The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-10-10
HITS MY POLICIES"
SPEAKERS OPPOSE AMENDMENT
 AT ANNlSTON.
Senator Blackmon Says He is Ashamed to Acknowledge Membership h Last Legtslature-Judge
 McCarty Speaks.

Anniston, Oct. s.-tSpecial. )--With John Lapied presiding and about 200 persons present, many of whom were standing and in the doorway, Henry D. McCarty, referee in bankruptcy. and Fred L. Blackmon. State Senator. ad- dressed an assemblage of citizens In West Anniston at the Firemen's nall, Friday evening, against the proposed prohibition to the constitution of the State.
 Mir. McCarty spoke first and he att tackled the proposed amendment on the ground that in his opinion, 1t had originated from a bad source. being conceived in the brain of Brooks Law renee and drafted for the purpose of furthering the political ambition of Braxton Bragg Conner"
 Getting to the amendment. Judge McCarty charged that the adoption of the proposed amendment will be to relinquish the liberty guaranteed in the forefathers from King John at Runny- mede. He said that the first section of this document could have been toll erated, 1t now being in the constitu- tions of four other States. but ne de- clared the second section to be an un- cedented imposition. Judge McCarty averred that this second section pro- hibits the power of the Supreme Court to construe the laws as that body deems right and judicial, attributing this 10 the foresight of Brooks Lawrence. and claiming that it was due to recent rui- ings made by that court. Then he de- clared that the keeping of whiskey in offices or any place other than one own home Is positively prohibited. and he attacked the charge of Judge Lee of Gadsden that the manufacture or wine for home consumption Is within the pale of the law.
 MT. Blackmon began his address with the assertion that the present cam paign is not to decide the issue or whiskey or no whiskey, and he held up Judge Thomas W. Coleman of the Anniston City Court as an example of temperate men who are opposing the amendment. Personally, he said, that he has voted for all prohibition laws that have been introduced in the Leg islature during his incumbency. except the Fuller law and the amendment. He then stated that he was ashamed to acknowledge that he was member of the last Legislature, and he said tn at this Legislature which has adopted such drastic measures as to take away the right of trial by jury In many cases, cannot be trusted. and that it will adopt measures even more .drastic He criticised the act creating jury commissions, which, he said, he op- posed.
 MT. Blackmon declared that the speakers for the amendment are at- tempting to deceive the people. and to show what he considered some of the drastic features of the Fuller law. he read a part of Section 29 1-2. which provides that no persons testf- flying in liquor cases shall be prose- cuted for his testimony. which may not be used against him. He also cited Section 32 1-2, which Judge called "near-beer" emergencies. de- claring that under this provision any person caught drinking coca-cola or any other beverage resembling liquor may be liable to prosecution for vio- lation of the prohibition laws.
 Attacking Governor Conner, the speaker referred to his work in the interest of education and the old sol- diers, scoring the administration for using the funds set apart for these cases in the promotion of my poli- cies."
 Referring to the Governors recent utterance, as reported. that 1t would be legal for one to give a house party and get all of his guests drunk as herd of billy-gOats," he construed this to be advice by the Governor, and said that had he been in the Governors place, he would have advised temper ance. He said his idea of the new liquor laws was that they were to pre- vent inebriates from whipping their wives. He also attacked the Gov ernor's statements in regard to par doning persons convicted of making home wine.
 Leaving Governor Conner. Senator Blackmon took a hit at his law part ner. who had spoken the evening be- fore at the First Baptist Church. and said that had any one objected to any of MT. Acker's assertions. he would promptly have been arrested for dis turbing public worship.
 Concluding his address, MT. Black mon paid his respects to Judge Weak ley. He says that it Is the intention of the Judge to use the second section of the amendment as an issue in his race for Governor. and that he will