The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-25

| not be obtained. ,s In fact, 1t was related | by a citizen that sometime ago enough
 evidence to convict many of those who | are violating the law was submitted to 1 grand jury, but that not a single true l bill was returned. It is also said that | another reason for Mobiles indifference | to the violation of the law is the resent | ment felt on account of the fact that l prohibition, against the will of the peo- ] pie, was stuffed down the peoples throats. It is a matter of common gos- | sip in Mobile, although for the truth
 or falsity of the statement no one was | willing to voueh, that Governor Conner | promised to submit the question in the | form of a local option election. It is generally understood throughout the state ] that prohibition could not have carried | in Mobile. It is remembered that when the legislature passed the statutory pro- | hibition bill the people of Mobile were go indignant that they threatened to se- l cede from Alabama. It is pointed out that this resentment may be another req l son for Mobiles tolerance of the open
 violation of the law.
 Strengthen Prohibition Laws. In Mobile it is believed that Governor
 Conner is calling the legislature together to strengthen the prohibition laws espe- cially as they affect Mobile, and that on account of the necessity of Greater Birmingham the people are not raising howl.
 In spite of this belief Mobile views the | extra session in almost indifferent | manner. Senator Hamburger, however, stated to your representative that he | would be delighted with an extra session. | Senator Hamburger has a scheme up his sleeve and that scheme is to have Mobile | exempted from the prohibition laws In l Birmingham, where it is known that ] Governor Conner is inseparably welded to | prohibition, the scheme of MT. Hamburger | will cause no alarm. To see the scheme
 materialized Birmingham will say is im- l possible. But Mir. Hamburger is not so pessmistic
 1 Along the same line Birmingham will | be amused to learn that editorially one | of the papers of the city recently com
 mented at some length on what they con-
 sidered a falling apart of Governor Co., | mer and Lieutenant Governor Gray. Bir- 1 mingham which knows that Governor | Conner and Lieutenant Governor Gray are | at the present time as intimate polite | ally as they ever were, and which knows
 that Mir Gray is as firmly convinced as he ever was that prohibition is the band
  will, as stated, be amused.
 In its news columns, too. the same pa- per publishes a dispatch from Montgom- cry to the effect that Governor Conner and Sheriff Hood have recently had a heated discussion as to how well or how badly the prohibition laws were being en- forced in Montgomery. and stated through
 this dispatch that it was rumored in
 Montgomery that Sheriff Hood might re- sign.
 While in Birmingham it is believed that Governor Conner still yields the "big
 stick" in the legislature of the state,
 knowing the temperament of the people 1t is wondered if prohibition will ever prove effective in Mobile, whether the Hamburger scheme fails or not.
 whether or not Governor Conner and the legislature enact other and sterner legis- lation in reference to the sale of whisky. Without the aid of the officers of the law and the will of the people. however,
 one would judge that the task will be difficult one.
 Captain Robert Lee, one of Barbour's
 representatives in the legislature. while he feared an extra session, believed that it was coming. Incidentally Captain Lee remarked to your representative that he hadn't seen drink of whisky in Mo bile. Those who know the estimable Barbour county statesman will not mar vel for the simple reason that his feet
 never led him Into those places where the thirsty are satisfied and the fa- tiqued refreshed
 Senators Fred Bacltmon and Sam Jen- kins of Calhoun and Baldwin. respectively, were among others who mingled with the Mardi Gras crowds. and were happily re- | celved and entertained Many other dis l tinguished Alabamians visited Mobile dur l ing the festival. and had Governor Conner and Lieutenant Governor Gray been on hand, little session of the legislature could have been called on the spot.
 M. & O. Schedule.
 Your correspondent chatted with Col. E. L. Russell, vice president of the Mo- bile and Ohio railroad who has charge of the Mississippi division, yesterday. | The jovial Alabamian declared that his road would put on passenger schedule | in Birmingham in the immediate future, l as soon, in fact, as conditions, in the | opinion of the speaker, will warrant.
 "You know stated he, that until quite
 recently things have been very quiet in
 Birmingham and the Birmingham district 1 However, as conditions are improving, | the Mobile and Ohio will put It's pas
 senger schedule into operation as soon i as possible. The schedule has been ! drawn. and can be made effective prac ! tically at a moments notice'
 Captain John G. Smith, J.kB B. Francis 1 w. A. Smith, J. F. Williams. R. H. Baugh
 and other representative citizens of Br-
 mingham were visitors to Mobile during
 the celebration of Mardi Gras
 1