The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-21
NOW AFTER D|SPENSARY Hope to Have Operating in
 Few Weeks WANTS COMMISSION John Boyd, One of the Oldest News paper Men in the State, Dies
 Suddenly-Sunday School Institute

Huntsville February 2o.-(Special.)- J. State Senator Robert E. Spragins ani Representative Shelby s. Fletcher of Madison county returned tonight to Montgomery after having spent their re- cess at home. Representative Lawler, who has been i'll, is rapidly recovering and expects to be back at his desk in short time.
 The Parks local option bill having passed both the house and senate, the Madison county delegation will imme- diately offer in the legislature bill es- tabishing a dispensary in this county for the sale of liquor The question of dispensary or no dispensary was voted on in the democratic primary election, making it unnecessary that the bill be drawn so that the question be voted on again. Senator Spragins believes that the bill will pass and become law and that the dispensary will be in operation here in a few weeks.
 The local lawmakers have also pledged themselves to see that commission gov ernment is established in Huntsville and If the general bill establishing commits SiOn 6oNCi III hiopoiho 'O"hS Oo'1o not include Huntsville a special bill will be offered
 Editorial Writer Dies
 John Boyd, chief editorial writer of the Mercury-Banner and Weekly Mercury of this city and for many years connect ed with the staffs of a number of news papers in the east and north, died here today after brief illness. He was ac- lively engaged in his work as late as his bed and seemed to experience gen. eral breakdown. Mr. BoydN was about 75 years old and leaves aA widow.
 MT. Boyd was born in Ireland and in early life entered the British army. He fought in the Crimean war and in the campaigns in India that suppressed the Sepoy rebellion. He was soldier in the column that cut its way through millions of Sepoys to the relief of Luck now and his descriptive writings of that campaign. appearing in the Liverpool Ga- zetter short time later, attracted much attention. As a staff correspondent. of the Liverpool paper, he came to Ameri- ca and was so charmed with this coun- try that ne TeIndliltu dHu lOOk up Jour nalistic work in the large cities of the east Thirty years ago he was with the Cincinnati Enquirer, later with the Republican Banner in Nashville and then came to Huntsville and became a mem Der of the first staff of the Daily Mer- cury
 His writings covered a wide range of subjects and his knowledge of politics and history was apparently unlimited.
 @s Sunday School Institute
 Leaders of Sunday school work in this district will hold Sunday school teach CTS institute Thursday and Friday of this week in the First Presbyterian church. Leon Palmer and Mrs. H. P. Moore will lead in discussions of work and methods.
 Crops Far Advanced
 The farmers of north Alabama are further advanced with their work just now than in many years past at this season. They have had more than two weeks of good weather any many of them have finished blowing their cot ton and corn lands and others have planted oats. Practically all of the fruit and plum trees are in bloom and it is believed that cold weather will kill these crops.