The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-02
EXPLAINS PROBLEMS
 OF PROHIBITION Mass Meeting At First Church
 Yesterday WEAKLEY AND DICKINSON Former Believes Locker Club Decision Will Not Hold and Latter Thinks
 Court Decisions Have
 Deteriorated.

A mass meeting was held yesterday afternoon at the First Methodist church under the auspices of the Law and Order league. fairly large crowd was in at- tendance, the floor of the auditorium be- ing filled.
 The meeting was presided over by R. M Goodal, who introduced the speakers for the occasion, Judge Samuel D. Weak ley and Dr. A. J. Dickinson. The meet ing was held in the interest of statewide prohibition, and the chief matter brought up for discussion was the pending action of the legislature in regard to prohibitory measures.
 By way of introduction Judge Weakley reviewed in brief the progress of the pro- hibition movement during the past few years.
 Two years ago the legislature of Ala bama, in special session assembled saw fit to enact what was known as the state wide prohibition law" he said: This law provided that liquor could be legally sold nowhere within the confines of the state At that time the framers of the bill could not foresee the difficulties and evasions that would be encountered. It was not time for the members of the legislature to consider the adoption of a new system of auxilitry prohibition laws In addition to this the lawmakers had other purposes for assembling. The time was not ripe for the enactment of a per feet law. On January 1, 1908, the local t,,4o 4,,4 A., and in other counties. Many objections were at once raised by the liquor Inter- ests and various efforts were made to re- open Jefferson, Morgan, Lowndes and Crenshaw counties to the saloonkeepers. In Dallas and Mobile counties objections were raised to the bill on the grounds Of its alleged unconstitutionality. I never thought but that the liquor men would seriously hamper the prohibition move ment with the machinations of the skilled lawyers they employed.
 This year brings about the most low, shameful and open violations of the pro- hibition law in three cities of this state Tho liquor interests outside the state have co-operated in every conceivable way with the local enemies of the move ment and by fragrant methods have at tempted to show that prohibition does not prohibit. But these people did not appreciate the full power that could be brought to bear to vindicate the majesty and power of this sovereign American commonwealth.
 This is the problem we have before us today: The great work of surmounting the obstacles and difficulties in our path. It Is not now question of arousing en- thusiasm at the polls. We have the law yer and the judge and the jury to deal with, not the sentiment of the people. Sentiment will be useless in the court room We must show conclusive evidence that the prohibition law in Alabama is being violated. The question before us now Is whether or not we have the wit or wisdom to convict the violaters of the law
 Tt is the purpose of the extra ses- sion of the legislature to frame code that will embrace every phase of the prohibition question. The members of this body of lawmakers have been ac- cused of being drastic and fanatical and unsafe and insane by the honorable members of the safe and sane move ment. Every effort has been made to bring about the repeal of the law. The -prohibitionists have advertised ex- tensively the efforts that are being made to influence the action of the present ex- tra session of the legislature"
 It. description of the bill that has been in troduced to insure the success of the proh fbitfon movement. He reviewed that part of the bill which prohibits the sale of near beer and all other substitutes, that which provides for tn 0 elimination of the locker club and other provisions of the statute. He stated that he believed the recent decision of the supreme court in regard to the storage of liquors to be wrong andNcon- trary to public opinion.
 Dr. A. J. Dickinson who was next in- troduced, declared that 1t was his in- tention to speak mainly of the courts.
 Tt is right" he said, for the people of this state to criticise the action of the courts. WHO SelectS the oInCerS of the courts but the people? Who says who shall constitute the judiciary but the people? It Is the constitutional duty of the people to sit in judgment on the courts. When judge becomes arbitrary in his decisions the first prin- ciple of republicanism is violated"
 There has been much criticism AS+t, x.,t.~ p.5 ,,nxytsa 70 our courts. I believe that most of it is due to a misunderstanding of our relation to our Judiciary. What we need most are a good judiciary. good judges and good jurors. I may say that I firmly believe the decisions of our courts have detsriorated in vi vth.
 Tt is the spirit not the letA ' of thA