The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-11-10

cj4fo t0o lut0UDofato ubo VT AQuoE - ground if Impeachment for the. re- the next instance the constitution in providing that no local laws should be passed whom the remedy sought could be occurred by . general law. excepted from Ito operation the passing of local laws prohibiting or regulating the sale of liquor % that all such laws mirht be brought before the Legisla- ture at ant time. The third time the word 1iQuor appears in the constitu-. ton, the ssction In which it occurs has been mis-stated and perverted to, suit certain purposes of those who favor the amendment II is often said the or use of liquor on election, days. It does no such thing. The framers of this section would not intcEfsre with the police powers of the legi4lature by putting such a provision in the Eonsti- tuition. It goes no further than. to de- clare that the Legislature should make appropriate laws in regard fs the use of liquor on election days. ! ,e-
 'arhe Contribution itself does not undertake to enact that which was strictly . legisiative duty under its police powers. It 10 more than prob \ able that such . section would. have been omitted entirely but for fha fact that it was in the Constitutiope of 1875 and carried into the present, Con- stitution. lest some person might infer that there had been a change in the views of the framers of latter consti- tuition. They simply approved and en- dorsed tho action of the previous con, yention neither interfering with the legislative power. but suggesting its duty. It 10 extensively asserted that xtxc ment, are taking the part of the saloon keeper. and are aiding the open traf- flo of liquor. and that the amendment is necessary to stamp out the evil. and cage the blind tiger that graft is the motive power to such opposition. I assert positively that neither of the statements are true.
 |. Monstrous Asscrficn.
 Tt is monstrous to assert that per sonal liberty and the ..sanctity of the home, must be shut up in the same cage with the blind tiger. Why would not the law be just as effective against the saloon and blind tiger #. the liberty of the citizen and the sanctity of the home had been left out of the in fluence of the amendment? Some have, and others may assert that the home and personal liberty are excep- tions. just as Judge Thorington has att tempted to do. but no reason or legiti- mate argument can be adduced to sus- tain such contention. The words of the amendment, the object to be reach ed. the rules of construction will not admit of such a construction.
 'sThe swaddling statesmen and sons of Boson who have forsaken the right way and gone astray.' and re-appeared as the political parson or prophet, find most encouragement among those who know nothing of the Bili of Rights, and what 1t cost to secure such im-s munity. and how absolutely necessary 1t Ia to guard them against any en- crpachnent. to perpetuate our free in- stitution. They are as blind to the Balaam. Unfortunately there are many with ears on the tiptoe of ex- pectation and mouths wide open ready to swallow whatever comes from a' 'frocktaii coat. high beaver and ctert- cal voice." Fortunately for the coun- try do not believe they constitute q majority of the intelligent voters. feel sure they will show on the 2sth of EovembsF as much wisdom as Bslaarfss ass ana xsfuse to be driven onto the danger. a If the making of to protect ali fke., people. and control legislative action. does not present a political issue and involve political action.s pure and simple. then my memory has failed me. and my 1udg- ment has lost the power to dfBctimi- nate between facts and phantasrn.
 These swaddiing statesmen and sons of Roson tell us we owe 1t to our wives and children and country as patriots to sustain the amendment. and that we can't afford to make 8 record a w.ak frfs %A,.srs a r.A doing 50 I believe I voice the senti- ments of thousands In our state who are entitled to make like claims as myself
 Reviews His Record.
 "As a young man offered my life in defense of our constitutional rights and bear the scars in my body of the enemies bullets. After the disastrous ending of the civil war as a member of the Constitutional Convention Of 1865 aided in framing a Constitution which fully guarded our civilization. The days of reconstruction came and our Institutions were overthrown and we were forced to bear out necks to the feet of an ignorant and most vicious electorate. We endured the indignity and danger for many years. wish every young man man would read the memorable ad- dress issued by the Democratic Exec utive Committee in 1874 There are many who do not know that such an address was ever issued. In the strug- gle that preceded and followed the days of reconstruction, served my country as best could. as many others did also. As the Solicitor of the Sixth. Dis trict had the opportunity to learn the evil effects of liquor traffic, and set about to counteract 1t.
 "west Alabama will tell you that the vender of whiskey found no favor from me. Some thirty years ago. this work began. and more than twenty-five years ago we succeeded in putting a ban on the trafflc in Greene County. and we have sustained the law ever since. In the counties in my circuit. perhaps the largest then in the State. and especially north of Greene County cooperating with men who agreed with me and whose views I learned in the grand jury room, we began the business of establishing local option laws in the beats where we thought. 1t could be done successfully Thus the work fin favor of temperance began and I lived to see before the present ex- citement and stir these counties almost free from the evil of whiskey trafic. The success of the movement gave me great pleasure. In not a single in- stance did I ever sidetarck to let the saloon have the preference of the right of way and have not to this good day. and never expect to do so.
 'I will pass by the work of the Con- stitutional Convention of 1901. as I was a part of 1t. When that was end- ed I believed and hoped my public work over. and I could spend the days
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