The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-11-13
Axermaa snAzrnAnn llesn.

foundations upon which they have buiided crumbiing beneath the weight of sound argument and invincibie truth one by one the tissues" they have striven to give controlling in- fiusncs have fallen or proven faiia- cieus. and they are fast reaching the point where they win not have . les to stand on.
 The argument upon which they placed most reliance. and which they put forward with the most supreme confidence in its efficacy. was that the amendment question is distinc- lively moral issue" Its advocates plainly thought that was trump card. and they played itN with bois. terous confidence that 1t was . win ner. They argued that . majority of the people of Alabama believed In morality ana right Iivins. therefore. they reasoned. if we convince the voters that this is strictly a moral Issue. and that all the morality is on our eide. as . matter of course they will line up with us and we win have everything our own way. We will have an tne good people on our side. and the whiskey soaks. the brewers and the iewd women who will dom mate the other side will be power less.
 Great scheme, was 1t not? The main fault and weakness about 1t was that both the claim and the Argu- ments were badly lacking in the es- sentiaI clements of truth. To begin with. 1t was not moral issue at all. Politics % plainly controlled and di- rscted the movement from its incep- ton that the truth was almost itn- mediatsiy apparent. Those who con- csived, matched and brought forth this scheme to mutiiats our Constitution did 70 because they thought such a movement would be popular and, that they could ride into office on It be- fore the people could become aware of the dangerous iniauity of the scheme.
 But they sadly deceived themselves in two important particulars. for not all the good men. not anywhere near majority of them. were on their side. and the people of Alabama were not blind. It soon became apparent that large percentage of the best. the strongest. the most intelligent and most consistently moral men of Alabama could not be deceived. bought, persuaded or frightened into advocating or supporting measure which was so plainly a menace to the inherent rights and privileges of Ala bama's best citizenship. All over the State 1t was soon seen that men who have stood highest in affairs of church and State. and who have been hcnorsd by the people of Aisbaras be- cause of their prominence and high character did not hesitate rato align themselves against the schemes of ambitious politicians. In every sec ton and community the voices of good and strong men are heard in earnest and convincing protest against the encroachment of the schemers. And the worst jar to the amendment leaders lies In the fact that 50 many of the strongest and best opponents of the measure are prohibitionists in both theory and practice men who believe in prohibition. who advocate it. live 1t and want to see it enforc- cd. To find 50 many of this class on the other side was not only surpris- ing to the leaders of the movement. but was paralysing. It was a blow that they could neither ward off nor. in their narrow comprehension, could they at all understand it, I Nor were these one-idead moralists any less mistaken when they so con- fidentiy congratulated themselves over the way they could draw the wool over the eyes of the voters of Alabama by their moral issue" mask They thought Aiabamians were easy marks. who could be misled by spe- cious arguments. and by telling them that sil the good people were for the amendment and all the bad ones against it. Plainly they thought it would be easy to convince the good people. the common people" If you like. that their duty to their State their families and to posterity. called them to line up with the ''morar' side of the question.
 There came another knock -out blow to the moral issue" The strong men of Alabama refused to be bought or builied, and the voters of the State refused to be seduced' or deceived And SO this bright dream has faded and all their joyful anticipations have gone up in smoke. The strong men of Alabama are not with them. by a long
 way. and the voters of Alabama will
 not support the movement. Truly I