The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-07-26
LIQUOR LICENSE
 BILL PREPARED F. 0. Hoffman Is Selected to Lead Anti-Prohibition Forces VIEWS ON THE SITUATION Mr. Hoffman Shows How Sentiment Has Grown Against Prohibition In
VIEWS ON THE SITUATION


 tive F. O. Hoffman, who has been se- lected to lead the anti-prohibitionist forces in the Alabama legislature and who will make an earnest effort to get through an excise commission bill giving cities the right to issue liquor license under restrictions and who has studied every phase of the workings of the prohi- bition law, gave out the following in- terview tonight before leaving for Mont gomery:
 'It was only two days ago that the draft of the excise commission Dill was completed, and submitted by me to the senator and my colleagues in the house The general plan or suggestion has met their approval and Endorsement. but the details of the bill may have to be altered in several respects before it is introduced.
 An advertisement has been made. stat ing the purpose to apply for an excise law, and so far as I can learn no op- lection has been offered, while the plan has been heartily indorsed by influential citizens. If there is any suggestion any person, we care not what his political faith or religious creed may be. cares to make regarding this proposed measure the Mobile delegation individually and col lectively will be glad to hear from him. I know I speak for the whole delega- tion when I say they are anxious to carry out the wishes of the people of Mobile to the best of their ability.
 "We want also to have it understood that we are not fighting our prohibition friends, nor attempting to do anything Ill the dark. They have not taken cognl-
 4sr,. ont nr1d have escaped notice.
 ''The reasons which actuate me in of- ferng this bill are many. Primarily believe it is solution of the prohipl- tion question for Mobile, and will obviate and remedy conditions heretofore sur rounding the liquor traffic in this city which form the foundation of most Of the opposition. The bill proposed is, in short regulation and high license.'
 Method of Regulation.
 .'The regulation will be by board, the majority membership of which will be se- lected by the governor. It may be that he will select prohibitionists, and if so. that much the better fo- regulation. With bond conditioned to observe the laws and board selected to see that he does so. the dealer is pretty apt to walk the straight and narrow path Not only VIII he have difficulty in obtaining icense' but he will have to be good, and very good to retain it. Any one, without costs or lawyers fees, can make written com plaint to the board, and if found guilty of wilfully violating the law dealer Is cut down, and goes out of business.
 But I can readily see some of my prohibition friends protesting against what they are apt to term compro- mise with the devil. To these l want 10 say that for myself there is no compro- mise in this proposition, nor is 1t 1ntenoeo as such. It is what I have always con- tended would. be the only solution or fine ouestion for Mobile, viz: H1gn hcehse and strict police regulation Compromlsss with near beer furnishing booze on the side as chaser; or to the 1astioious Lene wines and rnaltine drinks, white top or other deceptions and deceits, may luli the public mind into a quiescent state' accoru ing to the beliefs of those who roster that desire but this measure IS not suCh ~ compromise in any sense or the WoIu. . is a plain proposition for the regulatloh ~, Si +be iiouor traffic in this county, Tn an ei- for to control that which is fast pe- coming public scandal. We may snut our eyes to the blind tigers lurking III the irngles of our fruit stands, and almost every conceivable thicket in the ety. IL IL reports be true; to the soft drink stano r where the youth gets his hrst spiked ,annnade or cocascola and returns for ,nore contenting ourselves with the dream that we haye a prohibition law on tne books, and able and competent onlcers to senforce' 1t. But can these oHlcers GIT force the law? They are courageous and industrious, sheriff, solicitor ana iudges: but we cannot hope or expect that their labors will result differently from those of officers in other sections of our state.
 Weapon of Defense.
 Public sentiment Is the most powerful weapon of defense against unjust legis- lation which a people have. The senti- ,nent of the majority of the people of Mo- bile is that prohibition is impracticable in this city, and I do not rely upon my individual opinion to support my asser- tion.
 "At the February term of the city court +bere were II prohibition cases tried, with a verdict of not guilty in each, save one hung jury Then we had three 'imported Nashville detectives as witnesses, eacn 10 corroporate the other, and an eiab- crate system of checking and rechecking of nurchases. The bald, fragrant contra dictions and discrepancies in their testi- ,nonv justified the jurieS in the verdictS rendered At that term of the court but one iursr caused a stir, and to the amaze went of the court stated that he was op- y,osed to the enforcement of the law.
 ..At the present term we ma that the .ity court docket is crowded with So-odd prohibtion cases In these cases, up to Thursday, seven regular jurors In answer to the solicitors questions, stated that they were opposed to the enforcement of the law By this time the shock or sucn a statement had worn off, and when the court ordered a new venire or 4o drawn to appear at 10 o'clock Friday morning, 1t was expected that a jury would be ob- tained to try the case under consioera- tion.
 Jury Requirements.
 .sThe jury law requires 400O names to be placed in four boxes, and that they be drawn from these boxes in open court These 45 names were drawn from box No. 2 in the presence of Judges Semmes and the solicitor, by Clerk James A. Crane and checked by MT. Aubrey Boyles, an at torney in the presence of number of others. o-
 ..When called on Friday morning 27 Of those summoned answered to their names. After having been sworn to make truth ful answer in reply to the questions pro- rounded as to their qualifications. "A. or about 95 per cent, responded that they were opposed to the prohibition law. and wnon heinz pressed said they were 'op- nosed to the enforcement of the law.
 .Failing to secure a jury from this venire the box was again brought into court and 36 ordered drawn to appear