The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-09-27
DEVELOP PLANS
FOR BIC MEETING
Both Sides Will Take on New
Life Today
GREAT CROWD SATURDAY
Speakers Were Busy in Several coun-
ties Last Week, But Still
More Activity Will Be
Sho Hn Soon.

Saturday night will be a big night in
Birmingham.
The gigantic gathering of those opposed
to the proposed prohibition amendment
will be held at Capitol park.
The crowd will number, it is indicated,
between 10000 and 1900 Alabamians.
The leaders of the anti-amendment fac
ton intend this meeting to be the strong
est protest against an evil which was
ever registered in this state or the south.
There is not doubt" stated John Fl.
Miller, manager of the Jefferson county
campaign, but that the protest registered
by this crowd of Alabama voters will
have telling effect from one end Of the
state to the other. 1t is estimated that
the number of people attending this meet
ing will be greater than any other crowd
gathered for similar purpose in the his
tory of the state"
The railroads have offered reduced
rates. A special train will be operated
by the Louisville and Nashville out of
Montgomery.
o. p. Gaut, chairman of the committee
appointed to arrange for the meeting, will
get busy today preparing the park. Ten
speaking stands will be erected. Twenty
Alabama orators will attack the proposed
amendment, and point out to the people
of the state the dangers that are hidden
in the document. On each stand there
will be two orators. The arrangement is
considered unique In the south.
There will be the old veterans-Oates,
Cobb, Wyman, Kyle and Others Charles
Henderson, chairman of the railroad COM
mission, and Governor Jelks will also
talk Perry Thomas, Robert e. Spragins,
H. T. McElderry, John B. Knox and ].
]. Willett are among the others who are
scheduled for speeches.
Judge Miller, Jefferson county campaign
manager, will probably establish head
quarters today. Then will follow the
publication of the campaign committee
of this county. This committee will be
one of the largest and most representative
ever named in the state Then will com
mence active fighting from every stump in
the county. Every voter will be seen
and talked with.
1t is the ambition of the leaders of the
movement to pile up a bigger majority
against the amendment In Jefferson than
is piled up in any other county. 1t is
generally admitted that Jefferson will go
against the amendment. This. however,
does not satisfy the anti-amendment clan.
They propose to get big majority.
The pro-amendment faction gets busy
this week. too. They organize | Mont
H.
Birmingham capitalist, who is at the head
of the movement for the amendment, will
preside at the Montgomery meeting A
programme for winning back the state
will be framed up and a list of speakers
appointed.
Pro-amendment forces are doing siren
uous work in the various counties of the
tive work undertaken The women are
organizing in several localities to enter
the ring for the amendment.
The woods are already full of speakers.
Both sides of the fight have their orators
in the field, and from every corner come
reports of the conflicts. The debate of
Senators Thomas and Merritt in Clay
ton Saturday was attended by large
crowd of Barbour county voters. The
pro-amendment people spoke at Admission.
Judge s. D. Weakley, candidate for gov
ernor made the leading argument. In
addition there were about 10 other de-
bates.
The speech-making will be continued
this week. At Double Springs today T. l..
Long and ]. A. W. Smith VIII address
an audience In opposition to the amend
ment.
The engagements of Judge Weakley
have not been given out
j. o. Middleton. representative of Chill
ton county was in Birmingham last night
Mr.. Middleton is a republican.
He did not state how he stands on the
proposed amendment. but stated his belief
that it would carry in Chiffon. He stated
that there is very little interest displayed
in his section of the state.
Hugh S. d. Mallory, who, with Judge
S. D. Weakley and Treasurer Walter
Seed. makes up the trio of announced can
didates for the gubernatorial nomination,
was in Birmingham yesterday. He de-
livered an address on temperance to the
Ramsey class and did not discuss poll
tics