The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-11-02


 And I hereby challenge my honorable competitor to name a single state in which a constitutional amendment has solved the problem or put an end to the l turmoil"
 In delivering this challenge, MT. Bowie turned from the audience and faced 1 Judge Weakley.
 For moment following the challenge | there was a hush
 It was generally believed at that time that Judge WealSley, in his feply, would 1 take up the challenge.
 But he did not do so. He made no reference to the challenge in his main 1 address. He made no reference to the challenge in his final rejoinder.
 Tie people of Blount county, in their gossip tonight are stressing this point. Bowie scored heavily 'e
 About Making Wine. 1 Toward the conclusion of his main speech Judge Weakley made a practical admission, too, that the Carmichael bill does prohibit themalxing of wine in Ala bamafor any and all uses.
 He contended however, that such Is not prohibited by the proposed amendment, in which, he said, the word ''vinous'' does not appear.
 He excused the Carmichael bill by cit ing the laws under which several of the counties, before the adoption of the state wide bill operated, one of these counties being this one-Blount. Tn spite of the fact he added, that in Blount county the manufacture of wine is prohibited, how many of the women of this county have been arrested, thrown in jail and humiliated for that offense?'
 During his main speech MT. Bowie told the story of the little hoy of Alabama telling the little boy of Mississippi that Alabama sent it's crazy people to the legisature-giving this as a reason why there are more inmates of the Mississippi asylum than of the Alabama asylum.
 In beginning his main speech Judge Weakley made 1t a special point to ridicule w. A. Weaver of this city, who was Blount county's representative in the leg islature prior to his resignation after the first extraordinary session of that body.
 MT. Bowie comes to town,' stated Judge Weakley 'and says the representa- tive of this county, who is against the amendment, Is demented'
 MT. Weaver, from the position where he stood near the desk of the court room, quietly remarked that he had resigned because he had had enough of the Co., mer administration before the last extra session.
 And I am not an issue in this cam paign," stated MT. Weaver.
 But l am debating with MT. Bowie,' replied Judge Weakley. "You are dead. My competitor has killed you. You are dead"
 And I will give you to understand" rejoined MT. Weaver, amid the laughter of the audience, that there will be other dead ones in the>very near future"
 That Jingle Condemned.
 Judge Weakley in his speech took the defenders to task for sending through the mails cartoons which he charged are li- hal M ha falsehood on their faces.
 In his rejonider MT. Bowie said:
 Tn reference to literature, Judge Weak ley l desire to call your attention, and the attention of this audience to the obscene lines penned to the old guard of Alabama by pr. O. T. Dozier of Bir- mingham.
 "In this regard. I desire to give you a clean bill of health. I do not believe that you, personally, had anything to do with the circulation of these scandalous lines.
 AS long as the name of Dr. Dozier ap peared as the author, the rhyme was treated with the contempt that 1t de- served. But when the name of another was forged as its author, it became neces- ary that some reply be made"
 MT Bowie then read a stanza of the iroem.'
 1 This obscene matter" he rejoined, was circulated on Sunday afternoon at the Bijou theatre among the 5000 people who attended a political rally at that | place. It was pdt into the hands of girls | of tender years-this which is too indecent | to go into the lowest dive of the city of Birmingham.
 This, Judge Weakley, was written by | one of your leaders, was published In one l of your papers, and was circulated as campaign literature among the women and young girls of Birmingham by your i committee."
 Courthouse Was Full. 1 Two weeks ago Mir. Bowie was billed | to speak in the courthouse at Oneonta todoy.
 Ten days ago Judge Weakley was billed to speak in the courthouse of Oneonta | today.
 The gentlemen agreed among themselves | that the only solution or the propiem was to hold debate. 1 If was determined that MT. Bowie should open with a speech of one hour l and 20 minutes.
 ] Judge Weakley was to follow for one hour and 30 minutes
 MT. Bowie was to have 20 miutes ei which to reply and Judge Weakley was 1 final word
 ] | troduced the speakers. . l By 1O:38 O clock the courthouse was well l filled with people. The audience was | most attentive Practically none had left the hall when at 2:2O o'clock the de6<"e | came to an end. | It is estimated that the crowd num- bered 500. The majority of the voters in this audience expressed themselves by 1 their. applause as against the amendment. l The voters who favored the amendment were assisted in applauding the remarks | of Judge Weakey by number of ladies | and children. These made up in zeal TOT their want in numbers.
 Bowie Opens Debate. MT. Bowie expressed a desire to appeal to the intelligence and not to the passion | of the audience. He declared that he would not discuss the Conner administra- ton. He declared that he would not dis cuss the leaders of the amendment fac- ton.
 He then took up, his subject. He de- clared the constitution should contain nothing concerning which there is a | great division of opinion. He denied the claim of the amenders that the adoption of the amendment will settle the liquor question, and in refuting this claim referred to the states of Maine Kansas, South and North Dakota, Iowa. | Massa chusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire Michigan, Delaware, Maryland, New York, Rhode Island and other states which had put the amendment or other regulation in the constitution and "nlch had taken it out again.
 IT olo fl,o o md