The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-09-04
NArURAL AND EXPECTED.


 tons of the country contain frequent references to Alabama affairs these days. Some of the comments are sar- castle, some sympathetic and others warmly condemnatory in their Ian guage. We take them all in good part, because we feel that Alabama deserves them. To cast ridicule on the lata ses- sion of the Legislature is but natural for those who do not mind enjoying themselves at the expense O. human suffering and humiliation. To feel sin- cere sympathy for tie unfortunate is one of the finest tra'ts of humanity. TO condemn such wrongs as were heap.d on the Stat Rnc the people by faratics and politicians Is privlles'. which all right-minded people have d right to enjoy a1I sreak their minds ab' q,
 And SO 1t is that while thousands of the best people of Alabama keenly feel the comments of those who have not been dragged through the dust. whether those comments take the form of ridicule. sympathy or condemnation. these good people cannot resent it. be- cause they feel that the State in its or ganized capacity deserves all the hard things that may be said about it. How ever much we may regret 1t. and how ever ksenly we may feel the shame of the confession, we are compelled to ad- init that for the time being the admin lstration and the Legislature were the them and entrusted them with pow CT, and they were supposed to repre- sent the sentiment and will of the peo- pic.
 But 1t may be ask ed. did the Legfs- lature at the extra session fairly rep resent and carry out the sentiments of the people of Alabama? Most 'assur- edly not. There were conscientious men in both houses: men who acted and voted according to their convic- tions and tried to stem the tide of fla that bore down on them. but such men were too few In number. and the hopeless minority in which they found themselves rendered them powerless to do good or prevent evil. If they could have directed and con- trojled legislation there would be quite a different story to tell now.
 We repeat that these men were pain fully weak in numbers. however strong they may have been in their convic- tions and their honesty. The major ity in each house was not composed of this class, but of a widely diff ferent one. Most of them were elected on the local option platform of the party. Most of them came to Mont gomery opposed to Statewide prohi- bition laws of any kind, and especially did they declare their stern opposition to constitutional prohibition. Mum. bers of them expressed themselves in no uncertain terms against such an unwise interpolation of politics and police regulations into our organic law.
 And yet many of these men delib- erately went contrary to the expressed convictions, ignored their repeated declarations made after the extra ses- sion convened. and voted for every measure demanded by the bosses. Whether they were awed by threats of official displeas,lre: whether they were seduced by promises of political pref erment; or whether they were misled by the representations of fanatical or invested leaders and fell into line with the crowd. or if all of these influences were combined. we are not saving. but we do know that when the word was given they blindly followed orders and voted contrary to declarations and promises. made both at home and in Montgomery.
 Is 1t any wonder that Alabama should feel shamed and humiliated over the record made at the extra ses- sion? Is 1t not proper that the State should fguratively place her hand over her mouth. cry "Peccavi," and hang her head in shame and humiliat ton? Especially is Alabama to be pItiad. censured and ridiculed all at once be- cause of the constitutional amendment proposition, which was adopted in vI- olation of right, of justice and of plat form pledges. That is the limit of legislative misconception of duty and assumption of power. When the peo- pie have buried that measure under an avalanche of votes. as we feel as- sured they will do. we eau again foeI like holding up our heads and looking the world in the face. UrtiI that is settled we must accept whatever Is said about us and bear 1t as best we can. but if a righteous Providence has not finished It's punishment. and if the amendment is adopted. we shall feel that we have arrived at the lowest level of political humiliation and try to comfort ourselves with the hope that hysteria cannot prevail forever In the meantime we must bear the lash from those more fortunate.