The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-08-20
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
About Stampeding Legislature

l
To the Editor of The Age-Herald.
Referring to the letter In Fridays pa
per of Mr. T. M. Rogers relative to the
prohibition situation, and his claims that
| the result of the May primary election
meant reputation of statewide prohi-
pition. and that the Anti-Saloon league
| would seek to stampede, the nextslegis-
| lature into retaining these laws we. de-
sire to call attention to the fact that the
/ Aanti-Saloon league is on record as to its
purposes in a public statement given out
by Its headquarters committee on June
10, on these very matters. and we sug-
gestT that the fairest way to Judge the
purposes of the league is by its Official
| statements. So as members of the head
quarters committee we ask you to kindly
| give space to the following portion of that
| official statement.
Statement Issued June 10, 1910
1.-THE claim made since the primary
election by liquor papers and politicians
| that the results of the primary, and the
nomination. of Hon. Emmett O'Neal for
governor, mean the reputation by the
people of the principle of statewide pro-
hibition, is not warranted in fact and dis
credits the sincerity and good faith of
the campaign utterances of Mr. O'Neal
as In his announcement, he stated that
he stood upon the platform of the Mont
gomery conference. called to take meas
ures to defeat the proposed prohibition
constitutional amendment, sections and
3 of which platform are as follow:
:" That it is no part of our purpose to
seek re-establshment of the saloon In
any place in Alabama, and the saloons
having been eliminated in Alabama are
not properly an issue In this campaign.
{" That 1t is not our purpose to attempt
the repeal of the prohibition laws of Ala
bama, and whilst we recognize the right
n attf to. h dc hN to-,
upon the question of prohibition, we urge
upon all citizens an obedience to the
statutes and observance of law and or
der
THUS Mr. O'Neal made these declara-
tions of that conference his own declara-
tions and for the liquor papers and poll
ticians now to claim that he meant all
the time to attempt the repeal of the law,
and to bring back saloons to Alabama is
certainly grave reflection on the sin
certify of his campaign statement.
Mr.. O'Neal In his announcement stated
that he strongly condemned certain sec
lions of the prohibition law and favored
the modification or repeal of those sec
lions. The sections in question simply
provide for the enforcement of the law
and the modification or repeal of those
| sections in no wise would affect the prin-
| ciple of statewide prohibition, and would
| leave the statewide prohibition law in full
l..
inquiry from Mr. Spragins in the clos
ing days of the campaign, as to what
would be his action If elected governor
and the legislature should pass dispen-
sary law for Madison county, Mr.. O'Neal
replied that he would sign such bill If
the legislature passed 1t. He did not,
however, state that he would favor or
work for such a bill, nor did he any
where or at any time in the campaign de-
clare he favored or would work for the
repeal of the statewide prohibition law by
the incoming legislature.
LAS to other results of the primary,
Hon. w. d. Seed, the nominee for lieu
tenant governor, Is we'll known as an ar
dent statewide prohibitionist, and made
1t plain in his announcement and in his
speeches and otherwise that If elected he
would stand strongly for retaining and
enforcing the statewide prohibition law.
So also a majority of the nominees for
the senate and house were elected on
clear-cut promises to the people that they
favored and would stand for retaining
this law To say now that these men
should be induced to violate the pledges
they made to the people who elected
them. and that they should be induced or
forced to vote against their solemn cam
paign promises, cannot be justified In
party fealty or harmony, nor can such
claim be upheld in any generally accept
ed code of morals.
LAS to local soption, the people of the
whole state exercised their rights in NOM
mating a governor and lieutenant gov
ernor openly pledged to give the state
wide prohibition law a fair trial. The
people of the smaller units of counties
and senatorial districts exercised their
rights in nominating a governor and to
the legislature pledged to maintain this
law.
so that both in tbs unit of the state
and in the smaller units of counties and
senatorial districts. the people have af-
firned their adherence to retaining and
enforcing that law until 1t has had fair
opportunity to demonstrate its efficiency
IN COPING with the acknowledged liquor
evil. Therefore we confidently contend
that however the situation may be viewed
It cannot be successfully shown that the
peouie of Alabama have repudiated state
wide prohibition.
"And as the evils which follow the sale
and use of intoxicating liquors are just
as evil and potent now as they ever were.
the Alabama Anti-Saloon league, through
it's trustees, hereby reaffirms its deliber-
ate and mistaken purpose to use proper
means to maintain and enforce the pres
emit statewide prohibition law. And we
confidently call on all the friends OF the
League. on every friend of temperance,
and on every enemy of the liquor traffic
to give all the help and influence in their
power to aid III carrying out the purpose
for which the league was organized-the
utter destruction of the liquor traffic, both
legal and illegal, In the state OF Ala
bsma." Respectfully.
'''N r. M. GoODALL.
P. C. RATLIFF,
Birmingham. August ~, 1910