The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-25
Manager States # Was Largest Crowd Ever Assembled
 In the Building
PROMINENT SPEAKERS
 PLAY THE AMEN DMENT
Bowman Was Chief Speaker, While Short Addresses Were Made By A. G. Smith, John G. Smith, pr.
 Ullman and Others.
By HUGH w. ROBERTS.

By HUGH w. ROBERTS. There was never before such an audi ence In the Hippodrome theatre as that which gathered yesterday afternoon to hear anti-amendment orators attack the proposed prohibition amendment to the constitution.
 At noon the people began entering the big building. At o'clock 1t became evil dent that the house would be filled. At 2 o'clock all the seats were occupied. At 2:30 o'clock when the speaking began. the aisles were crowded, spectators were re- clining against the walls all around the
 building. downstairs and upstairs, every
 available foot of space on the platform
 was occupied. At the same moment the
 doors were closed Man after man was
 turned away. Dozens at the time were
 informed it would be impossible for them
 to enter. Often those desiring to hear
 almost threatened to break through Their retreating footsteps and their re-
 marks of disappointment interfered at times with the speaker.
 M. L. Semon, manager of the Hippo
 
 largest ever gathered in that playhouse. It Is estimated that more than 2000 peo- pie heard the speakers. Nearly that many
 more the doorkeepers estimate, were de-
 nied admission.
 Poll Was Made.
 It was the most notable demonstration
 since the great Capitol park rally some
 weeks ago. The people were not only op- posed to the proposed amendment but they were anxious to express that oppo- stion. They were there representing the great voting strength of Jefferson coun- ty. If there was ever doubt as to how the county will go in the coming elec- ton, that doubt was dissipated yester- day afternoon.
 The vast crowd was boiled. Those op- posing the amendment were asked to hold up their hands. It seemed that every hand in the audience was sent upward with force. It seemed that there was deter imitation behind the elevation of the hands. But when the poll of those in favor 1 of the amendment was taken it became l evident that all the hands had not gone
 
 northwestern portion of the gallery an-
 nounced himself in favor of the amend
 ment. There were none to rally to his l side. He stood alone and lonely. Audience Was Representative. | The audience was most representative. l Every walk of life had sent it's men. The farmer was there representing the conser- vative element There was the lawyer | standing for the bar of Jefferson county, I 90 per cent of the members of which are l opposed to the amendment. There was l the doctor, the banker, the butcher, the grocer, the candlesticlx maker, and all the I balance of those who go to make up this great center of business and industrial de- l velopment. There was the voter just bud | ding into that state wherein he Is able to l grasp the right to vote. There was the
 man of middle age with discretion writ l ten on his face. There was the elderly | gentleman with hair just turning gray. l And there sat the old man, with white head and with beard resting on his bosom. l There was the old Confederate soldier,
 minus a leg and with body covered with
 scars of wounds received In defense of his | country, of his home and of the women of l the land.
 l And they all were there with one object l ito register themselves as opposed to a great scheme which will work injury to I the people of the state. They showed their l determination. They made plain the fact 1 that their minds had been made up. and that nothing in the world or in the waters under the world can change them. They stood in solid phalanx. They would have resisted a bayonet charge with unflinching | nerve They would have gone down to death rather than feel the foot of the op-
 pressor on their necks.
 That meeting taught a great moral les- son. The defenders are now absolutely 1 certain of carrying Jefferson. The amend CTS have taken to the woods. They are running at break-neck speed. They are frantic with despair. They see slipping from their clutches high places which they had won.
 And be 1t said to the credit of the Rev. Brooks Lawrence that he was opposed If the charges of Colonel Bowman are
 based on fact-to the risking of every thing Tn Hgnt TUT tiie diioHuiieht.
 Conception of Amendment. Colonel Bowman in fact, said: 'This amendment proposition was matched in a secret caucus In Mont somery at which were Gov. B. B. Conner the Rev. Brooks Lawrence. F. M. Jack son. state campaign manager of the amenders, John w. Sibley of Birmingham and others. At this meeting the question l of submitting the amendment to the con- | stitution was brought up. The submission 1 of the scheme this fall was opposed by Brooks Lawrence. They will beat us cer- l tain, Brooks Lawrence said. But Fred Jackson spoke up, saying, If we post
 none the election until next year they 1 will beat us certain, indeed. because the 1 majority of those who have not paid their l poll taxes will oppose the amendment. l Then 1t was determined to put the amend ment before the people this year in spite of the enormous unnecessary expense
 which. in view of the scarcity of funds in the treasury is a serious blow to the people of the state.
 "And it is false when they state that the election was called for this fall in or der that it might be disassociated from candidates for office. And they who make such statements know they are false" Charges Against Conner. Bowman dealt with Governor Conner,