The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-11-21


Tennessee Coal Iron and Railroad com
pany, who has been in New York at
tending a conference of the presidents
of the subsidiary companies of the United
States Steel corporation, will have with
him on his return today William Pal
time when two-thirds of the people have
not paid their poll taxes.
And he does not believe that the inser-
ton of the amendment into the consti-
tuition by a small majority of the quail
flied voters will give Alabama anything
other than a continual turmoil-for the
time is coming when the two-thirds who
cannot vote at the present time will be
able to vote.
Has Never Worked.
And the farmer has never heard an
amender, be he leader or a private sol
der in the ranks, name a single state
wherein constitutional prohibition has
worked to advantage-where 1t has
checked the evil Of the "blind tiger"
where it has put an end to political agi-
tation, or where it has worked to the
moral or material wealth of the people.
Constitutional prohibition exists in Ohio,
yet there are thousand saloons in Gin
cinnati Maine and Kansas are two con-
stitutional prohibition states, and every
schoolboy knows what conditions are in
these states. And South Dakota entered
the union with prohibition in Its consti-
tuition and in the first II years of its ex-
istence as a state there were four polit
ical campaigns. and four political changes.
The farmer, too. has listened atten-
lively to the speeches and utterances OF
the leaders of the amendment cause.
He heard Governor Conner say at Clan
ton that those who fail to stand by him
and see him indicated in this amend
ment election will be ''cowardly skunks."
He heard Senator Henry Reese at Ma
plesville say that had he framed that
second section he would have arranged
1t SO that 1t would contain no danger
to the homes of the people.
He heard Congressman Hobson state
that the issue Is not one of morals but
of politics, that the amendment was SUBJ
mitted at the wrong time, and that the
wording of both sections could be inn
proved upon.
He heard Judge Weallley say at One
onta that had the election not been sub
mitted at the present time, the brew
ers would have entered the state and
paid up all the poll taxes and voted the
people as they saw fit next fall.
He has learned of that secret political
cabal in Montgomery where Governor
Conner Judge Weakley. Brooks Law
renee, r. M. Jackson, John w. Sibley,
Rev. S. L. Dobbs and Rev. w. B. Crump-
ton called the extra session of the legis-
lature. decided to submit the question
this fall, and decided to run Weakley
for the governorship.
He has seen the opposition, In its
desperation, becloud the issue with ex-
traneous matter. He read and remem-
bers that fake story of the brewers of
st. Louis-that anonymous communion
ton the author of which cannot be fur
nished. He remembers, too. that while
two organs published the first installment
only one was bold enough to publish the
explanations.
No Reason For Amending.
So. all In all, he sees no reason for
amending the constitution.
He is a little tired of the great tri-
umvirate which has ridden Alabama 10
distraction.
He is going to shake off the riders
with their whips and spurs. And he Is
going to rebuke those who would take
away the liberties of the people, and
enter the sacred portals of their homes.
He is tired OK political agitation-of
that agitation which has been the or
der since the coming to Alabama of a
man who b salary depends on the
amount of political strife he can en-
gender.
He longs for a time when this state
torn and bleeding as 1t is, can rest and
heal its wounds.
And he has written that the evening Of
the day of the political boss in Alabama
Is at hand.