The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-08-08
! BILL TO PUNISH THREE PArERs.

ton leaders have rolled up in this
State. These papers are The Mobile
Register. The Birmingham Age Herald
and The Advertiser.
| Mr.. Lawrence has tried very hard to
bring these papers under his domina-
tion- He has used soft words and he
has thrown stones His Birmingham
Citizen has charged, or insinuated. all
sorts OF ugly things against them. He
and some Of his helpers have gone
about over the State and have done
their best to array prejudice against
them. In many a pulpit. under his
has been denounced as an ally OF the
saloons. the harlots and the devil. No
effort has been spared to bring about
boycott of these papers by the sup
porters of the prohibition cause.
All these efforts have failed to brow
beat these papers into submission.
They have stood firmly and resolutely
| against what they believe the unwise
attempt to bring on the Millennium in
Alabama by writing statutes on books.
They have criticised Mr.. Lawrence and
his methods forcibly. but justly. They
have truly been a free press in spite of
great pressure.
So having failed to reach these pa
pers sufficiently through their circula-
| tion receipts, he appears to have de-
cided on a way to punish them for
their stiff-neckedness. The plan shows
plainly in a bill before the Legisla-
ture.
These three dailies have been used
mainly by the liquor manufacturers
! and dealers outside of Alabama for
| their advertisements. This has been
logical and natural because of tho
larger circulations of those papers. Of
their wider diffused calculations and
of the lower cost of advertising in
them per thousand of circulation. 1t
both sides.
One of the several measures devils
! ed by Mr.. Lawrence and his leaders to
further the enforcement OF prohibi-
ton is now before the House. 1t is
called the Fuller bill. but a more ac-
| curate title. SO far as one of its lead
ing provisions is concerned. would be
"a Bill to Punish the Three Leading
Morning Papers of Alabama for OPP
posing Prohibition" That is practical
ly all 1t would accomplish.
This provision. Section of the BILL
Is nominally to stop all sorts of ad-
vertising of liquors in this state on
the excuse of public policy. 1t Is re-
produced on this page. It is ap-
parently aimed at the news dealers and
bill posters as well as the newspapers
| AS q matter OF course. 1t can never be
enforced against the news dealers for
handling outside publications.. and in
all probability that superfiuitv will be
removed from the bill before final ac-
s
provision in the bill to prevent publ
cations about 'rapes. a. -, '+
! Now 1t is going to 1be impossible to
| prevent the circulation in this State
of magazines. newspapers and circu-
lars containing advertisements OF liq-
Quors. which are printed and
/ mn 81 - Hn, 10
The Federal mailing laws will
protect them. and an Alabama statute
could not reach, them. 1t is also very
improbable that the news dealers can
be prevented from handling such pub
locations. II the statute should re-
main In this respect as introduced, the
nullify It so far. Therefore, as we have
pointed put. the only practical effect
Of this bill. IL enacted. would be to
affect the advertising of the three
morning dailies. which have carried
the bulk of this advertising. Some of
the evening papers may carry more of
1t in the future. but it is not likely in
the regular course of business.
OF course. this anti-advertising pro-
vision. II enacted. might be knock ed
out in the courts as a violation of the
State Constitution. To our mind the
publication, of liquor advertising
is not in contravention of the State
law. which is to stop the evils OF the
liquor traffic In Alabama. The law
is not designed to stop the Legitimate
use OF liquors in a mans own house.
The liquor advertising will encourage
such users to get their liquors lawful
ly outside the State. and will discour-
age them from aiding and abettlng
blind tigers in the State. The anti
advertising law. therefore. Is not neces-
sary for the purpose avowed in it.
Furthermore. If the State courts should
sustain the legality OF such a law. the
United States Courts would very prob
ably knock 1t out as a violation Of
inter State commercial rights.
Hut no matter. how lawyers and
courts might differ as to these points.
the fact Is very plain that the practi-
cal effect Of this proposed provision
will he, as we have said. to punish