The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Concernlnu Liouor.

Ihe Birmingham Board of Trade has rounded out it's tenth anniversary which makes it venerable institution as age goes in this youthful city" said char ter member. "The board has taken up many important matters and has ac- eomplished things of much practical ben eft to the mercantile community. But recalling the past I cannot but reflect on the changed sentiment that has come over this city with respect to the liquor question.
 Ten years ago 1 was a newcomer here, and shall never forget the impress sion which the first general discussion l heard at Board of Trade meeting made upon me. The membership was large and full attendance was seen at all the regular sessions. There was an exceptionally big turnout one night in the second or third month of the boards existence That meeting was held in the hall on the corner of Twentieth street and Fourth avenue, known then as Elks' hall The spacious room was crowded and nearly every prominent merchant took part in the proceeding. The topic of discussion was the attitude of the police toward men found walking along the streets in more or less tipsy condition. It seems that policemen were in the habit of arresting every one, no matter how we'll dressed or prosperous he might be, who was the least bit groggy. The Board of Trade members protested strongly against what they regarded as too much zeal on the part of our cops in running in men, especially those from out of town. They said that such rigid police policy had a tendency to keep trade away from Birmingham. Among numer- ous instances cited was this:
 "A First avenue clothier said there was certain well-to-do citizen of an adjoin- ing county who had been in the habit of coming to Birmingham two or three times year and spending several hundred dol lars on each visit. This good customer ceased to put in his appearance and the merchants were wondering as to the cause. Finally the gentleman who was relating the story and commenting there on, said he ran across the quandam vis- itor on train headed for Atlanta. In re- ply to questions the man said: The last time I was in your town (about two years ago. took few drinks too many and as was walking quietly toward my hotel policeman arrested me and locked me up over night l was arraigned in court on the charge of intoxication and was fined. Shaking the dust of Brming- ham from my feet, I swore an oath that I would never again set foot in town that treated a visitor so inhos- pitaby.'
 One or two members of the board de- tended the police, but the others insisted that more discretion and more leniency be used. They wished their out-of-town friends to feel that when they came to Birmingham they would be free to get on little jags without being locked up. It was a serious discussion, and while the same merchants are doubtless anti prohbitionists today, no such views as those expressed in public assembly in 1899 are heard at board meetings in the changed conditions of these latter days.
 q myself am a good deal of temper ance man, but I think it safe to say that the majority of merchants, if they cared to speak out, would say that if pro- hibition really prohibited it would hurt trade in city of the size of Birming- ham,"