The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-10-16


 Mir. Dents speech wss virtually arun- ming accompaniment of applause. He told of his appreciation of the treat ment accorded him by his own people. and his desire to reciprocate in the on- iy way he knew. to be honest and can- did in all things.
 Since the amendment has been sug- gested." he said. there has not been the Alightest doubt in my mind a to how my ballot will be cast have talked of my position through my dis trtct. wherever I have gone. at first thought that would not speak pub licly. but there lies in 1t hidden dam ger so great to the welfare of our peo- pie that when was asked to speak in opposition. felt that . refusal would be cowardly and ungrateful.
 'Tf any of you desire to criticize my conduct. let me beg of you the prfvi- lege of free speech and free thought that l accord to you" he continued. Let me beg of you tolerance. Already bitterness has come. bitterness in the churches. . bitterness that threatens danger to the party which has main tained white supremacy. plead for reason. Love. Religion and ReaSon are three great concomitant attributes. Reason ts the greatest. for 1t includes the other two. Where 1t Is banished. whether 1t be on this earth or, the next. Is he'll"
 That the most ultra -prohi hibitionist should vote against the amendment was the declaration he offered, in proof that 1t is not question of liquor or no liquor.
 He defined a constitution. "A decla- ration of rights. it is." he said, which allows every man the right to liberty and the pursuit of happiness without the necessity of exercising eternal wig ilance upon those who are temporarily in power.
 T am unaiterabiy and unequivocally opposed to this amendment" he de- clared. "and I care not what its result may be to me individuality.
 T am opposed first, because it is un- necessary. The calling of this election at this time, when the State is busied with It's harvesting, when the farmers are harassed by short crops and the worries of hard year. was 6 criminal and reckless disregard for the mate- rial resources of the State. When the farmer Is harassed by trying to make both ends meet that act of criminal disregard ought to be made the suDJect of capital punishment.
 Again, 1t is an effort to take snap judgment on thousands of otherwise qualified voters." he declared, "all 9ree- men, all qualified voters. should resent this effort to speed the election that many white citizens may be disqualified because they did not pay their poll tax last year. There waA no immediate need for the amendment. no urgent de- mand. If 1t was to be left to all the people to settle, why did the people back of 1t not hold 1t of until after the primaries next spring? It would then be dissociated from politics, and an op- portunity of paying poll tax for the ex- pected election would be given every one"
 He sounded threat to those who thus brought about the disfranchise- ment.
 Tt is the duty of those who can vote" he said. ito express their disap- proval of this elimination ok otherwise qualified voters. Those wbo can't vote this time will go to the tax collector and qualify, and don't think that next year they won't be heard from"
 He discussed Section of the amend ment. If the section is adopted, he said. the Legislature will never have the authority to provide the dispensa- ton of any liquors to convalescent pa- tients.
 T am not going to discuss any meas ures of the last Legislature.n he said at this juncture, '7t is not necessary" He charged the amendment with in- effectiveness: that 1t was not se1f-en- forcing, that 1t did not prevent future Legislatures from repeating every pro- hibition law on the statute books. Then, he said, the State would be worse off than ever before He drew an ex- ample from his own experience as So- licitor of Montgomery County. in which, when attempting to prosecute lottery, cases, he found the constitutional in- hibton without effectiveness.
 "The amendment will not eliminate the prohibition question from politics" he declared. Has 1t ever done it? Take Maine. as one example. Fifty years ago Maine voted constitutional prohibition, and yet only the last eiec- ton was held about the prohibition question.
 "The amendment then" he said, adds no vitality to the laws, it does not pre- vent their repeal. 1t does not enhance their efficacy. You advocates of con- stitutional prohibition are worshipping a fettch an idol which has no mind nor soul, nor spirit"
 The dangerous second section was tho foundation for the burden of his arr gument. He told of its danger to the homes.
 'srhe only excuse for 1t that the pro- amendists give." he said, 'is the prom 1se that there IS no intention to invade the homes. That is the only answer
 ''The people had rather depend on the written language of constitutional protection than the waverfng prom ises of politicians" was the epigrAm with which he dismissed the explana- ton.
 NO one ever expected the LegisIa- ture to take away the trial by fury provision." he said, and yet they tried to do 1t in some instances at the last session.
 There is q constitutional provision that an accused person may be con- fronted by witnesses; there Is a pro- vision that people may meet together and petition for redress. No one thinks that a Legislature will abridgo these rights. but if the amendment re- pealing them were submitted to you. would you vote for 1t.
 As an example of the Legislature doing unexpected things, he told of the present Legislature which, after giving the Anti-Saloon League a local option bill in accordance with its platform. 1t turned around. within a few months. and voted, again at the request of the League for Statewide prohibition.
 T say this not by way of criticism, for anything done, but to show that when a body goes in one trend. End is set in that trend, 1t does not know where to stop.
 -"In voting for this amendments he said "With its hidden danger vo1, ara