The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-07-29
NEW PROHIBITION BILLS
 10 60 THROUGH EASILY
Only Discussion About Greater Bir- r1ingham Is Whether Ensley Shall Be Included-Fee Sys-
 tenn Amendment.
BY c. M. STANLEY.

Montgomery, July 2S.-tSpecial.) )-An im- partial survey of the situation at Mont gomery seems to indicate that the three amendments to the constitution proposed by Governor Conner will be defeated. In fact, no one expresses the least doubt about the defeat of the biennial sessions and new counties amendments. The situ- ation regarding the prohibition amend ment is not so clearly defined, but num- Der of out-and-out prohibitionists, both in the house and senate, have expressed their disapproval of a constitutional amendment when the same result can be accomplished by statute. These are the straws which show which way the wind is blowing.
 A man in the house who heretofore has voted for practically every measure sug- gested by the administration today said the present session of the legislature was called purely for the political aggran- dizement' of certain people. Who do you suppose he meant?
 Any way there is a well defined feeling that the biennial sessions amendment was suggested at this time purely in the in- terest of Governor Comers race for the d purely personal measure it is hitting snags right and left, and the well informed say it has no chance of passing. It might pos sibly carry in the house, but never in the senate under the present circum- stances.
 AS for the new county amendment, there is not the least hope of it's passage. Bes- semer does not want it because the of- fice-seekers in the lower end of the county are working along other lines, and no other part of the state seems to want it.
 The proifitition amendment-is probably only a whip to be used by the prohibi- tionists to get through all their other measures. although the leaders will gladly incorporate prohibition in the constitution if they can. In other words, they will take all they can get. But it will fail in the senate, and there is strong prob ability that it will fail to get the required three-fifths vote in the house.
 When the former prohibition measures were passed it will 7be recalled that the pressure brought to bear on members was tremendous Personal telegrams poured in by the hundreds to members, messages signed even by their wives being sent in urging them to vote for humanity" But this time there will be some pressure from the other side It has an organization itself now, and will certainly make itself felt.
 The fee system amendment introduced by MT. Glover of Jefferson is meeting with much favor. There is a feeling that after all the only way to get at this evil is to amend the constitution.
 The new statutory prohibition measures will probably have easy sailing. Many of the members take the position that they are as strong as can possibly be drawn and are worth giving trial. If they fail to accomplish what is expected of them { then they say they are willing to concede that ironclad prohibition will not work in Alabama.
 If Birmingham does not wish to lose the lower end of Jefferson county some one had better be stirring. Bessemer has what is conceded to be one of the most aggressive lobbies seen here in many day working like Trojans in the inter- est of splitting the county They are get ting in their york and doing 1t we'll Yo. cannot imagine the sympathetic in- fuenoe aroused by Dr. Ragsdale, who is an invalid and had almost to be carried into his seat in the house. The mem bers all know he would probably not be here at all if 1t were not for his inter- est in the new county, and his physical distress has worked on the minds of his colleagues
 It is proposed to call the new county "Pettus," and the Bessemer crowd is sending out literature about the great ness of the late senator and the duty the state owes this illustrious son in naming . county after him. The new county ad- vocates have enough men on the ground to make a personal appeal to every legis- lator, and unless somebody in the upper
 70 %1,N dnnc cnr hi quickly Jefferson county will make a poor showing in the federal census to be taken next year.
 Everybody down here favors Greater Birmingham. The only question at issue is whether Greater Birmingham shall n- clude Ensley. Ensley has prominent lobbyists here both for and against in- cluding the Steel City in Alabama metropolis. Both express confidence ard 1t Is hard to get at the real situation. Members of both houses with whom I have talked, however, are inclined to think Ensley shuld be included. They say that even though Ensley may seem to be separated and have distinct interests now, 1t Is only a matter of two or three years until the territory between Bir- mingham and Ensley will be so built up az to make them practically one city.
 The fight against the commission form of government for certain cities of Ala barna is developing remarkable strength. Lieutenant Governor Gray Is the moving spirit of the opposition to the plans and some strong aid has been enlisted against the measure.
 Among the Birmingham men at the capitol today are Judge c. c. Nesmith, Nesmith, Jesse T. Stallings. the Rev. Brooks Lawrence, Max J. Winkler. Escar Floyd, J. B. Babb. Judge s. D. Weakley. Capt E. w. Booker. James Perkins, M. H. Mcdowell, Romaine Boyd, s. T. Ken nedy and J. H. Leath of Ensley.
 The Bessemer delegation here today in the interest of the new county includes T. T. Huey, W. T. Kennedy, Judge Will liam Jackson. Dr. E. w. McNeil, P. H. o'Brisn, Ben c. Perry, Gardner Good win and T. A. Weller. It was announced tonight that Senator G. B. Wimberley of Reform will handle the Besserner end of the fight on the floor of the, senate