The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-10-26
WHO WAS coSsULrEDr

sYou never consulted me. If you had consulted me before the amend ment passed and the Legislature or- dsred the election on the amendment. I would have told you then that was opposed to patching the Constitution in this way. Frankly. under the cir cumstsnces. can not see how you can reasonably count upon my vote. or consider me bound to follow in e fight about which was not consulted? By the way. who was consulted before this fisht was nader
 In these words. . prominent Black Belt Democrat. a man who. until this aght. had steadily supported prohibi- ton, answered distinguished minis ter whe was urging that every man who favored prohibition. was bound to support the amendment. The aues- ton. "who was consulted" has never been answered. And after all. 1t is . pertinent question. Who was consult cd when the fight was forced on con- stitutionaI prohibition with all its at- tendant political ambition?
 It will be recalled that the Governor held up his proclamation calling the extra session until ten days before the Legislature was to meet. Nobody ex- pected that constitutional prohibition was to be made feature of the call Prohibition newspapers of Birming- ham. which had previously spoken with authority of the prohibition propa- sanda carried news stories to the ef- feet that there would be no request for constitutional prohibition and that prohibition leaders had deemed such a light unwfse. In the light of what happened these publications now ap- pear as successful attempts to allay suspicion and to prevent opponents of the amendment from preventing its passage by the Legislature.
 The announcemnt that the leaders had determined to force 6 fight on constitutional prohibition was first made in the call of the Governor. It was as great a surprise to the rank and nie of the prohibitionists in Ala bama as it was to the men who still believed in local option.
 Two facts are certain. first, the rank ana file of prohibitionists were not consulted; second. the Governor. Judge Weakley, attorney for the Anti-Saloon League and candidate for Governor on the issue. and Rev. Brooks Lawrence, the political manager of the propa- ganda, launched the movement. But with whom did they. consult?
 The charge is made that not only was the amendment born in a secret caucus in the Governors ofice, but that 1t was determined there that the election should be forced now. becaus SC the 100000 men who had not paid their poll tax might pay them and join in .N1S chCSeAOHs II " was hSl0 next year.
 It Is absurd to term the men who are opposed to the amendment allies of the whiskey ring" And. on the other hand. it is absurd to say that every man who favors the amendment Is fanatic. But 1t can not be denied that the men who launched the fight and who will most profit by a vic- tory--the men who participated in the secret caucus. are politicians and ann bilious politicians. The political schemes wrapped up in the amend ment are so apparent that their de. niai would be ridiculous
 It Is going a little too far; 1t Is ex. pecting little too much, to insist that every man who opposes the open sa loon should have his vote depend upon a caucus of politicians. few fin number and eagerly ambitious.