The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-18
JOHN B, KNOX ON
ISSUE OF THE HOUR
Presents Able Discussion of
Section Two
WHAT IT MEANS IN END
Quote From Fuller Bill to Show Legis-
Iature Has Gone as Far as Pos
sible Without Actual Invasion
of Home.
WHAT IT MEANS IN END

John B. Knox submits through Chair
man Long the following discussion re-
latng to the proposed amendment;
Hon. j. Lee Long, Chairman, Birming-
ham, Alabama:
Dear Sir-Complying with your request
that 1 state the grounds of my opposition
to the adoption of the proposed constitu-
tional amendment, together with my rea-
sons therefor. beg to say;
Statewide Prohibition.
Every party man, l take it, is bound by
the statement of principles declared in
his party platform until such platform
Is changed by the same authority which
promulgated 1t. He is entitled to his
Individual opinion, but he must either
go with his party or get out of 1t. For
instance, | was not and never have been
in favor of the free and unlimited coinage
of silver, but when my party, state and
national declared in favor Of this issue,
l preferred to yield my Individual views
and go with my party rather than cast
my lot either with Mckinley or with
Palmer and Buckner.
The democratic party in this state has
declared in favor of local option, and the
present administration was elected upon
that issue. Under this policy, by popular
election prohibition was put in force in
number of the counties of the state. This
may well be advanced as good ground for
q continuance of the policy, but 1t is GER
tainly no argument to justify an admin
istration, elected upon this issue, In repu-
dating and overthrowing the policy by
the adoption of statewide prohibition.
The democratic party of this state has
never declared In favor of statewide pro-
hihtion. Statewide prohibition has been
adopted in this state, 1t is believed, as a
result of q gum-shoe campaign, conducted
by a powerful secret organization which
did not disclose it's policy until the legis-
lature assembled.
1t is easy enough to understand how
such result could be brought about. To
illustrate, take county which is entitled
to one member in the lower house. There
are three or four candidates for the place.
Suppose a secret organization favoring
statewide prohibition goes to one of
them and in effect says: We have a
large vote which we can deliver. We are
inclined to favor your election. We will
throw this vote to you If you will pledge
us in advance to cast your vote and in
fluence in favor of statewide prohibition.
If you do not we will cast this vote
against you. The question is not an issue
in the campaign. The candidate acqui-
esces in the suggestion and is elected,
while the people at large are wholly una
ware as to what Is happening in their
very midst.
By this gum-shoe method of campaign
ing, backed by q powerful secret organ
ization, it Is currently believed state
wide prohibition has been adopted in
Georgia, In Alabama, in Tennessee In
Mississippi, and threatens other southern
states
This policy was sprung upon the people
of Georgia, upon the people of Alabama,
upon the people of Tennessee, not to men,
ton other states, on tho assembling of the
legislatures of these states, when the only
policy which the people of these states
had passed upon and declared in favor
of was the policy of local option.
The Carmichael bill, by which statewide
prohibition was adopted in Alabama, is
broad and comprehensive in its terms,
and as severe in the penalties enacted
for the violation of its provisions as any
previous legislature in any state with
which we are acquainted has seen fit to
adopt, and Notwithstanding the objection
of many to the method by which state
wide prohibition was put into effect In
this state, the people generally were dis
posed and are disposed to give 1t fair
trial and continue the policy If 1t works
for the general good.
The Fuller Bill.
But, because under our constitution as
now framed the supreme court of this
state decided that whisky is property and
may be stored or Kept by the citizen on
his premises, the whole state is thrown
into a tunult, vicious attack is made
upon the supreme court itself, extra
session of the Legislature Is called to
change the constitution to withdraw from
the owner or custodian of the prohibited
article all protection in his right of prop
cray therein. and further to encroach
upon the liberty of the citizen to an OK
tent never before attempted by any civ
ilized government.
This dramatic programme was entered
upon, not in response to any public de-
mand, but, as Is generally believed, in
order to promote the interest of certain
ambitious citizens who are candidates
for office, and who seek to promote their
political aspirations by out-Heroding
Herod in supporting what they are pleased
to characterize as moral issue, and
each seems to be vieing with tho other
as to which can go to the greatest sx-
tremes in its advocacy, and which can
prepare the most drastic statutes for its
enforcement. Such conditions are not
wholesome even for the enactment OF
legislation which would be subject to
alteration or amendment should 1t prove
injurious or disastrous, but when 1t comes
to changing the constitution and making
laws adopted under such influences per-
manent and that, too, when the pro-
gramme adopted involves on the part of
the citizen surrender of important con-
stitutional guarantees touching his indi-
vidual liberties and the protection of the
sanotity OF his thome, the situation be-
comes truly alarming, and 1t is not sur
prising under the circumstances that the
people of Alabama are aroused by tho
situation from one end of the state to
the other.
1T would not be practicable within the
limits of an article like this to examine
all the provisions of the Fuller bill and
other bills passed at the extra session Of
the legislature including the constitu-
tional amendment in question. shall
therefore, confine myself to a brief con-
sideration of the effect of this legislation
and the constitutional amendment re-
ferred to, upon the right of the citizen to
keep liquor in his home and the effect Of
surrendering the constitutional guaran-
tees for the protection of the sanctity Of
his home.
Proposed Constitutional Amendment.
If, under the Fuller bill, the leaders of
this movement did not intend to inter-
fere with the right of the citizen to
keep liquor in his home, why, 1t may be
asked, did they prepare and secure the
enactment of laws rendering it SO diff
cult IL not impossible for the citizen to
get the prohibited article transported to
his home? Under the provisions Of this
bill deliveries of the prohibited article
have been made practically impossible.
unless the delivery be made by express
hxx