The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-16
M|LNER SAYS RURAL
VOTE STANDS FIRM
Washington County Over
wheImingIy Anti-Amendment
SEE THE DANGER AHEAD
County Has Been Prohibition For rs
Years But People Do Not Like
Things Hidden Behind
the Amendment.
SEE THE DANGER AHEAD

H. K Miner, formerly a Birmingham
man but now a well to do agricu1tur-
list of Washington county and men,
Der of the executive committee of the
Alabama Good Roads association, who
is in the city attending the good roads
conventions, states that beyond doubt
his county will give an overwhelming
vote against the proposed prohibition
amendment to the constitution.
81 was over at st. Stephens, the coun-
ty seat, a few days ago, on the oc-
casion of the opening of court. Peo-
pie were assembled there from all parts
of the county and I found in all sec
lions of Washington county sentiment
is very strong against the amendment
and the people as a whole are mighty
little less than fighting mad on the sub
Ject.
st have noticed from reports of
speeches and from other matter which
I have read In the newspapers that both
sides seem to believe that the outcome
of the election on November 20 hinges
largely on the country vote. From what
I have observed 1t is not well for the
amenders to be SO sure OF the way
the country people will vote
washington county Is an agricultural
county out and out and practically ev-
cry voter may be properly put In the
rural class. In my county there are
no cities and there are very few towns
of any consequence when size is con-
sidered. Consequently we are entirely
rrnfaotinn and IL Is this
matter WHICH casts doubt and fear In
the minds of the people when the
amendment question is considered.
1.-THE present statutory prohibition laws
cover every phase of the prohibition
question and as long the leg1sla-
lures remain friendly toward the tenn
perance cause as the last one was and
the laws are properly enforced condi-
lions will be as good as we can have
them. II the amendment carries and pro-
hibition were placed in the constitution
and a legislature came along and re-
pealed the present statutory laws, which
thew would have a legal right to do,
conditions would be awful because there
would be no penalty for selling whisky
and still the state could not license the
traffic because a constitutional provision
would make it illegal.
"This very point alone will defeat the
amendment IN washington county. WitH-
out police protection the county would
be thrown upon the mercy of lawbreak-
ers and all respectable people would
virtually have to leave the county.
st am local optionist but I cannot
vote for the proposed amendment to
the constitution. Washington county
was always a local option community
and has had prohibition for the past %
years at least, but I do not believe the
people want constitutional prohibition
and 7 have not the least doubt that
the county will give a good majority
against the proposed measure.
1.-THE voters in my section are very
bitter on the subject. They feel, above
all things, that an attempt is being made
to infringe upon their personal liberty
and further they do not like the idea
of an outsider having been paid to come
here from Ohio to do these things"