The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-11-21
C0NCEDE ALL DOUBTFUL
AND STILL ISSUE LOSES
Farmers Are Undoubtedly Deciding
Factor and All Indications Are
That They Are Overwhelmingly
Against Amendment.
BY HUGH w. ROBERTS.


all but surrendered. While it is undeniably
true that many of those who will vote
for the amendment sincerely believe the
amendment will win. Governor Conner
| does not, Brooks Lawrence does not, nor
does E. NJ Jackson.
| 1t is no longer a matter of dispute It is
| practically certain that the amendment
Will lose in enough counties to offset the
| majorities which the amendment would
| land II the amendment could carry every
county concerning which there Is the
| slightest doubt
| So to all practical purposes the fight is
f! over and the victory won. However, an
| other week is to follow. and from all ap-
| pearances that period between this date
and the time of the closing of the ballots
| will be strenuous.
Stronger In Two Counties.
AS 1t stands today there are but two
counties in the state where the amenders
appear stronger than the defenders. These
| counties are Sumter and chambers
Theamendment strength In Chambers Is
| due to the personal appeals that are be-
Hef1in and Judge S. D. benson.
Those counties where there is no doubt
| but that the defenders are stronger fol-
low: Clarke. Marengo, Mobile, Monroe,
Butler, Crenshaw, Montgomery, Pike,
Barbour, Bullock, Houston. Russell, Chill
ton, Cleburne, Dallas, Shelby, Autauga,
Clay. Coosa, Gilmore, Fayette, Greene
Pickens. Tuscaloosa, Walker, Cullman
Cherokee, DeKalb, Franklin, st. Clair,
Winston, Colbert, Madison, Morgan, Bibb.
Blount and Jefferson.
The remaining counties are claimed by
| the defenders, too, but In each the amend
| ers have certain strength. and In a con-
| sentative sense each might be considered
| doubtful. This list follows:
Choctaw. Washington. Baldwin, Cone
! cub. Covington. Escambia, Wilcox. Coffee,
Dale, Geneva. Henry, Lee, Calhoun. Tai
ladega, Lowndes Macon. Randolph, Tai
lapoosa, Hale. Lamar, Marion. Etowah,
Marshall. Jackson Lauderdale Lawrence,
Limestone and Perry.
Thirty-seven counties are absolutely GER
tain. at the present time. to go against
the amendment. The amenders In two are
admittedly stronger. Twenty-eight are
close, but the odds are that the defend
ers will carry the majority of these
Situation In Jefferson.
In Jefferson county, considering the fact
that wellnigh 10000 votes will be polled,
the majority of about 1000, which everyone
admits the defenders have at the present
time appears a tr.ife slim
In desperation, therefore. the amenders
are grabbing at the slight hope that this
slim majority holds out. They are center
ing their efforts In Jefferson, and to all
lntents and purposes have thrown up the
sponge as concerns the state at large. In
asmuch as this Is the home county of
Conner, Weakey and Jackson. the three
leaders in the amendment camp, they are
especially DESTROYS of carrying Jeffer-
son. From appearances it seems that
they are seeking personal vindication.
But the defenders are on the alert. Biz
mingham proper Is concededly against the
amendment. woodlawn. formerly strong
in the column of Lawrence, Is In doubt.
Both sides are claiming that box by small
majorities. Ensley will go against the
amendment by small majority. North
Birmingham will probably go for the
amendment. East Birmingham will go
dale, by small figure. In the Bessemer
section, both sides are making claims,
but neither is Boosting of big margins.
But in the country 1t appears the SEN
timent against the amendment has been
chrystalized. 1t is the country vote, in
cidentally, which will hurl defeat into the
teeth of the Conner Weakley-La
phalanxes.
Where Amendment Strength Lies.
In the three cities of the state-Bir-
mingham, Montgomery and Mobile-the
amendment will lose easily.
In the little cities the amendment as
rule will lose though not so easily
In the smaller towns there lies the
amendment strength.
IN the country It Is practically all one
way--they are against the proposed meas
ure.
1t is natural that the farmer is against
the amendment. He is the conservative
element of the body polite. He is gen.
orally the wisest voter of them all, and
not the most foolish. as the amenders
will have 1t appear.
He has not been led around by the nose
by the defenders or by anyone else. In
politics he Is not led by anyone
But he Is very careful not to jump
before he is certain of his ground. In
the present proposition he sees nothing
in the amendment which will materially
strengthen the already excellent prohi-
bition laws which are on the calender. He
sees in the second section an effort to
clothe the legislature with more power
than the legislature has ever before pos
sessed. "Of course" the farmer say. ''the
legislators might not enter my home when
I give them the power to do so, but we
know they will not enter when we with
hold that power.
III they do not intend to enter the
homes why was not clause to that effect
put into The amendment
This is another question which the
farmer has heard no amender answer.
And he Is keenly resenting that secret
cabal In Montgomery wherein 1t was de-
tsrminsd to submit the amendment at .