The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-12
FUR WILL FLY IN FIGHT IN SENATE
Looks Like Local Optionists
 Will Be VictOrs
MORE TROUBLE AHEAD
Real Battle Will Come in House When Bills Are Introduced Providing for Regulation
 of the Traffic
By BERRyMAN G. BETTY

By BERRyMAN c. BETTY
 Montgomery, February 11.-(Special.)- When the local optionist and the prohibit tionst enter the senate arena next week fur is going to fly. Which side will lose the most wool Is, of course, problematical, but indications are that history will re- peat itself, and that the local optionists will prevail
 Owing to an exceedingly dull lobby fol- lowing upon the adjournment of both of the legislative branches on Friday not much gossip has been going the rounds among the champions of the Parks local option bill, which has Just passed the house of representatives, but the prohi- bitionists are as actively in the fight as they ever we're. As proof of this, Brooks Lawrence, superintendent of the Anti Saloon league in Alabama, has circulated letter In which he advises his forces that the fight is not yet over. and !n which he confidently predicts prohibi- ton victory In the upper house. He calls the battle in the house over the Parks measure "a barren victory. and adds that it will not be had In the upper house, except by the most gross methods of corruption on the part of the straight liquor people,
 He adds: 'l am confident that we have enough strength there to prevent this being done.''
 Present Situation
 Following upon the passage of the state local option measure on Thursday the bill was brought over to the senate on
 riday and given its first reading. It was then referred to the temperance commit tee, which will undoubtedly submit it's report on the measure on Tuesday or Wednesday, probably the latter. Third reading will be given to the bill by Fri day, at least. at which time the real battle will be on.
 Expectations are that State Senator Frank s. Moody of Tuscaloosa, 'the tenn perance sage' of Alapana, and one of the nestors of Alabama politics, win in- troduce his state dispensary measure as a substitute to the Parks bill when the fight comes on, and that the senate there upon will wage its battle just as did the house. Not as long debate is expected in the senate, however. as was had in the lower body, though nothing that ibi6fit fdPptH NohiQ SUI pftoC tHt ioODN. Tn the senate are to he found some of the best parliamentarians, to be found anywhere in the state, and f1libustering Is as natural in that body as daylight This was indicated during the last few days of the session. when opponents of the court of appeals bill as originally drafted, succeeded in having a committee appointed to draw up new measure
 The incident mentioned, however, is not va v.o1n f,xrrfx,ox hA fo, fhof tte friends of the same bill were equally as anxious to have measure passed that would satisfy the representatives of both Of the houses
 Lively Struggle
 Looking at the situation in every ros- sible way, it follows that the struggle m the upper house is going to be epoch r,aking, and that both sides will be kept busy from the re-assem5ling of the solons in their places at noon on r'es- day to the close of the week. Senator Moody's dispensary measure shouli 1t be introduced, Is not believed by the lccal optionists to Fave enough friends to veer the senators from passage Of ihe Parks measure, though the author of ine dispensary measure is a factor to be .reckoned with at any political gather 'ng. There are enough ifs in the ian- gle to deserve a column mention.
 Accepting a victory for the local op- tion forces in both branches of the lcgis- lature, the second big fight of the series will be pulled off almost immediately when bills regulating the manner of election, license. tc. is introduced in the lower house. These regulations will have to be cautious if the local option victors of Thursday hope to retain ] cir prestige. If they are cautious, rroba- bilities are that not such a fight will result from the introduction Many of he solons who opposed the Parks bill in The house on Thursday did so because they diI not know what regulations would follow.
 Representative of such men anl t),eir le ader, is Walker Percy, of Birmingham, who in lucid speech to the representa- t,ves, told them that he demanded to know the regulations before casting his ballot with the local optionsts. Many other men of the same view are believed to be in the lower body.
 Lawrence's Letter
 Regarding these regulations. Mir. .sw- renee anticipates that their presence will he the rock of dlssension in the local option camp. He Is of the opin ,n that the "lcuor people themselves will never te able to agree.''
 His entire letter on the situation. which has been forwarded throughout he state. follows
 "Anticlpating that our friends over the state might become alarmed and discouraged over the passage of the Parks local optiCn bill yesterday by the house of representatives,. I am writing this letter in order that the situation may be made clear. Will you please see that this information Is spread as broadcast as possible through your com munity?
 Tn the first place. the Parks local option bill is a barren victory for the liquor forces inasmuch as they were compelled before going into the fight to introduce an amendment providing that the provisions of the Parks bill shall not go into effect until proper regulations for dispensaries and for tn he sale of liquor have been affected by the legislature.
 This being the case. even If 1t passed the senate, there Is a strong probability that the liquor people themselves will never be able to agree on any regulation measure. as a number of them will not agree to anything except high license and pure liquor provision. which the straight-out liquor men are going 10 fight to the end.
 This is the rock upon which their forces have been split up to the present time. The only victory they can claim Is bill that gave them an opportunity