The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-03-07
Drift of Opinion


that gives the people of township or
county the right to decide whether OF
not liquor shall be sold in their respec-
tive communities has resulted in a steady
extension of dry" territory. Local OPP
ton has made for temperance, and in
dry counties where the law has been
strongly supported by public sentiment
conditions, so far as they relate to So
briefly are well nigh ideal. But statewide
statutory prohibition in the few states
that have tried it has been failure
a miserable failure, as compared with
prohibition under the local option system.
Nothing could be more intoIeraple than
drastic statutory prohibition. All the
good it might accomplish in the matter of
Keeping liquor away from those classes
that know not self-restraint is better ac-
complished under local option. from the
very fact that local option prohibition will
always mean an anti-liquor sentiment in
that particular locality. And coming to
the question of statewide prohibition.
from a viewpoint of principle. there is an
element Of unfairness in it that should
ard does, as rule, cause right-minded
MEN to stop and think before favorins
the statutory theory. man living in
rural district or in a town where condi-
tons made prohibition seem best would
vote under local option against the sale
of liquor there; but the same man would,
If he were other than narrow minded or
fanatical, hesitate long time before
helping by his vote or his influence TO
force prohibition on cities or counties,
where a majority opposed it.
Statewide prohibition was getting
start in the south; but fortunately for the
cause of real temperance and conserva-
tive politics. the wave of radicalism ia
rapidly receding. The Virginia legisla-
ture has just been dealing with the Anti
Saloon leagues statewide bill, and after
exhaustive debates has rejected it by an
overwhelming vote. 1t was felt in vir-
sinia that had the question come I'D for
action a year ago the Anti-saloon
leagues statewide project would have
won; but the people have been thinking it
over and sentiment in the Old Dominion
today is more strongly for local option
than ever.
hibition laws in this country; laws adopt
ed as result of fabricated sentiment and
organized clamor. But the majority OF
more than 1900 votes cast last Novem-
Der against constitutional prohibition
the first time the people of Alabama had
apoken in state election on the prohibi-
ton movement--was profoundly signif-
cant.
Local option must always commend it.
self to the fair-minded people OF the south.
There can be scarcely a doubt but that
local option will some day be restored to
Ala bama. In the meantime nothing seems
clearer than that Alabama's existing pro-
hibition laws will be modified SO soon as
a new legislature assemblies. These acts
now on the statute books have had some
thing of fair trial already; and by this
time next year as much will be known of
tie drastic laws as could be known in
ten years time.
This state is not for statewide prohibi-
ton, and on May the majority cast in
favor Of the men who hold liberal rather
than narrow views on the question will
be quite decisive enough The people all
over the south are thoroughly tired Of
radical tendencies in every shape and
form. What the south needs and what it
will have is well poised, public spirited
men in the lead all along the line.
Savannah and South American Ports