The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-03-24

it was to me pathetic spectacle that the recent Alabama legislature, abdcating it's high duties. should have adopted, almost without consideration, bills draft ed by the governors legal adviser. And, are we to fly tr another extreme, and to have an U'Nea1 legislature, stamped with his brand, and obedicnuy recording his views or the views of the gentlemen who named the slate? Is the next legislature to deal with noth- ing but the liquor question, and are It's members to be selected only because their views on that issue meet with the ap- Droval of one of the candidates for the governorship and his lieut. enants; and If the election of an O'Neal legislature Is even more important than the election of MT. O'Neal himself, pray what ia the legislative programme of MT. O'Neal and of his trusted 1ieutenants? If the dom- ocratic voters of Jefferson county Ere 10 vote for Mir. O'Neals candidates for the legislature. does not Mir O'Neal owe it to the voters to state why he favors
 these candidates, and what his programme is? I do not know whether Mir O'Nesl has expressed his intention. in the event of his election to favor the repeal of pro- nibition. I do not even mean to intimate that he today cherlshes such an intention. but I am confident that his election will sound the death-knell of statewide pro- hibtion.
 Recognizing the injustice of holding a candidate for public office responsible for the utterances and character of all his following, and recognizing further that thousands of good nen,s many of thon my personal friends, arc supporting Mir O'Neal, I cannot but believe that ths liquor interests of the state of Alabama will solidly favor the candidacy of MT. O'Neal; and, however strong he may be- should his hour of triumph come. I can view but with apprehension the demands that this following will make upon him. In this contingency will there not be need for some men in the legislature who bear no mans label, and who will entertain and express their own independent views ? The liquor dealers will want to get back to the old saloons. and plenty of them; the gided palaces and low dives; for "business Is bnsiness," and the business of liquor men is to sell liquor and more liquor Originally opposing prohibition because I doubted then and still doubt its practicability In a community such as Birmingham, strongly feel that hav- ing entered upon this experiment it should not be cast aside until 1t has been fairly tried. The failure of prohi- bition Is not demonstrated by laxity of official enforcement preceding an elec- ton. It will be demonstrated when the juries of the community have shown q general unwillingness to convict for proved violations of the law If prohibl- tion Is to be cast aside by the next leg islature, shall the liquor interests be al- lowed a potential voice in shaping new liquor laws; or shall such laws be framed by the friends of temperance who would weigh the relative advantages of local dispensaries and high-licensed saloons operating under stringent regulations? nh % ~x~f Personally, no subject appeals to me more deeply than the able, efficient, hon est and economical government of the city in which live. believe the govern ment of this town by 32 unpaid aldermen l.urwieldy and inefficient. l believe the citizens of this town should have the op- portunity of voting upon the adoption of a more modern form of government with greater concentration of power and adequately paid public officials. Should the new form of government be deter mined upon the man who In the mean time shall have been elected mayor of Birmingham should not be deprived of the fruits of his election.
 eFavors Abolition of Fee System The intelligent and economical admin istration of our public affairs calls for adequately paid public servants. The fee system in the administration of the sher- frs office of Jefferson county has be- come public scandal. Our sheriffs. un- der this system, are paid out of all pro- portion to other public servants, and to the labor performed. More important still, the office of sheriff of Jefferson county has become such a prize that the contest. for 1t bankrupts the losers. loads the winners with burdens of financial ob- | igation, and tends to debauch the elec- | torate of the county. I should like to be of some assistance in abolishing the per- niciotis fee system
 My candidacy for the democratic nomi- nation for one of the positions in the next house of representatives Is inspired largely by my opposition to any candi- date for governor undertaking through his friends to control In advance the per- sonnel of the legislative department of the state.
 I shall appreciate the votes of those of my fellow citizens who agree with my public views. I shall appreciate the votes of those of my fellow-citizens who dis agree with my views on certain public questions and my announced preferences