The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-04
OPEN LETTER TO
The LEGISLATURE
CONFEDERATE VETERAN CALLS
UPON LAWMAKERS NOT TO
TAKE HAsTY ACTION ON MAT
TIERS NOW PENDING.

/
crate veteran of Birmingham, has writ
ten the following:
An Open Letter to the Members of the
legislature
| Gentlemen: Reading The Age Herald,
tne principal paper published In this
city and one of the very best edited and
most progressive dailies in the south,
! l learn that the extraordinary %
| session of the Alabama legislature Is
| now In full blast. That you are grind
ing out bills SO rapidly that they may
soon rival in number the grains Of
sand upon the seashore.
That you are flooding the state with
prohibition party political bills which,
II enacted into law and successfully
enforced, will defeat the democratic
party at the coming election, break
! the solid south and, placing Sambo in
the saddle again. give the present gen
Grafton an object lesson In carpetbag
thievery and governmental reconstruc-
| ton, such their fathers passed
through more than 80 years ago. Do
not adopt the resolution to submit
constitutional prohibition to the peo-
pie. The introduction of 50 many bills
upon the subject of prohibition is posi-
tive evidence that the measure must
be weak. because If 1t were strong and
commended itself to the people 1t would
not be necessary to bolster 1t with so
much legislation. Besides it has not
been tried for a time sufficient to dem
onstrate its feasibility and for this
reason IL no other, 1t should have no
place in the organic law of the state.
Do not infict such a curse upon the
people. This law is productive of fatal
and disastrous results. Inserting 1t in
the constitution will not make 1t any
more enforcible than now. The resolu-
tion, If submitted to the people, will
be negatived by a very large majority,
and do not imagine that when asking
you to vote down this resolution have
any doubt of the result when the peo-
pie vote upon its adoption or rejection.
1t is only to avoid the bitter feeling
that will be engendered by Its dis
cussion. The safe and sane men" will
meet in every conflict the intollerant
spirit of prohibition and these warm
and heated discussions may produce re-
suits that will be felt for years to
come.
The proposition to change the ses-
sions of your body from quadrennial to
biennial was defeated only a short
while ago by an overwhelming vote,
and should not again be submitted after
so signal a defeat, especially when you
know that it is only intended to ad-
vance the political aspirations of the
governor.
That, during this sessions accouchment,
you Will bring forth one of the greatest
freaks of the century-a freak that can
! claim neither the democratic nor the
republican party as its ancestor. 1t may
| have been sired by the prohibition party,
| because that party, in its effort to in
| fiict prohibition upon a free democratic
community, has been responsible for all
| your freakish legislation, wild, barbarous
| and fanatical. during the last special ses-
| sion, and no doubt, the result will be
the same at the end of the present ses-
| sion. The bill to which I refer is the
one to change the present form of gov
eminent of our cities from an aldermanlc
to commission form. So Objectionable
to the people of this city is this offspring
of prohibition party politics that its au-
thor has been compelled to eliminate
Some Of its spotted apparel. in order that
| It may present a more pleasing aspect tC
the public. This is truly an undemo.
/ cratic measure, and might be termed
class legislation, for it Is really in the
interest of the few-the bosses and ma.
chine politicians-and to the detriment Of
the very large majority of the people. i
will produce more graft and of a more
princely nature than our present demo
cratic form of governing cities and towns
Do not fasten another incubus upon thi.
city, that is already overburdened witt
taxation and debt. You gave us tina
ra-prohibition-which robbed us Of
much-needed revenue, and In consequence.
of this caused an increase of taxation
Do not place any more penalties upor
us, for this measure will cost us SIS 00
to $4,000 annually In payment of salarie.
alone. II you love the people of this city
and expect to fellowship with them II
future years, reciprocating fayors, etc
vote against this measure. If, however
you decide to pass II, let 1t be so amend
ed, that, before it can be saddled upoi
us. the people shall be given an oppor
tunity to decide whether they wish Il
make the change. 1t is my opinion tina
section of article / of the constitution
| gives to the people only the right II
change their form of government" anc
they have not deputed this right to you
But If | am mistaken in this application
OF section of the constitution. ant
you are determined to run rough-sho,
over our rights and wishes. and plac,
the yoke upon our necks, at least be 81
liberal as to word the enacting claus,
so that 1t shall only take effect after tn,
people shall have elected the commission
ers who are to control. Let no one hay,
the appointing OF the commissioners.
| learn also that you are to appropriat,
$4,000 for the use of the Governor, 81
that he may continue his unwise ant
unreasonable prosecution and persecution
of the railroads, those great arteries o.
trade and commerce, that have built uI
into magnificent cities and towns the va
cant places of the state. We have a val.
ley-a district that is replete to over.
flowing with natural conditions and al
that go to make up the wealth of ma.
tons, and these were only waiting the
coming of the iron horse that consumes
daily tons OF coal and drinks dry oui
| streams, to pour their untold wealth Into
our Golfers. Our Goals and our ores, nc
matter how abundant nor how superior
In quality could add nothing to our
wealth and were, therefore. useless. until
railroads entered our valley. bringing ma,
chinery to move the products of the soil
| lumber to build our plants and homes
and provisions and the necessities of life
and transporting our coal and Iron t.
distant markets. Gentlemen, do not kill
the goose that lays the golden egg; there
fore. vote against this appropriation. Give
us surcease from this battle royal be-
tween the Governor and the railroads
which is really being fought only to de-
termlne which Is the moro expert pugi'
list, or whose will Is the more stubborn.