The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-15
ALABAMA PASSING
THROUGH A CRISIS
Radicalism Is Met BY Forces
of Conservatism
MORE LIQUOR rs USED
the Best Method of Handling the
Liquor Question and to Stop
the Illicit Traffic
by WALTER HARPER

| Tuscaloosa, June l4-tSpec1al "A ruling
people in their zeal for ideal govern
ment often exceed the limit of wisdom
and safety
Reform movements always rush to ex-
travasant extremes before soberness and
conservatism can force the necessary re-
action to that position of reason where
common interests are conserved through
compromise.
Sound and safe legislation is often Sc
cured by compromise. Radicalism and
conservatism are the positive and mega
tive forces in government that are nee
essary to the working out of all great
public problems. The spirit of compro-
mise is the great advocate that finally
adjusts matters and makes the govern
ment of the people the ideal government.
Alabama is now passing the crisis of
one of the most radical reform move
ments in the history of the state. The
movement has been unusually rapid The
radical party has been in power and
has expended every ounce of its might.
Its progress has been merciless- It has
rushed blindly with the fury of its mad
radicalism to the full limit of extreme
| 1t is well perhaps for Alabama that
the radical force acted quickly, reach
| ing its inevitable extreme in the COM
parative short space of three years. The
reaction to sanity comes the more speed
fly. ...+..
The people of Alabama will never again
tolerate the low saloon or dive. Neither
will they tolerate the farce-tragedy of
the radical prohibitionists. The problem
that now remains is to find the safe
and practical middle ground where all
may stand.
Chains Claim
Eugene A. Chafin, late candidate for
President Of the United States on the
prohibition ticket, in recent interview
with the writer said that prohibition
had never been a success and would never
be a success-until the interstate shipment
of Iiuuor Is 1rohibited. The ideal of the
prohibitionists has always been quail
fled by some visionary and Impossible
condition.
If 1t were possible to secure the pas
sage Of an anti-shipping measure then
the prohibition idealst would demand
some impossible measure for the sup
preston of Illicit manufacture. Here Is
a condition that the government with
it's well organized machinery has failed
to control.
Mr. Chafin said more. He declared that
statistics show that there are more intox-
icating liquors consumed in the United
States than ever before. He admitted that
prohibition in nine states does not seem
to reduce the amount of sale or con-
sumption. He could give no reason but
admitted the condition as E. fact.
Tits claimed that almost as much liquor
is consumed in prohibition territory as
before the establishment of the system
Many prohibitionists concede this TACT
n is further admitted that one gallon
of LIQUOR distributed in violation OF law
does more moral damage than two gal
Ions sold under the protection OF the
law. Under the former system there Is
no protection for the minor, our homes
and our families There is no need TO
call attention to the disgraceful con-
ditions that exist In Birmingham and
almost every other city. town and nam
let In Alabama where violations OF the
most fragrant and aggravating nature are
found not only in the dives but In the
most respectable residence sections. There
10 no immunity from the evils of the
present conditions.
People Are Restless
A fever of unrest is upon the people
Mutterings of dissatisfaction come up
from the city and the rural sections
alike. Officers cannot cope with the
situation. They are willing to perform
their duty but they cannot get the sup
mort of the people. Public sentiment Is
In revolt and the officers of the law are
powerless.
Then what is the solution?
The question is being asked everywhere
by ell classes.
There is but one answer.
Regulation of some sort.
The problem that remains is what is
the best method?
That plan must be adopted which Sc
cures the minimum of evil results and
the maximu moi restriction with whatever
Of good which may accrue. 1t Is that
plan which guarantees to the community
the greatest amount Of peace and decency
and the least amount of burden and dis.
grace. 1t is estimated that the city OF
birmingham consumes not less than 81
O00. 900 worth OF liquor every year. Whether
there are saloons or not seems to make
no very great difference. Shall this liquor
he distributed through the boarding
houses. privates houses next door to your
..happy home" through cheap restau-
rants. corner groceries and alley dives.
or shall it be handled openly and under
the direct eye and supervision of the law?
II 81, 100000 of Birmingham money must
go out for liquor every year, should It
| be allowed to go to other states or should
some of it be kept at home to help bear
the burden that the admitted evil imposes
| upon the community?
Problem to Solve
There is your problem. The time has
| come to look upon the question without
| passion Sober judgment must take the
place of blind fanaticism. The liquor
/ question is as enduring and as compli-
Gated as that of the tariff. 1t will prob
| ably never be eliminated this side the
millennium. AS long as time lasts we
will likely have either legal or illegal
sale and manufacture of intoxicating
liquors. 1t is up to the people to submit
| to this condition and adopt such meas
ures of adjustment as promise the best
| results.
Tuscaloosa, one Of the counties Of Ala
bama that voted prohibition under the
local option plan in 1907. Is tired Of the
| prohibition system and is looking for re-
lief. This assertion is based en- positive
statements of dozens of tine leading citi-
zens of the town and county. including
many men who took an active part In the
fight for prohibition, -
The public feeling In Tuscaloosa is sur
prising. There is strong undercurrent