The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-11-12
JACKSON'S CLAIM
BRINGS A SMILE
Says Jefferson Is for Amend
ment BY 1850
NO FIGURES TO PROVE IT
Defenders Are Still Confident County
Will Go Against the Amendment
by at Least 1ooo-Experience
of Other States.
No FIGURES TO PROVE IT
BY HUGH w. ROBERTS,.

The issuance of statement by F. NJ.
Jackson. one of the managers of the fight
in the interest of the proposed constitu-
tional amendment, to the effect that JEFF
ferson county. by majority of 2250, will
indorse the scheme of Conner. Weakley
and Lawrence, was the political feature
, of yesterday
The amendment advocates. on learning
the significance of the flaring headlines,
looked questioningly into the faces of each
other, and then smiled Anti-amend-
people, absolutely confident that Jeffer-
son will go against the amendment by a
majority of between 1000 and 1000, laughed
aloud.
The claim of the leader of the amend
ment fight was not seriously considered
by any student of politics In this county
It's reception was like unto that given
the recent boast of Sheriff Drago of Mo-
bile-that even in that county (Mobile)
the amendment will win.
Those familiar with every face in JEFF
ferson and with every foot of territory,
are confident that the amendment will
lose in this county. Senator Hugh Nor
row predicts the defeat of the amendment
in Jefferson. Farmers who come to town
confess that there is no hope for the po-
1itical progeny of that secret Montgom-
cry cabal, at which several leaders con-
spired against the voters of Alabama
Others are willing to back their polit-
ical Judgment with the fruits of their
labor. Money to any reasonable amount
is awaiting the attention of the amender
who believes Jefferson will give its in
dorsement to a political scheme, in the
support of which leaders have gone to
such extremes and availad themselves of
such desperate tactics.
People Demanding Proof.
OF the people who discuss the proposed
amendment on street corners the major
ity are interested in learning just what
has been the result of constitutional pro-
hibition in other states.
They want an object lesson before they
burden the constitution of Alabama with
that which is now nothing other than an
experiment.
They have listened in vain for an ex-
preston from Judge S. D. Weakley, cam
didate for governor, whose lecture on tenn
perance has been repeated on many plat
forms of this state. But he has never
told of single state where constitutional
prohibition has been worked with any de-
gree of success.
They have listened in vain for enlight-
ment from F. M Jackson, the Rev.
Brooks Lawrence-native of constitu-
tional state-and other managers of the
amendment fight. But neither has men,
toned the name of single state where
constitutional prohibition has solved the
liquor problem.
In defending his administration and in
telling of the evils which the abuse Of
whisky has done and will do, Governor
Conner has not backed up an argument
with proof that constitutional prohibition
has succeeded in a state or worked to the
advantage of the people.
Constitutional prohibition has been
| tried in many states of the Union, but
| in none has 1t worked for the material
progress or the morals of the people.
| In no state has it solved the whisky
| question.
Experience Of States.
In no state has the agitation fol-
| lowing an injection of the liquor topic
| into a political situation been checked
or in anyway abated by the adoption
| of constitutional prohibition.
| South Dakota came into the Union
with prohibition written in its constitu-
| ton. In the first IL years of its ex-
| istence as a state there were four
| changes.
| bition for SO years. The issue in every
| political campaign in Maine is "resu6-
| mission" The democrats want the
| question OF constitutional prohibition
submitted to them for answer or solu-