The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-21
ANN|STON JUDGE
 GIVES HIS REASONS Coleman Sees Danger In Pro-
 posed Amendment IS TOO DRASTIC TO WORK Believes Amendment Will Not Help Prohibition Because Great Ques-
 tions Cannot Be Settled Ex-
 cept by Ceaseless Work.
IS TOO DRASTIC TO WORK

Judge Thomas W. Coleman, Jr., of An niston has written strong letter in which he gives his reasons for opposition to the proposed constitutional amend ment He writes as follows
 "A prominent citizen, well known for his advocacy of the proposed constitu- tional amendment, has addressed to mo a letter. asking me to explain my posi- tion on the amendment. As some of my friends have criticised my attitude, have decided to publish my answer, withhold ing the name of the gentleman who wrote me.
 My Dear Sir: I have your favor and have read it carefully. I fully appreciate man to take a positive position on every public question which comes up. I have not sought and have no expectations of seeking to convert any one to my views. My disgust and aversion for the liquor traffic has undergone no change. I have been fighting it for ten years, and will be found fighting it In the fu- ture, when men now criticising my posi- tion will have lost interest in the sub ject
 There are some things in the proposed amendment which in my judgment are fundamentally wrong. First. I do not be- lieve any law just or wise which pro- hibits a man or woman from making do- mestic wine for home use This the pres ent law prohibits, branding the man or woman who does 1t as a criminal fit to wear stripes and to undergo servile pun ishment. Many godly men and women have habitually made blackberry cordial and wine from berries and grapes. The constitutional amendment seeks to forever prohibit this Did any harm ever come from this privilege? Moreover, if it Is enjoined to use wine nthe holy sacra- ment, can you point out to me the wis., dom of a law which compels your min ister to purchase for this purpose wine manufactured or sold in another state by a goddess whisky dealer, and which at the same time declares you criminal if you make or deliver to your minister wine for this purpose? If anybody can make wine for sacramental purposes. why may not the people of Alabama do so? The proposed amendment attempts to forever prohibit them. In this respect, l consider the law very foolish and very unneces- sary.
 Second, I do not believe law is just and right which would prohibit me from having whisky or wine in my house. Some years ago I had heart-rending case Of typhoid fever in my family. l had able physicians, all of whom advised me that the only chance to sustain the vitality of my child was to administer to her whisky We used more than gallon Last spring my wife was almost at deaths door, I haven't any doubt that whisky saved her life She used half gallon. Under the present law the only way l could get whisky when needed Qf at all in time to do any good) would be from a dealer in another state. l have no whisky in my house, and have never habitually kept it. As l cannot now procure it from drug store when needed for sickness, l shall be compelled to keep it.
 .rhe proposed amendment authorizes a law which would prevent me from keep ing it in my house. Whisky kept any where under the present law, excep. in a residence, is prima facie evidence Of guilt and renders the party subject to indictment l am not in favor of a law V hich restricts my liberty of having whis- ky. in my residence, and l am not in favor of an amendment to the constitI- tion which would authorize such a Jaw. I think the question of personal liberty is one which ought to settle for myself, and not someone else for me. Not even a majority ought to settle it for me.
 "If believed that the proposed amend ment was necessary to the cause of tenn