The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-17

oisaiization whom We met and thrice de-
 feated in manly political Contest, that
 the agitation of the liquor question should
 continue, that the demand of the people
 for rest from ceaseless political turmoil
 should be ignored. and that the will of the people so clearly expressed at the ballot box on three occasions should be dehed. Are not some of the leaders of this same organization men whom the
 most solemn party pledges did not bind, and are they then in a position to read us lectures on moral duty? They tell us that we pledged the people before our nomi- nations to retain all the prohibition stat
 utes. The statement is both unfair and
 misleading. The nominees of the party we represent were under pledges both expressed and implied, to yield whatever individual views they might entertain on this question to the combined wisdom and Judgment of the accredited representa- tives of democracy in convention assem- bled. No party would be guilty of the
 iolly of calling a convention to formulate platform if the declarations of that plaUorm could not or would not bind it's
 members and nominees. If each nominee is authorized to carry out his own indi- vidual views in defiance of party plat form. then party government would be
 an idle and puerile force and party treachery a badge of honor. I know that
  ble, lawlessness so fiagrant, intemperance so widespread as to wiring from some prohibition advocates the admission that their methods had proven failure and had only increased the evils they sought to remedy. I can not however, With hold my admiration from any man, or any body of men, who, however mistaken or unwise in the policies they pursue, earnestly seek to better civic conditions. I Ht,aitH ttnir ctr hut Judgment. I admire their honesty. but depore their folly. I Yam charitable | enough to believe that even those are sim cere who declare that they prefer thou sand blindtigers-our cities filled with
 dives dispensing the vilest and most poisonous compounds. controlled by ire sponsibe men, without. license or re- stricton-to one legalized saloon. Practical Men of Affairs
 we, who are commissioned to execute and make the laws for the people of Ala
 bama, are not children. but grown up men. We are not idealists or theorists seeking some impossible Utopia. We are practical men of affairs, acquainted with the world and with some experience of it's conditions. We take poor, weak. human nature as it is, for we know that the millennium has not yet arrived. We advocate temperance. We uphold the
  We heed the healing voice of Christian charity, but we know that we cannot legislate virtue into mems lives. We rec ognize that in all liquor legislation there are but two policies We must aim either at the abolition or the regulation of the traffic. If abolition or prohibition has utterly failed in some of the larger cities of the state there is other policy left but .lxx .@l.D
 dience to our own judgment, in the inter- est of temperance. of law, and of order, and in compliance with the will of the reople whose trusted servants we are. The democratic party of Alabama is'l committed to local option-a cardinal principle and policy of our creed. Our democratic nominees were elected on that platform. The people demand of us faithful and fearless compliance with their wishes. Tn my opinion prohibition should be the established policy of the state, with a general local option law to take effect ct the next general election. Yet we know that the largest cities, and certain of the largest counties of the state not cnly expect but demand immediate re- lief from the present deplorable and
 shameful conditions and violations of law by prompt legislative action. Their representatives were nominated and elect ! ed under pledges to give such relief. They | know the wishes and sentiments of their people, and upon them is the responsible | ity to ask that their counties be excepted from the general rule. The people want
 no more elections that are not necessary to ascertain the public will. Such cleo tions disturb the public peace and renew the evils of bitter agitation and political turmoil. Where the representative knows
 the sentiment of his constituents, a ref
 erendum of this question to the people of the unit to be affected would be as un- | wise as it Is unnecessary. Local option means the right of the unit affected to control the liquor traffic, either by abso- lute prohibition or regulation. That right | must be exercised in accordance with the | will of the community affected. How is | that will to be ascertained? It may be as-
 certained by the action of the people in | q primary or general election by their
 nominating and electing a representative whose position on the issue is well de-
 fined, and publicly avowed, or by the va
 rious methods by which we can readily | judge and estimate public sentiment The
 referendum is not required in compliance
 with our platform, except in those in
 stances where the representative does not
 know, cannot accurately ascertain and | fig in doubt as to the wishes of his con- | stituents. But if the sale of liquor Is to | be allowed we would be derelict in our
 duty to tre people did We not surround | its sale with every restriction regulation
 and safeguard which experience and wis.,
 dom can suggest. -
 l There should be an external divorce | between the liquor interests and politics 1 This in my judgment can be largely ac-
 complished by the creation of an excise
 commission, appointed by the governor | and subject to removal, and who, under
 restraints of certain general laws. should
 be vested with plenary power in the man.
 agement and control of the liquor traffic | in the communities where the sale is au- | thorized.
 Tn my opinion nearly all the evils of
 drinking cheap, debased and adulterated | articles of alcoholic beverages. We | should, therefore, by proper provisions
 mented beverages which are recognized l by leading chemists and experts as least
 injurious to the public health We should tprohibit the sale, under whatever name
 they may be offered. of all spirits which | are compounded wholly or in part of al-
 cohol, either win or without added col
 oring or favoring matter, or which are | produced in any other way than by the | legitimate methods of distillation and | aging as required by the most advanced | pure food laws.
 "The integrity of the democratic party | in Alabama is at stake, and any effort on our part to evade or shift our respon-
 sibility as representatives of the people
 will be nothing less than political coward