The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-22
PROMINENT SPEAKERS URGE
 ELECTION OF J. 0. THOMPSON
CONFINED FROM PAGE 2.l


 they took a last farewell of tn cir par ents, who rent the heavens with their Outcries as their loved ones were driven aboard the fated vessel which was to bear them far away. Out over the briny deep they were taken as the fath- CTS and mothers huddled on the hills of Athens to catch a last glimpse or the black sails of the ship which bore the treasures of their home away. Even so, my fellow citizens, a black ship is bearing down on our shores. There is no concealment of her purpose IT Emmet OiNeal Is elected governor there are now living within the confines Of our states promising young men who will become wrecks of ruin and fill the graves of drunkards Who here pres ent tonight has a boy to offer on the altar of the dramshop? Who is will ing to pay toll to the brewery and satisfy the greedy hunger for gain Of the jeweled brewer, support him in his splendid mansion and help buy his automobiles and diamonds? Somebody must contribute the men and boys 1T Emmet O'Neal becomes governor. The saloons must do paying business or MT. O'Neal and those who back him would not be so anxious to have them brought back to Alabama. Some homes must furnish the victims-why not yours? This Is the game now sought
 
 orable name of democracy.
 There is intended to be unsluiced on us again the sovereignty of the saloon Our homes are threatened. Our boys and girls are involved. Our domestic peace is meanced. Our general prosperity is at stake. It is a time for action, for man. hood, for patriotic principle. If I am governor of this state the laws shall be enforced, and for four good years we f,, ha fc%r arfin he destruction of liquor. I can do more than this. These impious minions of lawless- hess override the law. trample down the majesty of the law and tell us, Look at the blind tigers. I tell you those need only attention to be driven from the face Of men. But even if they do exist, and they do 1t Is infinitely better than the legalized and gilded saloon on every corner with its attractions to win our youths to ruin. MT. O'NeaTs administra- tion, fair and dulcet as their promises now are, means that if they get into power with the forces already named, we may prepare for the worst In the name of virtue, I warn you. In the name of our fair state, I warn you. In the name of the sacred interests of all that is dear to our homes, I give you warning. Be not cheated by plausible pretense and false hopes. If there were ever a de-
 
 toned, plain, common sense patriotism, it is now. I am prohibitionist through and through. It is not politics with me, but a principle. 1 cherish it as a sacred duty. Speaking for myself, I could not be otherwise. l am a statewide prohi- bitionist I don't believe that the saloon, nor liquor sold in any legalized way, has a place in our modern civilization. It belongs to a barbarous past, it is relic I.1wI I1 the oblivion which it merits. I declare to you. that as governor of Alabama, it could not exist with me in the chair of the chief executive. I have a home, have family, 1 have children my neigh bors and friends have children, bright eyed boys and girls adorn the homes of our mighty commonwealth, and for me to sanction an unholy traffic that will destroy one of those is impossible. would rather sever my arm from Its socket than for a moment to wink at the return of liquor to our state. De- luded you may be- You may regard party name above all things else that are dear and precious to life. 1 do not l stand with unconquerable purpose to fight liquor as long as God permits me to live. No joy could be greater than that of serving my native state by stand ing sentinel at her entrance and forbid tHe duilllldHCe or tnlS dreaded curse.
 'I might have talked to you of the tariff, of shipsubsidy, of conservation, and of hundred other issues that are agitat- ing the minds of the American people i; but this question of barrooms or no bar rooms is the question to be settled by the people of Alabama in the pending election, and it is supreme to all others
 "As citizens. as patriots, as men, as fathers and mothers, I beg you and in the name of God. I raise my voice here now, and beg you to aid me in this re- sistance against crusade of ruin which today threatens our destiny"
 MT. Brooks Address MT. Brock said among other things: "Before l came here to speak I made inquiry in regard to the kind of man whom you have nominated for governor and for what issues he stood 1 learned that he was the son of a Confederate soldier who had been an honored leader of democracy; that he was the brother ot Hon. Charles w. Thompson, who died while representing the Fifth Congres. sional district of this state in Congress He is the father of an interesting fam. fly a deacon in the Baptist church, an6 man of ability and character. further learned that he was taxpayer and stood for the utter elimination of tn. saloon and for the advancement and up building of his native state. Had h. stood for anything less I would not b. here tonight to advocate his cause.