The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-08-13
POLITICS IN MASK.


League Of Alabama succeeded in JAM
ming through the Legislature the bill
which will usher in the bitterest cam
pafEn since 1860. The proposed con-
stitutionai amendment was conceived
In political scheme showed through
the Legislature with trades and brow
the strife and discord Of the past three
years. TO keep the people hot with po-
litical strife, and thus to make is
sues. which will invest candidates with
popular interest that their own
merits could not win.
Not a man in the Legislature was
elected on a promise to vote for State
wide prohibition. Not a man was elect
ed on promise to put prohibition in
the Constitution. The Governor of AL
ALBANIA. as often as he spoke in the
campaign. never said one word In ia
vor of State-wide prohibition. Never
once did he raise his voice In favor Of
constitutional prohibition.
But he spoke from every stump in
favor of local option. Not once. but a
hundred times. did he pledge himself
to local option. The platform adopted by
the convention which he dominated con-
tanned a ringing declaration for local op-
ton. 1t was as eloquent as any other
of the many clauses in the long line
Of Democratic platforms of the Demo-
cratic Party. which have consistently
upheld the doctrine Of local option un-
I'll the present era of political inco-
hsrence.
The Anti-saloon League wrote the
Local Option Act passed at the FIRST
session and down to the crossing of
the ITS" and the dotting of the as"
1t was to the liking and satisfaction of
the Superintendent Of the Anti-Saloon
League. But political expediency de-
manded fresh agitati An extra ses-
sion was called. The Superintendent
Of the AntiSaloon League asked OF the
Legislature a Statewide prohibition
bill. against which the pledges Of the
party had been made and against
which the party's platform had de-
clared. The bill that Rev. Brooks Law
renee wanted was quickly passed. Po-
litical expediency was again at work
and the agitation must be kept up.
A second extra session was called
which was absolutely useless and I'M
necessary. The Governor. who from
every stump in Alabama had proclaim
ed his allegiance to local option. was
the Governor who demanded of the
Legislature that prohibition be put in
the Constitution. With his faithful
ally. the Superintendent of the Anti
Saloon League. he broke down the OPP
position of enough weak members of
the House and Senate to push 1t
through. and to set the State again
aflame with politics. But new issues
were needed. and candidates needed
new campaign cries. to withdraw at
tention from their own dement's.
Will the people OF Alabama endorse
this record OF violated pledges and
reckless politics7 This is the ques-
ton, which they will answer at the
polls. VIII they endorse the present
state administration and what 1t has
done?
The State of Alabama will have to
borrow money in December. The Gov
ernor reluctantly admits II. The over
flowing surplus left in the treasury
when Governor Jelks retired has been
spent. There is now a deficit, big de-
felt. And yet the Governor and the
Anti-Saloon League insisted. and the
Legislature consented. that the heated
issue be thrown into a special election,
which will cost between $4,000 and
$4,000. The money to pay for that
special election will have to be bor-
rowed by the State of Alabama.
Why was 1t put in a special cleo
ton instead of held over until the reg
ular election of next year. a few
months later? The answer Is In one
word-Politics. There WAS no more
need for a special election on a consti-
tutional amendment than there was
for the present extra session of the
Legislature.
For the proposed amendment to the
Constitution, which will put prohibit
ton. a police regulation. in the Consti-
tuition, not single sound reason has
been advanced. The one claim which
resembles an argument is that 1t will
stop agitation. The leaders who mako
that claim do not believe 1t. They
know better. But they hope to make
the voters of Alabama believe II. and
they will reiterate It, as specious as II
is. because they have no other argu-
ment.
But 1t will not stop agitation. The
question is interviewer in the life and
affairs of men--it has been interwov-
en- in the life and affairs of men for
four thousand years, Maine put prohi-
bition in her Constitution. took 1t out
put it back again. and every campaign
In that state wages around Drohibf