The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-11-10

time a question in which the whole peo-
pie so vitality concerned? 1 clearly
think it does not. From the standpoint
of public welfare, have not as yet heard
of any satisfactory explanation for this
precipitate submission of the question.
First Section.
l do not believe that the adoption of
the first section will add to or take
from the power of the legislature to con-
troll the whisky evil. The distinguished
author of the amendment is great law
yer, and he declares that he will stake
his professional reputation that every Sec
ton of the Carmichael and Fuller bills
are constitutional. If we have complete
prohibition by statutes that are constitu-
tional how can the laws be strengthened
by the amendment? 1t is the penalty i'm
posed that deters men and keeps them
from violating the law. There is no
penalty In the amendment for its viola
ton. The penalty, the punishment for
violating the prohibition laws is found
In the present statute. The statutes are
constitutional we are assured and 1 &C
cept it. We are told the amendment will
stop the agitation of the liquor question.
Give me q reasonable assurance that
1t will have that effect and I will work
and vote for it; but judging by the ex-
perience of the few states in which the
experiment mas Deen trleu we KNOW tLdl IL
has not had that effect. We have the
unreserved power of the state behind the
present prohibition laws; the officers
whose duty it is to enforce the laws are
diligent. If they fail to do their duty I'M
parchment and removal from office fol-
lows. What more can the most ardent
prohibitionist expect?
Fear of Bribery.
| 1t is contended by some of the advo-
| Gates of the amendment that If 1t Is not
| adopted that the legislature may sell out
| to the brewers and distillers and repeal
| the the prohibition laws against the
| wishes of the people 1 can not be i'm
pressed with that argument. Since the
| days of reconstruction there has never
been a breath of suspicion against the
integrity of the Alabama legislature. To
admit that the legislature can not be
trusted against bribery is a confession
that representative government is fall
ure.
Such eminent authority as the present
chief executive of Alabama expressed this
sentiment In the use Of the following Ian
guage in his message converting the last
special session of the legislatures: 1.-THE
legislative department 70 the government
has always been nearest to the people
and most protective of their interests"
We can not afford to repudiate time-hon-
ored principles of government however
pressing the exigencies of the occasion
may appear to be in the settlement Of
the issue now submitted.
If there Is danger of legislature be-
ing bought by the whisky interest and
induced to repeal the prohibition laws II
the amendment is defeated, why may they
not be bought by the same interests and
induced to repeal the prohibition laws IL
the amendment Is adopted? And would
not the inducement for corruption be
much greater when on repeal of the pen
alties everybody could sell whisky and
thereby increase the amount sold and
the consequent profits to the brewers and
distillers? 1t is conceded that the legisa-
ture would have the power if the amend
ment Is adopted, to amend or repeal the
penalty in the prohibition laws. 1t has
been suggested that if the amendment
is adopted that members of the legisla-
ture would violate their oaths of office il
they repeal the penalties in the prohibi-
ton laws. But does not the constitution
which the members of the legislature are
required to take an oath to support pro-