The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-11-27
SENATOR MOODY
BESSEMER SPEAKER
Calm, Dispassionate Discussion
of the issue
HEARERS MUCH PLEASED
Two Daring Car Robbers Are at Last
In Jail After Chase Covering
Many Months-Personal
and General.
HEARERS MUCH PLEASED

Bessemer. November 26.-tSpecial -
What was the best speech. in the opinion
of the audience, that has been made in
Bessemer since the opening of the amend
} ment campaign was made tonight at
Rebie hall by Senator Frank s. Moody of
| Tuscaloosa. Mr. Moodys address was
| free from the personal animosity and
! abuse which have characterized so many
| of the speeches made in Bessemer The
talk tonight was a calm discussion of the
merits and dement's of the amendment
and the various questions that have been
agitating the amendists were not brought
up. In the opinion of the audience, which
taxed the capacity of Reble hall, the adj
dress was mastery and as such received
the careful attention of every one pres
ent.
Mr.. Moody was introduced by T. T.
Huey as the recognized father of the tenn
perance movement in Alabama and Mr.
Moody himself stressed the fact that he
had stumped his county in the cause of
temperance before Judge Weakley had
been heard of. Il have been called
fanatic" he said, land have been defeat
/ ed for office on account of my sentiments
by men who were against temperance
but 1 fail to see anything but intemper-
ance in the proposed amendment. There
is nothing temperate in 1t. 1t stands as
an example of the radicalism of the So
called prohibitionist of today
There are peculiar conditions in Ala
bama at present." he said I'VE see
bodies of men listening to speakers in
the open, in the schools, In the auditor
iums and also in the churches. The
amendment is the cause of this. The
question is serious one and the peo-
pie of Alabama are doing hard thinking
on the matter. 1t is not a subject for
jokes. but on the contrary It is a most
serious matter. The constitution is diff
ferent from other writings. There is
nothing like 1t in literature. Our laws
may be likened to handsome building.
There are two departments. the constitu-
ton and the acts of the legislature. The
constitution is not the attic, the place for
worn out things, not the parlor, the place
for new ones and experiments. but il is
the foundation of the building where the
fundamental principles are embodied. 1t
contains only vital and general princi-
pies. 1t is the growth of the wisdom
of all ages and is to restrain rather than
to give power to the legislature.
Us any further legislation needed to
regulate the sale of alcoholic liquors in
Alabama? The present laws suffi-
cient. There are the Carmichael bill, the
Fuller bill and several other bills that
relate to this question, six in all. Are
these not sufficient without putting the
seventh in the constitution? lis 1t not bet
ter to enforce what laws we have rather
than make new ones that will not be en-
forced? 1t is wise to put heavy penalties
| for slight offenses. 1t is the continued en-
forcement of the law rather than the Sc
verify that reduces crime.
Granted that we do need more legisla-
ton on the subject there is large doubt
to the fitness of this last addition
Here Mr. Moody took up the amendment
| and showed the dangers of adopting it
and the different constructions that can
be placed upon 1t. He also made COM
| ments on the inconsistent statements OF
| the advocates of the measure. AS to the
second section of the amendment he said:
| This is mark of degradation, a badge
of servitude. an evidence of deteriora-
| ton and as a free born American citizen
1 object to its adoption.
| IF you honestly believe in the amend
ment, then go to the polls on November
29 and vote for it. If you do not, then
have the manhood to say so and register
| your protest against it,