The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-18

our revenues and promoted intemper-
 ance. Men without character, financial
 standing or responsibility, without re-
 strictions or regulations, men Whd E would be denied a license where resu-
 lation prevailed, are now engaged Tn dispensing their poisonous wares With < out license or restriction. The onlcers
 of the law have been diligent, and yet
 where grand juries fail to indtct and
 petit juries refuse to convict and pub { lie sentiment refuses to sustain prose cutions, the inevitable result has fol- lowed.
 The remedy then is to carry out in good faith the declaration of the party platform and to restore local option and the right of self-government as the wisest and best solution of this prob lem, which has so long baHled ana per plexed our race.
 We favor temperance and sobriety as promotive of good citizenship and good government. but We deplore leg islative attempts to enforce prohibition of the manufacture, sale and other dis position of intoxicating liquors against the expressed wishes of the commun- ities affected" This is the language of the platform 10 which We are com mitted in honor and good faith. But, if in the interest of law and order and real temperance. the sale of { liquor is to be permitted in the larger cities of the state what method Wlll you adopt? Is 1t necessary to submit the question to popular vote? Local option does not necessarily mean ref erendum to the people. It means the ascertainment and carrying out of their wishes and sentiments in some proper and lawful manner. If the local rep resentatives of the communities to pc affected are in doubt as to the wishes of a majority of their citizens, a refer endum would be necessary in compli- ance with party pledges. But 1t cannot be claimed that such doubt exists in reference to the larger cities of the state. The members who represent those constituents were elected with defi- mite pledge that the present prohibition laws would not be maintained but that they would proceed at once by direct legislative action adopt some wiser and better system in the interest of law and order and real temperance, to control the sale of intoxicants.
 In a few of the other counties, the local members were elected on dis tinct pledge to establish dispensaries without referendum to popular vote.
 Therefore, as to those counties and cities where public sentiment openly, clearly and uneduivocally favors direct and positive legislative action. ref erendum would be as unwise as it is unnecessary. and would not be required by the declaration of the party plat form.
 The people of Alabama demand rest from the agitation and turmoil which has cursed the state the past few years. You are the direct representa- .tives of the people, charged with the Responsibility of legislation. and neither regard for the public veal, the plat form of the party, or public interest de- mands the agitation which would follow an election in a county where public sentiment has been fully. clearly and smphatically expressed on this question. An election called under those condi- tions would furnish the desired op- portunity on the part of sefish and de- signing politicians and paid agitators. and would plunge some of the coun- ties of the state into that bitterness, a gitation and turmoil from which we have only recently happily escaped.
 The agitation of the liquor question in the past has divided parties, sep arated and estranged friends, work ed serious harm to the church, and has cast its sinister and malign influence even over the family circle.
 I therefore recommend:
 CD That those provisions of the Car michael, Fuller and other laws enacted at the special session of the legislature in 1909 which are arbitrary and which violate individual right and which tend to weaken or destroy constitutional guarantees, be repealed.
 CD That if in the judgment of the legislature these laws cannot be so B amended as to overcome the objections already mentioned. that they be re- pealed in toto. and that the act ap- proved on November 23. 1907, common 1y know1Aa as the Ballard bill, be left in full force, ii repealed, be rein stated. added thereto such provisions as would secure the moro efficient en- forcement of the prohibition laws prohibition to be established policy of the state.
 (3) That a general law be passed permitting the marufa cture and sale of spirituous, oinous and malt liquors in all cities containing population of 13,- 600 and over, under substantially the following regulations:
 (a) One retail dealer to every 1000 or 5000 inhabitants as the legislature may elect
 4 b) One wholesa1e dealer to every 1000 or 5000 in habtants as the legislature may elect.
 Co An excise commission of three members for each county where sale Is perInttleu, lo De appointed Dy the gov ernor and subject to removal for cause, and to have full control of the liquor traffic within their respective counties. The act to fix rigid qualifications for said commissioners and providing that they shall hold TO other office, either elective or appointive. under the laws of Alabama. The act to contain pro- visions against any commissioner, eith- CT directly or indirectly. accepting any 1nr, fin,, f,,, son or persons directly or indirectly