The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-11-11
DEFENDER RANKS
DAILY SWOLLEN
BY AROUSED PEOPLE
Leaders of the Administration
Measure Now Seem Dis
heartened Over Fight
DAYS EVENTS BROUGHT
JOY TO The DEFENDERS
Local Leaders Seem Now Determined
to Centralize on jefferson With
Belief They VIII Thus
Be INDICATED.

|
"sick man" of Alabama.
1t begins to appear that practically
every county in the state will beat 1t to
earth.
Its fathers are disclaiming the progeny.
Its nurses. are frantic with fear and de-
spair. Its friends are beginning to draw
within themselves.
Few who are known amenders are
chesty at this time.
They have seen the writing on the wall
and are preparing to accept with grace
that which is inevitable.
To the student of politics it became
evident some days ago that the amend
ment was doomed. Its leaders then de-
! termined to try the unusual, the desper-
ate
/ Then appeared the slush fund fake, u
which became a boomerang.
Then followed the statement of Cover
nor Comer-that which declared the chief
executive separate and distinct from his
/ issue.
Just what next will follow is a matter
of speculation. Some have 1t that Judge
| weakley will put away political ambi-
ton and leave the gubernatorial race
open to Walter Seed and Hugh s. d.
Mallory.
AS to what the result of such a proce-
dure would be there is no doubt. Moth
ing, at this time, can save the amend
ment.
Leaders Are Disheartened.
The leaders In the movement to vindi-
| fsf
mer, to continue that administration an
other four years. and to put into the
constitution little piece Of dynamite
which would keep Alabama in an uproar
| for countless number of years, appear
exceedingly disheartened. There is little
bouyancy in their step. There is little
of happiness in their expression.
For them there is no doubt but thai
things are turning upside down.
The people of Alabama have dared tc
resist the movement to put the amend
ment in the constitution. They have
dared to resist the bull whip of the
Rev. Brooks Lawrence.
Yesterday was a sad day for the amend
ment.
Judge Thomas w. Coleman, admittedly
one of the three ablest jurists ever or
the bench of the supreme court of Ala.
bama. issued a card giving his views and
| expressing his fears of the amendment
| From such learned source such re-
marks can fall upon none but attentive
| ears.
Senator Bankhead issued card con-
tanning his reasons for opposing the
amendment. His argument was keen cut
He drove to the heart Of the thing. He
challenged no one. He criticised no one
He did not refer to the criticism to which
the amendment leaders have subjected
him. But he spoke convincingly, and the
people were moved.
And the third blow under which the
amendment staggered was the announce
ment Of Congressman William Richard
son Of the Eighth district that he, too
is opposed to the efforts of few to
make a patched quilt of the constitution
| of this state.
Statesmen Lined Up.
Alabama's two senators-Banhhead and
Johnston-are opposing the amendment
Four of Alabamas congressmen-Dent
opposing the amendment.
All of Alabama's living ex-governors-
Cobb. Oates, Jones, Johnston and jerks
are opposing the amendment.
The majority of the ex-congressmen OF
the state-Stallings Howard, Williams
Bowie-are opposing the amendment
The majority of the lawyers of the
state, the bankers, the doctors, are oppos-
| ing the amendment. And the farmers
opposing the amendment are almost unan-
imous.
| Four of Alabama's congressmen-Hob-
son, Burnett, Hefiin and Taylor-are in
favor Of the amendment.
But one of them-Henry D. Clayton
has failed to express himself. Congress
man Clayton is opposed to the amend
ment, and he will say SO in a formal
card within period of ten days.
People Have Thought.
The people are awake to what has oc-
CURED and to what is occurring
They are displeased that this election
was forced down their threats at time
| when they are not prepared to express
themselves, and they are displeased that
the determination to make the people take
bitter dose was arrived at in a secret
council held In Montgomery prior to the
calling of the extraordinary session of
the legislature.
They are surprised that the amendment
leaders cannot take up the challenge to
| name a single state in Which constitu-
tional prohibition has worked for the
morals and the prosperity of the people.
They see poor, little shriveled up Maine
and bloody. offensive Kansas
The people know that prohibition is as
| sured to Alabama by the most drastic
laws ever framed. They know that the