The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-10-18

G0ntennoa " Oolu NeSck hose
 Dared submit for the Peo- ple,s Approval such an
 tack on Their Lib-
 ertiess -4--.ss- .---.
 Hon. John B. Knox of Anniston, President of the Constitutional Conven. tion of 1901, has written an able and powerful argument in opposition to the proposed amendment to the Con- stitution. Regarding that amendment e a menace to the rights and liberties pf the people of Alabama MT. Knox declares that the Constitutional Con- yention would never dared to have em- bodied such a provision in the Con- stitution and then submitted 1t to the speople for approval
 Mir. Knox writes as followst
 fHzon. J. Lee Long. Chairman Birm- ingham, Ala;
 ], Dear Sir--Compiying with your re- quest that I state the grounds of my opposition to the adoption of the pro- posed constitutional amendment, to- gether with my reasons therefor. beg 1 to say:
 I.
 Statewide Prohibition.
 1 Every party man. take 1t, Is bound by the statement of principles declared in his party platform until such plat form is changed by the same author 1ty which promulgated 1t. He Is en- titled to have his individual opinion. but he must either go with his party or get out of it. For instance, l was not and never have been in favor of the free and unlimited coinage of sil- yer. but when my party. State and National, declared in favor of this fs- sue, I preferred to yield my individual views and go with my party rather than cast my lot either with Mchiniey or with Palmer and Buckner.
 The Democratic Party in this State has declared in favor of local option and the present administration was elected upon that issue. Under this policy by popular election prohibition was put in force in a number Of the counties of this State. This may well be advanced as good ground for cons tinuance of the policy. but 1t certainly is no argument to justify an adminis- tration elected upon this issue in re- pudiating and overthrowing the policy by the adoption of Statewide prohibi- tion. The Democratic Party of this State has never declared in favor Of Etate- wide prohibition. Statewide pro- hibition has been adopted in this State 1t is believed. as the result of a gum shoe campaign, conducted by power- fui secret organization which did not safsclose it's policy until the Legisia- lture assembled.
 ii Is easy enough to understand how Etch a result could be brought about. hro illustrate. take 0 sconty wnich IS lentftled to one member in the lower jHouse. There are three on four can ldidates for the place. Suppose . sc- hcret organization favortng Statewide kurchfbition goes to one of them and Tn effect says; we have large vote which we can deliver. We are Inclined ko favor your election. We will throw f4his vote to you # you will pledge us fin advance to cast your vote and ln- sduenoe in favor of Statewide prohibi. vote against you. The question is not m Issue in the campaign. The candi- date acquiesces In the suggestion ana illn Is elected, while the people at large are wholly unaware as to what IS hap sDening in their very midst.
 By this gum-shoe method of cam paigning, backed by powerful secret organization, 1t is currently believed state wide prohibition has been adopt- es in Georgia, in Alabama, in Tennes- see, in Mississippi. and threatens other Southern States.
 This policy was sprung upon the peo- r,le of Georgia, upon the people or Aia- bama, upon the people Of Tennessee not to mention other States, on the as- rembling of the Legislatures of these states: when the only policy which the ,,eonle of these States had passed upon and declared in favor of was the policy of local option. The Carmichael Dill bv which Statewide prohibition was adopted in Alabama, is broad ana com prehensive in its terms and as severe fin the penalties enacted for the viola tion of its provisions as any previous Legislature in any State with which we are acquainted has seen fit to adopt. and notwithstanding the objection or many to the method by which State wide prohibition was put into enect fin this State, the people generally were disposed and are disposed to give 1t a. fair trial and continue the policy If it works for the general good. II.
 The Fuller Bfil.
 Rut because under our Constitution as now framed the Supreme Court of this State decided that whiskey is property and may be stored or kept by fhe citizen on his premises. the whole state is thrown into Q tumult. vi- 1 cious attack is made upon the Supreme Court itself, and an extra session of ' the LGR1SlALuEe lS p1A1Cu tC SA@AoO NAS Constitution, to withdraw from the owner or custodian of the prohibited article all protection in his right of property therein, and to further en- croach upon the liberty of the citizen ] to an extent never before attempted by any civilized government.
 This dramatic program was entered upon not in response to any public de- lrnand, but, as is generally believed, ip order to promote the interest of cer- tain ambitious citizens who are candi- dates for office, and who seek to pro- mote their political aspirations by out 1 HerodIng Herod in supporting what they are pleased to chaxacterize as a moral issue, and each seems to be vie- ing with the other as to which can go 10 the greatest extremes in Its advo- lcacy, and can prepare the most drastic statutes for its enforcement. Such conditions are not wholesome even for the enactment of legislation which would be subject to alteration or amendment should it prove injurious or disastrous, but when 1t comes to changing the Constitution and making laws adopted under such influences permanent and that. too. when the pro- gram adopted involves on the part of the citizen. a surrender of important constitutional guarantees touching his individual liberties and the protection of the sanctity of his home. the situ- ation becomes truly alarming, and it