The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-08-09
O'NEAL HAYS
,PROHI LEADERS
tcentiaaea from rag. one,

NOO-As@-1.sSN@ 80
OF the Anti-saloon League that the
constitution would be amended to
overcome. the force OF the decision OF
the Supreme Court In the locker club
case. Under the second section of the
proposed amendment, the Legislature
is vested with power to designate
places where liquor can not be stored
Under this section the Legislature
could enact that liquor could not be
stored within four miles of any church
or school and thus indirectly prevent
its use by the citizen.
with the ratification OF the amend
ment another special session would ne
called and laws enacted prohibiting
the storage of liquor in every con-
ceivable place. UnGer this amend
ment could not the Legislature desig-
nate even the room In the dwelling
house in which liquor could be stored
and as an incident to such power lin
IL the quantity to be kept for useE
Urwier this amendment the jug OF
some jealous advocate /of extreme
legislation could be ordered removeo
from under the bed and placed where
no screens or distractions could con-
ceal 1T from a thirsty pubic.
wight AbrOEate Decasions.
.JInder the wide sweep OF this pow
az the recent decisions of the court
would be abrogated and the free Oft
tzens of Alabama converted into ser
vile wards of an intolerant Legislative
oliRarchy.
nosa can he subserved by the propos-
cd amendment? No one denies that
the LEGISLATURE has full and unlimited
power 10 prohibit the sale or tntoxi-
ca ting liauors No one contends that
a constitutional provision could give
additional weight and emcacy 10
statute which seeks to prompit the
manufacture and sale OF intoxicating
liquors. .,,-o.a
+his amendment through the Legisla-
tire and submit 1t to special cleo
tior With the additional cost OF thous-
ards Of dollars to be withdraWn from
SenIeted treasury? Why not submit
the Amendment to the regular election
70 he held next year? II they really
desire to avoid agitation why 40 the
Prohibition leaders seek to plunge the
state this fall into q heated. bitter
and acrimonious contest! 10 pc
cause they know that hundred thou
sand white men in Alabama are now
Sisoualifled from voting but that in
view of the election next year VIII
qualify for the electorate. The real
rea son is because they know that much
OF the present coercive legislation Is
In nalnable violation of constitution
al Guarantees. In the teeth Of recent
decisions, and that now. backed by a
Legislature ready and eager to do
their bidding. with an administration
anxious to use all of its waning pow
ers to aid the cause. they believe they
can by this legislature create a sem
timeut which win overawe the weak
and vacfllatinR and cause the ratifi-
cation of an amendment. which will
depress a majority Of the people of
Alabama at the next election of the
power of undoing their work.
People Not Deceived.
srha neople OF Alabama will not be
so easily deceived. While they favor
sohrtety and good morals they will
disown the system of coercive legis-
lation recently enacted. a system which
violates constitutional guarantees, in
vades the rightful domain of individu-
al Judgment and conscience, tends to
abridge personal rights. and which
will not lessen but increase the evils
OF intemperance.
the action of the Legislature is
not the action OF the people. AS Mr..
Bryce in his American Commonwealth
so wisely says The Legislature can
be "got at"-the people can not The
Legislature may be subjected by the
advocates Of women suffrage or liquor
prohibition to pressure irresistab lie
by ordinary men: but the people are
too numerous 10 be all wheedied or
threatened. Hence they can>and do re-
pudiate proposals which the Legisla-
ture has assented to. Nor should II be
kforgotten that In country where law