The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-12-22
Responsible for Defeat Of
Amendment.
REMARKABLE REPORT 4
IS MADE IN CHICAGO
--s
Ohio Man Says Gross Corruption
Was Practiced.
CELLS Anti-saleen League That 10000
voters Of Aiabam. are Ready
I. .. HIS Biadi.E
Reviews Late
Eiection.

Chicago Dec. 2l.--{Special IA sum
mary OF the work done in Alabama by
Rev. Brooks Lawrence. during his two
years stay In that State. which was
contained in an onnciaI report to the
antf-Saloon League of America, Decen-
Der 2. last, was made public here to-
day and contains some interesting
reading
Mr.. Lawrence's report dwelis at
length on the conditions which existed
in Alabama Just before and during the
memorable campaign resulting in she
defeat OF the proposed prohibition
amendment to the Constitution.
II Is very evident from the report
of the Alabama Superintendent OF the
Antt-Saloon League that he differs with
Governor Conner in his opinion OF why
the amendment was beaten.
It will be recalled that about thrse
weeks before the election. Governor
Conner issued statement in which be
denied that his administration WIS
wrapped up In the proposition to change
the organic law OF Alabama. In fact.
the Governor denied that 1t was an adj
ministrative measure, and said 1t WAS
moral fssue.4 On the other hand II
is Interesting to note that Mr.. Law
renee virtually charges the present adj
minfstration In that state with the re-
SEohstpAtht5 AtE INC aAAcAutAcAt NC
feat.
Burdened with Politics.
For instance. Mr.. Lawrence says:
''The election of last Monday week
ago was unfortunate In many respects.
We had II set as a special proposition
for voting in order that we might
eliminate politics. Instead OF that. our
opponents threw the question into b
political environment from which we
could not divorce 1t. and II was so bur-
dened that those Of us who were on the
ground cannot marvel at Its defeat"
Mr.. Lawrence makes the sensational
charge that "the most gross forms OF
corruption were carried on at various
points In the State" and declares that
in Alabama today. There were about
$4,000 votes cast in the election"
Not the least interesting feature OF
his report Is q yelled threat that the
Anti-Saloon League forces will yet
write perpetual outlawry on the H.
quor traffic into our organic law"
The report in full Of Mr.. Lawrence
follows:
Mr.. Lawrence--"Mr. Chairman GEN.
tlemen of the Convention:
Our report covers period OF two
years. as do all 8hs reportss We left
the Norfolk Convention facing an eloc-
tion In Jefferson County local option
"
l. which is located Birmingham. our prfn-
cipal city. The county gave . major
ity against the saloons OF 1,T6e. Inn
mediately following this there were o
number OF the smaller counties where
elections were held. The sentiment 3f
the State was turned loose in an tn-
Bistent demand for Statewide prohibit
ton, and our Legislature having con-
vened in November of that year for
other purposes. necessitated that the
passage OF a Statewide prohibition
bill should have two thirds vote of The
members of our two houses.
'It Is unnecessary to go into detail.
The fact that JEFFERSON County, the
metropolis OF Alabama, with Its popu-
lation Of almost every nation under
the sun that we find in our American
municipalities would give such "a ma
jority against the liquor traffic. crys-
talized the sentiment of that State un-
til Statewide prohibition was made
by almost q unanimous vote OF the two
houses. (Applause.)
Penalty of Success.
1--WE had to pay the penalty Of sue
eess--success that came too easy. Inn
mediately following the passage OF tho
Statewide prohibition law and its go
ing into effect, the blind tiger the
Bo-called social club and other forms
of violation began to multiply. For
something over year we combatted
these as best we could with our wea6
and ineffective law enforcement meas
ures Then our Governor. who had
been converted to the cause of prohi-
billion after his election and inaugur-
alton. for the sake OF protecting our
prohibition conditions. issued a call for
special session of our Legislature to
meet this year on the 27th OF July.
"A question immediately came up
with reference to the submission of q
constitutional amendment. and those
people who have the glorious hind