The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-24

aid was solely influenced by putting pro- hibition amendment into the constitution? Were there not other and more potent reasons for making this the starting point for an organized attack on the only in- strument, which Is the last resort of our people in defense of their rights, their liberties and their homes? Looking back over the political happenings of the past few years and impartially viewing this unscught and bitter campaign into which we have been plunged, we can but see the master hand which directs and the goal to which 1t points. It would be as impos- sihie to' eliminate politics and political hopes and ambitions from this question as 1t would be to shatter our faith in the sanctity and purity of our homes.
 I cannot help but admire, however. the political sagaoity displayed by the leaders of this movement in their late spectacular attempt, under the pulpit of a church, to hide the real inspiration and motive of this campaign. Perhaps they vainly hoped that they alone had heard the distant rumblirgs of the coming storm and still had time to reef their sails and avoid It's fury Reefed sails and furled flags do not always mean safety. It Is not my purpose to argue for or against the prohi- biton laws passed by the last legislature; they speak for themselves. and of their usefulness and their wisdom the people alone must judge.
 Cannot Build a Wall.
 Our laws and the manner and conditions under which they are passed not only af feet us, but concern the outside world who know and do business with us as well. The people of any state who att tempt to build around 1t wall are des- tined to feed upon themselves, and are docn ed to disintegration and decay. We are dependent largely upon the good will, confidence and help of those who live without our borders. In the last few years we have done much to surprise and alarm them. They have seen a state treasury full to overflowing made so empty that It's obligations will have to be repudiated or loans made in violation of the constitu- tion They have seen foreign capital taxed and a proper regulation of our com mon carriers transformed into political issue for personal political advancement. They have seen the judges of the federal and supreme court of the state vilified and denounced They have seen season of strife and bitterness which is unpar- alleled in our history. They have seen all and more than we have seen, and God knows it is enough.
 During all this time they have felt that these things would shortly pass away, and that the people of Alabama would once more assert themselves. They have felt that if need be the courts, backed by the constitution, would protect both them and us, and so they still gave us their faith This last and daring move, this attempt to write into our constitution radical and untried law. passed by legislature domi- mated and controlled by the Governor, if successful, will mean far more than pro- hibition. It will mean that the people of Alabama indorse his administration and stsnd for all for which he stands. It will mean a continuation of drastic legislation, a further mutilation of our constitution and an Endorsement of a self-appointed successor In office, trained under his teaching and fed from his hands It will mean that the outside public to whom we must look for capital to aid us in our de- velopment and growth may conclude that we as people are unsafe Divided among ourselves, rent and torn by political and fanatical unrest, striking the hand out stretched to help us, can we in fairness deny the charge? E. l.. BROWN.
 Birmingham, September 2s 1904