The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-09
BY HUGH ". ROBERTS

Montgomery, February S.-(Specisl.)- Tomorrow, according to the plans. will begin the fight for local option as a sub etitute for statewide prohibition.
 The Parks bill will be discussed, and possibly voted upon.
 ,, The Parks bill is a local option till- and only that.
 It provides for the holding of elections in every coounty of the state. and the : voters will have the option of prohibition, dispensary or license.
 The local optionists, and others who feel that they should endeavor to put into effect the platform of the democ' atic rarty, will support the Parks bill. The ultra-prohibitionists wil. oppose it-and all ot,.,rs the passage of which would rave an effect on the prohibition.
 The utra-prohibitionists will oppose it tc the last ditch.
 Much Discussion Probable
 It is generally believed that the local cptionis.s have a majority in the house. Che effort of the prohipitionists will be to split the local option strength.
 To bring about this result they will resort to offering substitute bills. to of fering amendments to the Parks olll. and Io endless deba,e and argument.
 The Parks, bill will hardly core to a vote tomorrow.
 The discussion will be freely irdulged in by everyone, and there will be no pre- conceived plans to prevent debats.
 It Is expected that every member of the house will indulge in oratory before ,he measure is voted upon. It is very probable that many of the leaders will be heard half dozen times.
 The fight is narrowing to a head, how ever, and the situation Is tense.
 Lawrence's Interview
 The Rev Brooks Lawrence. the disciple from Ohio, issued today one of his char acteristic interviews, in which he criti- cises the Parks bill because under Its provisions it will be possible to sell liquor in the counties of the state provided a .matority of the qualified voters might be fooled into voting for the sale.
 Great effect this interview has had on the local optionists It Is an argument which none of them had previously heard. The statement of this point was a feather in the cap of the disciple. The local op- tionists did not realize before that 1t was possible to fool a majority Of the Intelligent voters of Alabama.
 Representative Fuquay has issued an in- terview, too, In which he predicts the defeat of the Parks bill, and in which he states his belief that the people of Tallapoosa county would prefer the pres ont conditions rather than to undergo the agony of s- local option election.
 Fleetwood Rice of Tuscaloosa has is- sued statement in which he predicts the defeat of the Parks bill. He doesn't believe that 1t will ever come to vote.
 Local Optionists Firm
 The local optionists, in postponing dis 1assion of the Alnon bill last night. in timate that they will stand firm on their determination to pass the Parks bill. If they stand as compact as they did this afternoon In the, fight for the pass age of the governors mansion bill, and vote down every substitute and every i'm material amendment. there is no doubt but that they will win
 The report has got abroad that the pro- hibitionists have endeavored to form an alliance with the railroads. and as re- suit retain statewide prohibition and re- peal all legislation which the railroads do not approve. ited.
 statements of Leaders
 Local option leaders appear exceeding ly confident.
 Representative Pitts states his Sbelief that the bill will pass with votes to spare. Representative Parks expresses confi- 6ence that his measure will be enacted into law and will be the basis for fur ther legislation. Representative Arnold has not issued / | statement, but it is known that he IS determined to win, and that he believes he can do so.aae
 Representative Long is as confident as he was during the campaign against the amendmeft to the constitution.
 'There Is no way In which the pronibi- ttonists can prevent the passage of . local option billS, says he.