The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-07-25
Seems to Have Things Coming
 His Way
PROHIBITION IS ISSUE
Alabama Is Now Entering the Great est Struggle of its History in Fight for or Against Regulation of
 the Whisky Traffic.
By HERVEY w. LAIRD.

Montgomery, July 24-(Special.)-If ever there was man born with political silver spoon in his mouth that man Is Braxton Bragg Conner, present Governor of Alabama Not only has he shown that he is a past master in the political arena, but luck has broken his way about as often as 1t has for any other man known in this part of the country.
 His connection with the railroad ques- ton and his absorption of prohibition as a personal political asset are matters of recent Alabama history. Now that he is accredited with ambitions to go to the United States Senate it seems to follow naturally for a contest on constitutional prohibition and biennial sessions of the legislature by and through which he is ex- pected to acquire more popularity and provide way of escaping the constitu- tional provision regulating the election of United States senators from Alabama
 Some Recent Events. Here are some of the most recent events that go to prove that the god of luck is perched upon the ambitions of this same well known Barbour and Jefferson county citizen.
 He makes a speech at Samson, where one year ago he laid out in elaborate form an argument for, and defense of his ad- ministration, and goes away. The local paper for some reason seeks to discredit his last appearance and to show that peo- pie there gave him frost
 As consequence large number of the citizens of the town, resenting this attack on their good name for hospitality, as- sembled in an indignation meeting, de- nounced the statements of the local pub lication and sent it out to the world in about column of solid type that MT. Conner was there, was made welcome and received an enthusiastic reception.
 Just about this time the state Baptist convention, containing a great many of the personal and political friends of Gov ernor Conner and having a membership largely in favor of doing everything pos sible to the liquor traffic, adopted strong resolutions, not only in favor of prohibit tion, but commenting the particular stand and activities of Governor Conner in the interest of prohibition and the ellmina- tion of the liquor traffic.
 These two things coming along just when they did have done more to attract favorable consideration for his excellenoy than several months of ordinary cam paigning could have accomplished.
 But the Fight Is On.
 If any man thinks, however, that the prohibition ideas of Governor Conner and his political associates are going to go through easily he Is badly out of it. Or ganization in every section of the state Is leading up to a contest that will bring into play every line of influence on both sides of the question.
 Calling themselves safe and sane busi- ness men, large number of well known and conservative citizens have agreed to throw themselves in the way of the adop- tion of constitutional prohibition xr-fn men are all brewers and members of the liquor interests, for this is not SO. Many of them are in favor of prohibit ton from a statutory standpoint, but consider it a dangerous proposition to put 1t in the organic law They are going to fight and fight hard.
 As one man said: we have been quiet long enough. It is now our purpose to come right out in the open and fight this business for all we are worth, Zlieving that it will be best for the state and for the people in tho long run"
 Prohibition Promise. Over against this influence is the promise of the prohibition people that the extra session of the ligeslature will do these two things: Pass a set of laws through which and by which there will be as nearly absolute enforcement of the liquor statutes as is possible for any regula- tion; provide for submission to the peo- pie of the question of constitutional pro- hibition, leaving them to say whether or not 1t shall be adopted.
 A man close to the governor puts 1t something like this: "The Iiquor men say that the people of Alabama have never had a chance to vote on the pro- hibition question. It Is our purpose to | give them this opportunity in the con stitutional prohibition measure, and then 1t will be for the people themselves to say whether or not 1t shall be adopted, and to silence for all time the conten- ton that they have not been allowed to say what they want in this matter. It Is very simple; they can either accept or reject 1t, just as they see fit. How ever. I believe that the measure is going to pass by an overwhelming majority
 Mostly Prohibition.
 At the risk of becoming tiresome on | one question, the newspaper men are forced by the circumstances to write al- most altogether about prohibition. This 1 will be 80 per cent, probably more, of l the questions to be considered by the | legislature. The plan is to get the other matters out of the way and to devote | practically the whole of the session to | this line of discussion. Taking 1t polit- | ically or any other way, those who have | the power to say are contendng that l just now it is by far the most important | question that Is before the people. 1 Measuring the question in this light one l has but to remember that Governor Co., | mer has practically abandoned all issues l and placed his political future almost ex- | clusively upon this one line of pros- 1 pect. Lieutenant Governor Henry B | Gray, president of the senate, has let il | be known from the house tops that he 1 is in favor of any kind of regulation that will prohibit the sale and manufacture | of intoxicating liquors in Alabama. A 1 H. Carmichael, speaker of the house | author of the present general prohibition | bill, Is loaded with all kinds of weapon. 1 and ammunition for any kind of traffic that has anything to do with the manu | facture and sale of intoxicating drinks l If there Is anything that Archie Car | michael would not do that is honest t, | put John Barleycorn out of business | neither he nor his large number of asso ciates have discovefed it.
 So it Is an easy matter to see tha | prohibition has the advantage of thorough accord on the part of heads of the gov ernment, and those who will have most t' do with the shaping of legislation sa, 1t is dollars to doughnuts that when tn, | present extra session adjourns the fellov who is going around looking for chance for the liquor business to hold up it. head will be in a worse fix than tha ancient philosopher who went on a searcl with a lantern for arf honest man.
 
 Notice.