The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-09-16
/ SPEAKER FLAYS
ALL HYPOCRISY
Argument Of 0'Neal
Convincing.
DENIES MONEY IMPUIATIoNs
Defends Anti Amendment Move
ment Ia Masterfm Fashion.
address or Distinsuished Aiabamian
II Met with Proionged Cheer
ins--It Not Fight
Against Prohibition.
DENIES MONEY IMpUTATIoNs

CHARGING that the anti-saloon
league 10 aided in its fight by money
Of Rockefeller; defending the voters
d Alabama from the charge that they
are corruptible and open to purchase
BY brewers money; declaring that
the constitutional amendment is a
scheme OF politics to aid a tagging
cause. Hon. Emmett ONeal addressed
the delegates at the anti-amendment
conference at the auditorium yester-
day.
The speech came at the first of the
meeting, before the recess for dinner
The crowd. at It's height and fresh.
eheered him time and again.
Most Of the speech was taken u2 in
argument against the amendment, but
not o hight against prohibition or for
liquor. as he said.
The political preacher came in for
some adverse comment at the hands
OF the speaker.
Mr.. oNeal said:
Mr.. O'Neal began with congratula-
tons for the gathering
This magnificent gathering OF
patriotic citizens Of Alabama he said.
''the most notable ever convened in
our Capitol City should convince the
most skeptical that the recent Legis-
lature failed to represent the public
sentiment OF the State. 1t IL but an
other proof of the truth of the declara-
tion made by an eminent statesman.
that the Legislature can be got at, but
the people cannot, that the Legisla-
ture may be subjected to pressure ir-
resistible to ordinary niortals. but that
the people are too numerous and in
teliigent TO be either wheedled or
coerced. Moreover the people are not
candidates for office, but the Legis-
lature. individually and collectively
most generally are.
HHisread Public Sentiment.
so thoroughly did they misconceive
the temper and patience of our people
that they were arrogant enough to
declare that no organized effort wouls
be made to oppose an amendment,
which had not been inspired by any
public demand, which did not give adj
ditional force to any prohibition tnact-
ment, but which had its origin In a
desire to rebuke our highest courts,
to destroy the sanctity of tie home,
and to subserve selfish political ambi-
ton. Yet with no political patronage
ut stake, with no personal motives or
Interest to subserve, estNated solely by
AZ honest desire to promote the best
Interests OF all our people. you have
laid aside the cares of business repre-
sentatives of every class of our people,
and assembled here In conference to
-lnauSurate campaign. which will
protect the constitution against as
sault. and rebuke that combine of
intolerant zealots and selfish POLL
ticians who for personal motives have
undertaken to enslave the people OF
Alabama.
7 now venture the prediction that
the Influence of this convention will
perfneate all parts of Alabama, that
your deliberations will be so wise, un-
selfish and. patriotic as to enlist under
eur bannef those who are now uncer-
tain and vaciilating, and to convince
even these who now doubt our mo-
tives or impugn our sincerity that our
cause Ia the cause of the people, and
that we battle not for partisan advan-
tage. for public office or public pat
ronage. but for the fundamental prin-
ciples of constitutional law, and for
the preservation of those constitu-
tional guarantees and rights which
the people of Alabama have enjoyed
since the admission of the State into
the Federal Union.
.srhe Governor of this State has
seen proper to characterize all those
who oppose his policies. or object to
the amendment which he has claimed
as q favored measure of his admins
priests, and OF false religion. allies
Of the liquor interests and of the
criminal and lawiess.
81 therefore, congratulate you on
this splendid assemblage of the crimi-
nal and lawless element of the State.
I further congratulate you that you
have. escaped the penalties OF the Full
Ter bill and its prima facie presump-
tions of guilt. and that the Governors
legal adviser has omitted to apply to
some court of equity to have this
meeting abated as a common nuisance.
I was apprehensive that under some
of the sweeping sections of the numer-
Gus laws recently enacted. this meet
ing might have been enjoined as an
insurrection against constituted
authority, ana a defiance of a Legis-
lature which according to the eulogy
OF his Excellency. has written its name
SO high in history that the inscription
is invisible to ordinary mortals.
your seeming immunity from these
dangers is no doubt due to the fact
that the ex-chief justice, the keeper
OF the public conscience. Is absent
from the State resting from his
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