealSley.
When the constitutional prohibition bill
reaches the senate 1t will be sent to the
committee on revision of the constitution,
of which Mr.. Hayes is chairman. Black
mon, Spragins and Thomas of this COM
mittee will be against it; Merritt, Forester
and Reese for It, leaving Hayes to break
the tie, and he will likely vote aye. But
If Forester, who is Ill and may not get
here, is kept away the bill will surely be
adversed and the first fight on It In the
senate will come on motion to take 1t
from such a report.
Like an army of workers the Greater
Birmingham crowd fell upon the city to-
night ready for the open hearing before
Joint committee sessions tomorrow. Jere
King, father of the movement, looked
happy, though he is up against a hard
fight with the varying interests that are
opposing. Walker Percy and Borden
Burr want to keep out Thomas; Mayor
Friel is jealous about letting in North
Birmingham: City Attorney Black OF East
Lake, likes 1t as it is, and Felix Black
burn Is begging to keep Elyton intact as
a town. All are mixing tonight so that
Jere King and ]. B. Babb have a hard
time keeping them In sight
Ensley's Fight.
Ensley, however, is making the most
spectacular fight, pro and con. ]. NJ.
Perkins, who wants to stay out of Bir-
mingham, was Joined tonight by DR.. R.
M. Cunningham, erstwhile governor; the
Rev. ]. l. Williams, Methodist preacher
and W. r. Stewart, all of whom are see-
ing the boys. Over against them is T.
]. Kennamer, an old representative, who
knows the tricks; W. A. Brown, j. M.
Boyd, all of whom like the idea of be-
ing a part of a big city. This almost
takes the interest from the prohibition
fight.
For Greater Birmingham proper are
Harry Jones. T. H. Motion. who agrees
that he never comes to Montgomery save
when he has business; Fred Jackson, Ed
Smith and Frank Nelson They will be
Joined tomorrow by James Bowron. 8. J.
Bowie and r. M. Goodall, and when the
meeting of the committee opens tomor-
row there will be lot of good times.
In the excitement the new county idea
Is not lost sight of. a large delegation
from Tuscaloosa coming in to fight 1t.
Neither is the commission form of gov
ernment Mr.. Urquhart expressing great
confidence in the bill passing both houses.
He has is senators in line for the nfeas-
ure. he thinks.
Felix Blackburn has a bill for the OK
termination of English sparrows which
he is asking to have introduced.