The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-10-16
WORTH READING.

It is not the custom of The Adver- tiser to copy in it's editorial columns an entire editorial from a contem- porary, but it will do so this time. It is from one of our best exchanges. The Houston Post. and we give it this conspicuous position that it may be more generally read. Under the appropriate heading. Executive Null ification of Law" The Post says:
 The debate which is raging around the Alabama liquor law is serving to develop some new features every day seems. that people are not allowed to make blackberry cordial persimmon beer or grape wines in their O. n homes for their own use. Defending Conner declared he did not believe peo- pie wanted to make such stuff.
 How many are here wHO .-.ake per simmon beer or blackberry wlne?" ask . eelving no answer. The chairman. MT, Knox. and several other persons pres ent answered that they did so.
 .,s Very we'll" exclaimed MT; Conner.
 TT any Of you are convicted under these laws because, of making pers.m- mon beer. or blackberry Mine, come to your Governor, and I'll pardon you"
 That Is strange situLt.on. isn't 1t. Here Is Governor wno defends law. who Is responsible for its existence In q measure. but who tells people whu to him and be pardoned. That is an indictment both against the Governor and the law. If the law be good or had. 1t is the Governors duty to en- force 1t. If the Govern Jr can lay dow n a rule that he will pardon one class of violations, then 1t Is utterly use less to have such laws on the statutes.
 It would be an abuse of the pardon ing power that might lead to the over throw of civil government. A peoples safety lies in the enactment of wlEe laws and their faithful and impartial execution. For Governor to give no. tice that he will pardon one class of offenders Is executive nulllficati.n oi the legislative prerogative.
 The provision in question ought nev. CT to have been enacted or 1t ought to be enforced until 1t is repealed. It was never contemplated that executive, di' rectlon should deal with the policy of an enactment, but with the mitigating circumstances that might surround some particular tnfractton of 1t. If a Governor may set aside duly enacted law at will. then he may with as much reason enforce rules of conduct with out the authority of the Legislature. In either event, the principles of ctVi, z 1T- ernment are subordinated to individual caprice or downright autocracY.
 It Is not surprising that the repre-" sentative press of Ala abama is deno0ne- ing the sort of fanatieis.n anu tyran- nv by which Alabama is cursed. v with the weaknesses of the present. statutes fully exposed the self-contatn cd people of Alabama decide tn writ" such stuff in the States Constitution the progress of that state as an en- IIRhtened comm Jnwealtn Is bound tu he retarded. The people might %ell defer constitutional changes and learn the weaknesses of the present statute -l,h n ,Tiaru tO DerfeCttng them. It iS impossibie that they cou in moment If calm deliberation ever perpetrat" FulIerism in the organic law of the State.
 It is hardly necessary to add any thing to this comment on Alabama It comes from an entirely impartial and disinterested source; me that has no cause, if 1t had the inclination, to misrepresent what. is