The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-08-09
0NEAL HAYS
PR0HI LEADERS
Protests Against Propos-
ed Amendment
DEPLoREs CONSTANT STRIFE
Makes Il Clear He VIII Pc Active
In Campaign
Prominently Mentisned for Gevernor,
Nsrth AIabama Man Gives Idea
Of HI. BeIief.--opposss At
tack on Freedom Of Pre.s.
4
DEPLoREs CONSTANT STRIFE

Florence. Aug. s--(Speciai. )-Hon.
Emmett o'Neal. prominently mention
ed as candidate Tor Governor In
1910, has issued q strong statement In
which he opposes constitutional pro-
hibftfon and In which he severely ar
ratgne the course OF the prohibftion
leaders who haye kept the State so
stirred up. after the present Legisla-
ture ana state administration had been
elected on local option platform.
Mr.. ONeai charges bad faith on
their part and declares that strife and
agitation form their necessary atmos-
phere. "A prohibition leader deploring
agitation and yearning for the quiet
life would tar the credulity of the most
credulous." he says.
MI. o'Neal makes II clear that he
VIII take as active d part as eican in
opposition to constitutional prohibition
amendment II the bill now In the Ala
bama Senate IL finally passed. He 10
recognised as one OF the best stump
speakers In the State:
Mr.. o'Neal SAYS:
Depiores Agitation.
In the course Of his speech to the
Carmichael As reported as having de-
clared that the adoption Of the propose
cd prohibition amendment to the con-
stitution would remove the LIQUOR
question. from politics and prevent fur
Their agitation. II will be rather sur
prising to the people OF Alabama TO
learn that the leaders of the prohibi-
tion movement have commenced to
deprecate an agitation which they
themselves inausurated. 1t has been
generally believed that II was In agi-
n a~.A T.
all the deiirium and hysterta which
has attended the crusade OF the Anti
Saloon League that the prohibition
leaders have lived ana had their po-
Htfcai being. and that with the re-
turn OF sanity and conservatism they
silently but reluctantly would Join the
great army Of tho unemployed. A pro-
hibitien leader. deplorfng agitation and
yearning for the quiet life, would tai
the credusity Of the meet creduloua.
Yes. the nAoule 81 Aiahansa car
viii Be sIavfsh sssDaz3a8lail }s S1tls
measure which selfish ambition and
fanatical love Of power can demand
Our memories are not 30 short that Wa
do not recall that this same assurance
was given when In violation of party
platform and individual pledge, state
wide prohibition was made. the law
1t was them confidently claimed by
these same leaders that the liquor
question was settled, that 1t would no
longer be a burning issue in State pol
tiles. and that the people would be al
lowed opportunity to recuperate from
the era Of strife, agitation and passion
into whichN the State has been plunged
since the advent OF this administrA-
ton.
Give Law Fair Trial.
MANY Of uB who on principle oppos-
ed prohibition because its record had
been one of universal and unexception-
able failure, accepted the assurance IN
good faith, and were content to give
the law full and fair opportunity Of
trial. We advocated its strict en-
forcement and were willing to let ex.
perience determine whether the claims
OF its advocates that 1t would lessen
crime, and tntemperance. and perma-
nently settle the liquor question, had
any basis in truth. Yet hardly had
the law been in operation six months
before the prohibition leaders insisted
that 1t was utterly weak and inefYect-
i've and that II was the duty of the
Governor to call the Legislature In spe-
cial session and give additional force
and efficacy to its provisions. The re-
cent opinion Of the Supreme Court re-
approved by the court since the organ.
ization of the state government, that
liquor was property with, the right Of
storage incident to all property, was
made the occasion for Q bitter ana In
sulting assault on the members Of the
court and in language 50 intempcrate
and brutal as to arouse a storm of in
dignation throughout the State.
1T was. then boldly announced that
the court would IL necessary be re-
and the Constitution amend
ed so as to overcome khe force and eff
feet Of the decision rendered The
agitation of the liquor question was
with renewed bitterness,
acrimony and intolerance. Ali who re-
fused to Join In the crusade against
the court and for laws more extreme
and radical were denounced as allies
OF the liquor interest. the lawiess and
criminal. The special session was call
ed, for the demands of the prohibition
lists had in the judgment of the exc
ecutive created that extraordinary oc-
justified the converting Of
the Legislature,
Study Musty Records.
1.-THE musty legislative records of
Maine and Kansas were ransacked to
discover the most radical and intoler-
ant laws which hypocrisy and fanati-
cism had conceived. and on the flrst
day Of the special session q bill was
introduced which was conceded to be
more radical than any which had ever
been offered in a State where one vest.
Ige Of personal liberty remained, The
right Of the State to prohibit the sale
OF intoxicating liquors according TO ali
legal authorities Is based on, its police
nowar M respectable legal aufhorlt,,
had ever maintained the doctrine that
the police power could be extended to
prohibit the use or the sale of bever-
ages harmless and non-intoxicat ting.
yet by the Carmichael bill beyer-
ages conceded to be harmless and non.
were prohibited ON the
specious pretext that their sale miRl.4
be made the cloak for evasions OF the
law. All places except the home were
to be unlawful drinixtn1
places. From every social club and
from every place whore men meet In
social and friendly intercourse, bever.
ages conceded to be- non-intoxicatInr
but which containd even trace OF
alcohol were bsnished. and placed un-
der the ban OF the law.
Converting into crime rIRhts
which the citizens OF, Alabama had en-
Joyed since the organization OF the
state government. the right to nse
their own liquor in their own club,
this statute must be put into imme-