The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-17
Stevens Says the Parks Bill Will Pass-SenatOr
 Norman Hopeful
MOODY AND PARKS
 BILLS UP TODAY
Claim Local Option- ists Will Go on Shoals When They Try to Enact the
 Regulations
By HUGH w. ROBERTS

Montgomery, February 16.-(Special)- The local optionists of the state de- clare, first, that the Moody dispensary bill will be voted down tomorrow. and that the Parks local option bill will be passed; secondly. that in case by any slip In the calculation the Moody bill should be passed, the Parks bill will also be passed.
 The prohibitionists state that they are hopeful of defeating all bills which might open the way for the return of the sa- loon, or the institution of 1esalized sale of whisky through any medium and that were the Parks bill to be passed their opportunity. In spite of that fact. to would remain a good one, inasmuch as before the Parks bill can become eff fective bill regulating the traffic must be enacted into law
 Senator Thomas Stevens of Mobile. a leader of the local optionists, stated to- night:
 .'It became known several days ago that the Parks bill would be put through the senate. Since that time no compli- cdtlOHS nave diibCH. Il dii opSoAoeSAJ Vt tain of our success
 Senator Norman, stanch prohibition ist, stated tonight:
 T cannot make predictions. We are hopeful, however. cannot say whether or not we will support the Moody bill in an attempt to select the lesser of the evils But we will vote together, you may he assured of that"
 Lawrence Declines to Talk
 The Rev. Brooks Lawrence, whose recent statements in criticism of members of the senate have deprived him of his ac- customed authority over the prohibition ists, 1t is said. when asked for a state nrnt tonight by a newspaper reporter, declined to answer.
 As a matter of fact, the best opinion in all circles at the present Is that the Moody dispensary bill. which will be pre- sented for final passage at 11;3O o'cloch in the morning, will be defeated. It IS estimated that as many. as 20 votes will be cast against 1t. It Is considered prob able that the vote against 1t will num- Der 21. Hs
 And the best opinion is that the Parks bil! will pass the senate shortly afser the hour of noon. It Is claimed by the local optionists that no fewer than 21 votes will be cast in favor of the bill. The vote may be P, and, 1t would cause no surprise were the. total to be 2S.
 Two Senators Return
 Senator Espy, strong local optionist. who was called to his home some days ago, on account of illness in his family. returned tonight. Senator Folmar. who lost a babe several days ago. and Is af his home, will return tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock. and will vote against the Moody bill.
 Relatives of one or more of the senators. who in the last few days announced their allegiance to local option as against pro- hibition, have arrived in Montgomery and are endeavoring to return the gentlemen in question to the fold of the stand patters Should their efforts be success ful local optionists contend that their bill will not be endangered.
 Montgomery, February 16.-As stated. 1t Is generally believed that the Parks bill will pass tomorrow. There Is not in ex- istence tonight the suppressed excite ment that characterized the night be- fore the Parks bill was passed throuel, the house. It seems that everyone has agreed that the result will be against the continuation of the policy of prohibition, Work on the preparation of bill oi regulations for the traffic in liquor will 
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