The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-10-02
VNEAL AND WEAKLEY
 IN DEBATE AT JASPEl
(continued from Page One.)


 er. filtered through the swinging doors and augmented the crowd, but no largely.
 Each of the speakers was to have chairman. under arrangements. MT. o,Neal chose Judge Thomas L. Soweh. former State Auditor. and reputed to be one of the most popular men in the county. Judge weakley promptly ac- cepted Judge Soweil as his chair man. too. although 1t was known that Judge Sowen Is personally op- posed to the amendment.
 weakIey Introduced.
 In a brief, well-worded speech. Judge Sowell told the crowd about the two speakers and the arrangements and the chairman was impartial in the ap- plication of his adjectives.
 Judge weakley met a ripple of ap- plause as he stepped to the table to be- gin his opening of an hour. He spoke of the friendly relations that had al- ways existed between him and his honorable opponent. They had been boys together at Florence; they had been at school together, they lived on the same block and he was Sure that the relations would be as pleasant when the series of debates had ended as they were when the debates began But on one isue. we have differed since we were boys" he said; I've have differed on the liquor question and we shall continue to differ. stand for Statewide prohibition.
 With this, Judge Weakley got his first round of applause. Judge weakley took up for discus sion an article which appeared in The Birmine eham Age-Herald, written by Judge Acuff an attorney of Jasper, who going into details. contended that there had been flaws In the way the amend- ment had been submitted, and con- tending that it would be .unconstitu- tional if adopted. Judge Weakley said he had drawn up the Birmingham tax amendments to the constitution and had defended 1t in the courts, and he cited his brief in that case and said that he was familiar with the queston of con- stitutional amendment and he was sat- isfied with the record on this amend ment.
 Note of Triumph.
 With that note of triumph in his voice, he said: You rattfy the amend ment and then let them fight it as tor them"
 Judge Weakley reviewed the prohibi- ton fights in Walker County since 1885 and incidentally he took a rap at his former antagonist, Tom Long. of Walker, who, he said. had c bill passed forbidding wine or cider to be sold in the County of Walker except under a license of S150. and not c license was taken out.
 And when the people of Walker County had voted out the saloons to put in the dispensary, the whiskey men ran to the courts and claimed that the act was unconstitutional" said Judge Weakley. And you will remember that my distinguished opponent was em- ployed in the lawsuit and he came down here to argue that act was un- constitutional.
 Did you ever notice that 1t is al- ways unconstitutional to speak disre- spectfully of liquor?"
 Judge weakley alluded to the con ditions which followed the decision or the Supreme Court in the Bessemer case allowing the storage of liquor. :.
 Miserable bogus clubs sprang up.' said Judge weakley. The prohibition ists had to meet that condition, he said. A conference was held in Montgomery. and the situation was gone over. The amendment, as passed. was drafted. h the amendment, he said. there was no intention of entering the homes in Alabama.
 Homes Bother weakiey.
 This phase of the question appeared to be most important, in the considera- tion of Judge weakley and he sought to combat the many attacks which had been made on this phase of the amendment. He first responded to tho attacks made on it's lacks of a penalty T admit" said Judge Weakley, "thaf if there could be such Legislature Il might repeal all the prohibition laws \ and there would be no constitutional penalty. But do you, or does any sem sible man, believe that It Is possible for such Legislature to pc elected In Alabama which would take on all re- straints and allow the open uhbridied sale of liquor in Alabama? Do you De- lieve it possible?'
 Section of the amendment. he con- tinued, was designed to meet the con ditions created by the decision of the Supreme Court and not 10 prevent a