The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1909-10-01
CITY OFFICES.
TIE AMENDMENT.

The nation is looking on while Ala
bama wrestles with the proposed con-
stitutional amendment prohibiting the
sale of liquors. The nation is vitality
interested, for this is the first time
that the liquor Titan has been Crap
pied in SO close an embrace by the
outraged citizenship of a state, and
the contest is to be decisive. The IL
nuor forces recognize in the adoption
of the amendment the establishment
of a precedent that may imperil the
traffic in intoxicants throughout the
length and breadth of the country;
the advocates of prohibition view 1T
as a precedent for removing the trou-
blesome question forever from state
politics.
The campaign may be said to have
formally opened at Sheffield when
Judge Samuel D. Weakley, former
chief Justice. counsel for the Anti-Sa-
loon league, author of the Fuller Dill
and candidate for governor, met In
debate Hon. Emmett ONeal, attorney
at-law, prominent politician and
prospective candidate for governor.
During this debate, which was bril-
liant and heated, Judge Weakley
hurled at his opponent a challenge to
meet him on the stump all over the
state, a challenge which was prompt
Nv accepted. But there will be speak
ers galore from rostrum and pulpit
defiance will be hurled at the cohorts
of Bacchanal, and from the boys and
slashes orators and near-orators will
spring up in defense of booze.
Conditions in Alabama are much
the same as those that exist in Ten
nessee. Occupying the position OF
DR.. Hamilton, only ten times more
hated, is Rev. Brooks Lawrence, SUI
perintendent of the Anti-Saloon
league. Fearless, resourceful and
brainy this man who has been so often
termed a carpet Dagger" and "po-
litical parson," is match for any
liquor leader in the state.
DR.. Crumpton, less active than Mr..
Lawrence, but just as determined and
Just as fearless. beloved Baptist
minister, occupies position some
what similar to that of DR.. e. e. FOLK.
Then there IS the press. In Birmingham
two of the three daily papers have
espoused the cause of prohibition
the News and Ledger. The Age-Her-
aid. less bold than the Nashville
American, and more scrupulous, Is
lust as earnest an advocate of things
LIQUID. At Montgomery the "Adver-
tiser" is enlisted under the red BAN
ner. while the Journal is strong for
temperance The Mobile papers have
hut little influence, but that little VIII
be cast against the amendment. In
one particular, conditions in Alabama
are reversed from those in Tennes-
see. The chief executive OF the state
B B. Conner, is man whom the
liouorites love to revile. Since the
adoption by the Alabama Legislature
of a statewide law he has been firm
in his stand for law enforcement by
the Eternal" he has declared. the
law shall not be trampled underfoot.
Whatever influence Governor Conner
may have will be thrown in the bal
ance in favor of the amendment. An
other factor in the contest, j. o.
Thompson, state chairman OF the Re-
publican executive committee, and the
dispenser Of patronage is an out-and-
ont prohibitionist, and has refused to
rally to the support of the liquor
crowd with that undue haste shown by
certain Tennessee Republicans.
Labor, of course, has been told that
business will suffer II the amend
ment carries. Pictures have been
painted OF closed shops, empty dinner
pals and lost jobs. The big mine
operators have always commended that