The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-05
Nominee for Governor Talks
Of Results Of Campaign
CONSERVATISM IS RESTORED
Mr.. O'Neal Declares Tint Local Option
Is the Greed of the Democratic
Party and 1t May Solve the
Liquor Question
ny WATrERsoN sTEALEY

nv wATvrERSON STEALEY
Washington. June -(Special.)-"The
kev,ote of the campaign in Alabama just
closed was the restoration OF eonserVa-
tisna against radicalism,' and what l Will
recommend to the legislature will be along
that line"
Hon. Emmett ONeal, who was nomi-
mated for governor by the democrats OF
that state, and will be elected the chiel
executive in November, gave utterance
to the above expression tonight. GOV
ernor" o'Neal. as his friends are already
calling him, is in Washington, the guest
of the Alabama delegation, and was the
guest of honor at a banquet tonlght at
which Representative Underwood th9
dean re the Alabama delegation, acted as
toastn aster.
Local option" said the governor TO-
night, had been the accepted creed OF
the democratic party in Alabama up 10
the massage of the statewide prohibition
bill in 1907. The legislature elected In
1896, which passed the prohibition DILL
was con mtted to the doctrine OF local
option.
Party PLATFORM tioiatcu
y,hi,e it was the consensus of opinion
in Alabama that the adoption of the state
wide prohibition bill was in violation OF
party platform, there was general ois-
position to give the new laws fun ana
fair trial. Under the principles or local
opt.on we had driven, not liquor, but the
open aloor from 80 per cent OF the ter
only result
accomplished by statewide prohibition was
to close the saloons in two of the largest
cities. and some of the counties where
public sentiment failed to support the
law.
| Not satisfied with the act creating
statewide prohibition. the extra iegisla
ture of 1909 passed laws more extrem
and ra deal on the liquor question -thal
those on the statute books of any othe
state. In addition to this they not onl.
undertook to prohibit the sale of liqno
| by constitutional amendment, hut sough
| by the second section of the amendmen
to regulate and control the private habits
OF citizen
"1he result was a bitter and acrimoniou.
campaign, and the amendment was over
whelrningly. defeated, carrying only 81,
| counties in the state. Under the rules oi
the democratic party delegates were elect
ed to a state convention, and after ful
discussion that convention declared II
favor of local option as the wisest method
for the solution of the liquor question
! While the contest for governor engen
dered some bitterness. that ended with tn,
announcement of the party's verdict
| There may be some disaffection on tn,
| part of extreme and radical prohibition
lists who never were loyal to the princi
pies of the party, but every indication
points TO one of the largest majorities tn,
party has received in many years.
| Clash of Opinions
From all the clash of opinions anG
ideas on the liquor question, I am con
vinced that IL liquor is allowed agair
to be sold In any part Of the state II
will be under some system by which evils
will be minimized as far as possible by
careful and conservative legislation.
'Tn the campaign Just closed Mr. Nal
lory. my opponent. represented the ex.
treme prohibition sentiment OF the state
and 1t was generally believed he would
veto any act of the legislature that ex-
cepted any county from the operation OF
the general prohibition laws. While ne
never made any direct statement to that
effect his speeches created that impress
| sion While I stated I favored giving the
| laws fair trial, stated that l would not
veto any act of the legislature excepting
any counties from the operation of the
general law II the same expressed the
thoughtful sentiment of the people.
| - Burnett's Opponent
"The only contest of any Importance
| will be In the Seventh congressional dis
| trict The nominee of the republican
party, while formerly an independent Is
now an avowed protectionist and has de-
clared himself fully in favor of the Payne
| Aldrich bill. 7 have no doubt that Rep
resentative Burnett will be returned, fol
in addition to his personal strength and
popularity the republican nominees ALI
| ance with the extreme views Of the re,
publican party will insure his defeat"
Mr. ONeal said tonight, relative to the
speculation concerning the patronage Of
his office. that he made no pledges of any
| kind or character, and will give no con
siderati ton to applicants until after hi.
election.
When he returns to Alabama, the mid
| die of next week. he will send out
circular letter to this effect. Every ap
| plicant will have equal opportunity I,
present his claims. Mr.. O'Neal says NJ
advantage will be gained by any applica
| tion made before the election.
Mrs Henry d. Clayton gave a beauti
Iful dinner tonight at the New Willard t,
Mrs. Emmet ONeal and Miss ONeal
and afterwards Mrs. ONeal and Mis-
O'Neal were the guests Of honor to hea
the grand opera Aida" at the Nationa
theatre, Mrs. Clayton being the hostess
Death of Remarkable Man