The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-06-14
Judge Weakley Speaks Upon Majesty Of tue LaU

enactment of laws. That power is in- vested in one body. and its laws should be obeyed regardless of whether few think they are wise or not The mi norfty must submit. It ts the rule that must obtain"
 1t Is the concern of. one County. said Judge weakiey. that prohibition should exist in an adjoining County. He mo- ted tragedies in single county that were traceabIe directly to whiskey pro- cured in a wet county adjacent. thus innicting the woes of liquor on cons munity that had swept if from before its doors.
 The speaker sneered at the cry that "prohibition will not prohibit" He said no law had ever been perfectly enforced. The Ten Commandments have never been perfectly obeyed and the speaker did not expect to live long enough to see them enforced, but he did not see for that reason that the Commandments shopld be repealed.
 And no man win seriously argue that the Commandments should be en- forced" said the speaker.
 Speaking of the American bar room. Judge weakiey said that to admit reg ulation of the liquor traffic as the proper remedy would be to make 1t . permanent institution with our schools and our churches. This, be- said, he would never do until there had been an earnest and serious effort to en- force the law.
 Iudgs weakiey carefully refrained from criticism of the executive officials of Montgomery and Montgomery coun- ty. He did say, however, that If the officials are not prone to enforce the prohibition law, the people would have to get those who would do So, The officials are paid out of the public treasury. and to that fund all tax pay CTS are contributing annually. It Is not right to expect the citizens to give their money and personal attention to the endorsement of . law for which others are paid. He said that in Jeff ferson County hundreds of citizens are devotinR time and money extra lock- ing to the enforcement of the law.
 "Bnt we will not do 1t always" add- ed the speaker. Nor will you have to do 1t always. We have our eyes on the good officials. and We have our eyes on the bad officials" And he hinted that there would be organized opposi- ton against those who were not true to their trust.
 Personal Work.
 The speaker put hifh enconiums on the citizens of communities throughout Alabama who devote their dime per- sonally. to the enforcement of the law without hope of earthly reward, but only out of the conscientious feeling of duty performed. They who do are to be honored in all ages even at the risk of being called fanatics or profession al agitators." Speaking of the latter designation he said he believed that If all the school teachers of the State rns11A ha aa -.a nF hAu would be in favor of prohibition. that not two members of 8 church conven- ton or Synod would be In favor of the saloon. and that three-fourths Of the lawyers. if they could be assembled right now, and nearly all the doctors would condemn the American bar room ag We know it. -, ; Judge wealkiey quoted from two fa- miiiar passAkeA of Scripture which hs interpfeted d forhidding absolutely the drinking of Intoxicating liquors and establishing prohibition as right. He def1ed anyone who Is an anti-prohibi- tionist to preach e sermon with these verses of the Bible as q text
 Those who say that the present pro- hibition reform Is merely . wave of excitement which will blow over hind the times and not in touch with events as they are happening in the State. He said, that if 1t Is to be des- ignated as a wave 1t is growing wave that will not decrease in volume. . After paying his. respects in strong language to those who. have said that prohibitionists are confined to long haired men and short-haired women. the speaker closed with the declaration that the situation has lately been re- versed and "in the prohibition ranks are now to be found the short-haired men and long-haired- women"
 Following the speech, 1t was an- nounced that laymen's meeting of the Montgomery churches would be held in the Court Street Methodist Church.