The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-08-29
rwo FALSE ARGUMENTS.

htbftion 10 that Its opponents are
"whiskey men. or that they are DOM
mated by the "whiskev interests. ="
These ovcr-zealous advocates OF q
weak cause seem blind to the fact that
thew are handling a dangerous weapon
and one that may injure them more
than II will do them good. They seem
to forget that many of the verv best
men in the State: men who are prohi-
bitionists in practice as well AS IN theo-
ry are lined I'D in opposition to the
unwise attempt to degrade our State
Constitution and change 1t from its
purpose and transform II into q po-
lice-making instrument
These men are practical prohibition
lists who by their own conduct show
that they are sincere in their advocacy
OF prohibition. They are not of the
kind who advocate total abstinence in
public and drink in. secret. but men
who practice what they preach. They
are among the best citizenship of AL
ALBANIA vet they are to be held up to
nublic view as "whiskey men," and as
being controlled bv the "whiskex in
terests."
Can the advocates of the amendment
hope or expect to advance or strength
en- their cause by abusing and misrep-
resenting the class Of men referred to?
Abusive and sianderous charges are
not argument. and they rarely win.
Such unfair methods NAV succeed for
a time but in the end they react on
those who resort to them and inture
the cause they are intended to help
The term "whiskey men, as used by
these extremists fs a foul Islander on
SOME Of the best people of the State.
All who do not believe In constitutional
prohibition. and who refuse to endorse
all the extreme prohibition legislation
forced upon the people of Alabama
are thus designated. as If that were
sufficient Indictment against them to
prevent them having any influence In
the bitter conflict now going on. II
we cared for nothing but the defeat of
the unwise amendment we would want
the extremists to go on and be as Bit
ter. as unfair and as slanderous as pos
sible. but we seriously object to the
attempt to make 1t appear that
no man can be good man
or q good citizen unless he es-
poses their cause. We resent that kind
of campaigning. even though it viii
help our side In the end.
Another stock argument used by ad-
vocates OF the amendment on all occa-
sions. and with as much seriousness
as IL they really believe it, is that the
adoption OF the amendment will stop
agitation on the liquor question in AL
ALBANIA. This argument Is SO directly
contrary to experience and precedent.
as well as to common sense. that we
must confess our surprise at it's use.
There Is nothing to sustain such a view
In the history Of any State that has
tried TO settle the liquor question by
law. and If the lawse cannot settle nc
how can any sensible mrn expect it
to be done by Amending The Constitu-.
ton? 1t Is much nearer tie truth to
assert that IL the amendment IL rati-
fed at the polls 1t will be the begin
ming OF such bitter and continued agi-
tation as has never been known in
Alabama. There will be no end to 1t
and no cessation OF it. Putting pro-
hibition in the Constitution cannot set
tie anything. but will unsettle Ala
hama moro than anything that has oc-
curred in forty years.
The leaders in this fight for consti-
tutional prohibition must know that
thew are decsivinE the people of AL
ALBANIA. hoping to win by arguments
based on false premises We cannot
conceive that these leaders are So de-
'NAt "a 'hhSAAAOhNC anu AhOHlS dc
not to know that their two stock ar
guInents are deceptive and discredit-
able to intelligent people. Those who
oppose the innovation are not the or
gans or benefciaries of the liquor in
terests. Many of them are opposed to
the sale of liquor in any form. and in
their ranks are to BIO found some of
the best citizens and the brainiest men
of the State. Not only that but In their
ranks are to be found great numbers
of sincere, conscientious church people
NJ various denominations who refuse
to be dragged into advocacy of what
thew feel to be a wrongful movement
These two stock arguments. oased
on ignorance or intolerance. may sue
coed. for the right does not alwys pre-
vail. but If they win 1t will be a dear
ly bought victory. both for themselves
and for the State and the people. Tie
leaders. II thew are successful. will
learn that their triumph will turn to
hitter ashes and the people of Ala
bama will find themselves plunged in
to 4 sea of restless agitation that will
hamper the State for years to come.
GRIST FROM THE MILL.
The extraordinary session of the AL