The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-14
BURR POINTS OUT LINE OF CAMPAIGN He Thinks Hotel Feature Is
 Especially Bad OTHER OBJECTIONS Thinks Entirely Too Much Authority Is Given to Excise Commission
 Which Is Responsible Only
 to the Governor

Vice Chairman Borden Burr yesterday gave an outline of the campaign which will be conducted by his organization against the return of the licensed saloon He believes the 30-room hotel feature of the Smith bill is bad, and that too much power is placed in the hands of the excise commission to be appointed by the governor.
 q have enlisted in the fight against the return of the saloons with a deter imitation to use my best efforts" said MT. Burr. My heart will be In the work Many of my close friends hold contrary opinions, and I do not propose to ques- tion their sincerity. l am in good humor now, expect to stay that way, and whatever the outcome is, will be found without any scars.
 Until the Saloon Opposition league called attention to what they consid- cred vicious features of the Smith bill the citizens of the county did not know the contents of this bill. So far as l can recall the opposition failed in any con- munication or in any interviews given by their supporters to intimate to the voters that such provisions existed in the Smith bill as would authorize the issuance of licenses to 30-room hotels in unlimited would cause arbitrary and abso- lute power to be placed in the hands of an excise commission appointed by the governor, and would enable corporations to engage in the retail liquor business. Our attack on this bill has placed the opposition on the defensive. In recent editorials, both in the Birmingham News and Montgomery Advertiser, both ardent advocates for the return of the saloon, 1t is admitted that the excise commission can, to quote their words. Make or mar a local option; that they will have the authority to allow the reckless conduct of the liquor business and forfeit public confidence.
 MOore's Statement
 Tn an interview In thls mornings Age Chairman Jones Moore states that he has the personal assurance of the governor that he will appoint good men as excise commissioners It seems rather that this personal assur- ance should De rushed to the assistance of the opposition who are battling for the return of the saloons; 1t is a reasonable inference that the advice of this same force will be considered by the governor as paramount when he goes to make his appointments.
 '"The governor may and he may not appoint the character of men which the opposition admits is absolutely essential for decent administration of saloons under the Smith bill. No one denies or can deny the absolute authority of the excise commission; that in their unbridled discretion is placed the entire handling of the liquor traffic; that they are respon- the governor who appoints them; that under the excise provisions a wide-open town, including hotel saloons, restau- rants and social clubs, without any re- striction as to their location, is possible and probable. With these facts undis- sary risk? The evils of the blind tiger, in my opinion, have been greatly exag- gerated. If the commissioners are shown by the vote of the people that prohibition is to remain the policy of the city they will redouble their efforts to enforce the laws; they cannot be enforced absolutely, but they can be enforced successfully.
 IntOlerable Condition
 "A mistake of the governor in his ap- pointments of the excise commission would create an intolerable condition in this city, irrespective of ones belief as to the character of the men he may ap- point, the principle Is undemocratic and fundamentally wrong. It Is not right to place in the hands of one man, and he not familiar with local conditions, the ap- pointment of three men who are to have entire, unbridled discretion as to the man. agement of the liquor traffic. The ten- dency of the present time Is to give to the people voice in the appointment of all of their officers, and the right. if these executive officers betray their trust, to recal lthem.
 "The excise commission plan is a. retro grade step and subordnates the will of the people to the wish, discretion and judgment of one man in making these im- portant appointments, and after the ap- pointments have been made to the uncon- trolled judgment and discretion of the three appointeeS." 4+t