The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-11-05

repeating what I have already written
let me re-state my position.
| am against the amendment because,
on a broad and thorough view OF IT, l
sincerely believe it to be inimicFl, to
some extent, to medicine, science, the
mechanical arts, the Christian religion
and the home. 1 can leave the defense
of the home to the anti-amendment
speakers, who will probably do full
justice to this feature in the amendment.
The first section of the amendment
prohibits absolutely the manufacture of
alcoholic liquors, but permits the SAFE
of alcohol for medicine, science and the
mechanical arts and wine for sacrament
tai purposes. This prohibits absolute
ly. so far as Alabama has power to do
this, the making of alcohol and of wine
that contains as low as per cent OF
alcohol or even lower.
Regarding this prohibition to manu-
facture, but permission to cse, aicohol
we must reason as follows: IL II Is
wrong to make alcohol, it is wrong to
use 1t when made, and If 1t is right TO
use alcohol for medicine, ETC., 1t is
right 70 make it for medicine, ETC., and
it is wrong to prohibit absolutely its
manufacture for medicine, etc. Which
ever horn of this dilemma you take you
arc gored.
There is fallacy in the first section
of the amendment. Many people are
sure of this the first time they read It,
even though they may not be able to
locate it, Using the syllogisms of logic
we can easily locate it.
The first syllogism which is based on
the first clause of the first section Is as
follows; The state should prohibit ao-
solitely the manufacture Cor the max
ing) of all articles whose use Is al
ways wrong, evil, injurious.
The use of alcoholic liquors (of ali
kinds) Is always wrong, evil. injurious
Therefore the state should prohibit abb
solutely the manufacture of alcohonc
liquors (of all kinds).
The second syllogism is based on the
second clause of the first section ana Is
as follows.
The state should permit the sale, I'M
der due restrictions, Of those artcles
whose use sometimes is beneficial.
The use of alcohol is sometimes pene-
fetal. as in medicine, science and the
mechanical arts, and the use OF WINE
for sacramental purposes Is benenclal
Therefore the state should permit the
sale of alcohol for medicine. etc.
No fault can be found with the sec
ond syllogism, but the first is fataiiy
defective In it's second premise VIZ
the use of alcohol Cincluding wlnel Is
ALWAYS wrong, evil, injurious. Medicine
cry out against it. The amendment It
self Joins medicine, etc. In TINS cry
against this first clause, in prohioltlng
absolutely manufacture Of alcohel. IL
would be a serious mistake TO write IN
the constitution a prohibition that de-
ponds for it's reason on premise that
is fundamentally false.
This amendment in this feature of it
is the fruit of false moral position In
the past. Drunkenness Is one OF the
greatest evils of our country and In
fighting it some have tried to place the
drinking OF liquors containing alcohol
in any proportion whatsoever in the
same moral class as lying, stealing, etc
The thief or the robber who steals OIL
robs to the value of only one cent Is
a thief or a robber as to quality as
truly as though the amount stoler
were one million dollars. 1t cannot
however, be said that the man is q
drunkard who swallows q spoonful Of
wine containing few drops of alcohol
God has revealed in medicine, sci
ence, mechanical arts and religion tina
there is a wise and beneficial use OF
alcohol (including wine). This use
wish to conserve, and l do not propose
to shut my eyes to any truth that Goo
makes known in His providence, how
ever heavy may be the pressure exertet
by the self constituted moral reform
ers In the temple Of temperance de-
sire that no material shall be used thai
will dissolve when touched by the frs
rain that falls. As 1 do not desire that
the saloon shall ever be found in Ala
bama again, I have not written a line
nor spoken a word that any fairminded
intelligent person could construe a,
favoring the saloon. W. l. SINNOTT.
Centreville, November 2.