The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-20
Prohibition Matters

IuHtttTS
 The matter of most vital interest to Colonel O'Neal with the assembly of the legislature will be a modification of the statewide prohibition laws now on the statutes. A local option plank was practically the sole cause of Colonel O'Neals victory last May. It gave him an overwhelming victory November S.
 In Montgomery it is recognized that the leading fight when the legislature meets will be on the liquor question It is also recognized here that the question is a loaded one, and that it must be handled with care and skill In order to supply the needs In every community. It cannot be forgotten that practically 90 per cent of the counties must be protected with legis- lation of some sort which will keep pro- hibition in force. But 1t Is also remem- bered that the counties which are anxious for whisky must have it, if the majority of the electors in that particular county desire 1t.
 The statement issued by Walker Percy of Jefferson county, on Sunday, in which he stated that prohibition in Birmingham has proved a failure has been carefully read in Montgomery. and every time with expressions of appreciation. His conclu- sion relative to the kind of liquor law which should obtain in Birmingham Is also commended by a number of the pol iticians who gather at the capitol, though for the most part the proposed bill of Thomas NJ Rogers, also of Birmingham is iii slightly greater favor as applied to conditions in Montgomery. MT Rogers pill, in which he urges licensing and reg ulating saloons, and a careful supervision of all saloons, contains more or less the same provisions as the local bill which will be urged for this county.
 IL TV..IlA C. -Ar~r -~4~ which at the present time are holding the state in a vise-like grip, will be repealed almost upon assembly of the solons Is more or less assured. But whether or not the old Ballard act, and such other acts as were operative years ago will be re- tained, thus putting the state back to it's point of four years ago, is not known.
 Dispensnry Measures
 In this connection, it is safe to assert that the prohiotionists of the state will urge the establishment of dispensaries if whisky must be returned to Alabama. Thev consider it the best victory that the state widers at this hour could secure. if the statement of A. H. Carmichael. one of the staunchest prohibitionists of the state, is any index of their attitude.
 Many politicians of the state entertain tbe opinion that if the state can be re- turned to its status of four years ago, the prOhibitioniSts VIII win as decided v1c- tory as could be expected. Should the measures passed in the next legislature be more lax than the measures of four years ago. the muddle caused by the pro hbitionists during the past four years VIII be deemed by many responsible for the lost ground. The situation would at the same time be travesty and pathet ic. Many openly assert that the state was sailing smoothly along when the se- were struggles of the past two years were rrecipitated upon the state. and that but for the intervention of the state-widers tl.e condition at this time would have been much more stable than will proba- bly be the case.
 However. the state-widers, even at this hour are not going to let the state drift along without the exertion of a restrain ing hand. At meeting to be held in Birmingham this week 1t is believed that they will map out mode of operations.