The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-30
CAUST|C
 IN CRITICISM OF EXCISE BOARD WORK Says Licenses Are Being Issued to Notorious Law
 'ViolatOrs NEGROES AND WHITES DRINKING TOGETHER The Sheriff Says He Will First Issue Warnings and Then Arrests
 Will Follow for All Violations

That 75 per cent of the men licensed to operate saloons by the excise commis- sioners were notorious violators Of the law; that the commission could easily have ascertained such as being true; that iniunctions were now pending against some among those authorized at Besse- raer: that of the number issued in Bes- semer and Ensley yesterday six were fragrant violators of the law, that he had witnessed yesterday negroes and whites drinking together in Birmingham in Vio- lation of the law and that the commis- sion could hardly expect him to cooper ate with them in enforcing the law II failure to consult with him was to be their policy, were among the broadsides of criticism hurled at the excise com mission yesterday by Walter K. Me Adory, sheriff of Jefferson county.
 MT. McAdory sent a letter to the ex- else commission pointing out that he had been utterly ignored in issuing the H. censes, although he had voluntarily re- ouested them to consult him and had previously warned the commission of the character of some men applying
 The Sheriff's Letter
 In his letter the sheriff says:
 ITO the Excise Commission of Jefferson
 County:
 "Gentlemen-Several days ago l wrote to you that as sheriff of this county was ready and willing to cooperate with you in the enforcement of the liquor laws.
 Tn the same letter I called your atten- ton to the fact that from the advertise ments in the daily papers I noticed men who would apply that should not, in my opinion, he granted licenses. "I volunteered to appear before you and give you any information that l had as to who these violators were.
 "On the 22d inst. I received letter signed by MT. W. c. Agee, chairman, ac- llnowledging the receipt of this letter and stating that I would be called upon at the proper time and would be notified when to appear before you.
 up to the present time have not been called upon or requested to give you any information.
 q see from the records in the probate office that you have granted permits to several good men, men who have never given the officers any trouble, and l also see that you have granted permits to several open and notorious violators or the law and blind tigerites.'
 NOW, If you are going to pursue the poiicya of giving such men licenses, that have been open and notorious in violating the laws, I do not see how you can ex- pect me to cooperate with you. Respect fully, w, K. M'ADORY, Sheriff.
 McAdOry Is Interviewed
 Sheriff McAdory, when interviewed after he made an inspection of the sa- looms in Birmingham, said:
 q saw in Birmingham today whites and negroes drinking in the same bar room. That is mighty poor regulation to my mind. The law plainly says that no intermingling of the races shall take place in the same room where whisky is sold. However, that is the way they have started out I saw boys, seem- ingly under 21 years of age, drinking beer with utter abandon, while men in- toxicated, to all outside appearances, were being still further supplied by the barkeepers. I called their attention to this. I will give them few days to straighten out, but after that l shall most certainly arrest those who con- tinue to violate the regulation laws.
 "Of those licensed today six of them have been arrested as violators of the law. One of their places l personally raided and secured $f200 worth of booze, while at another we secured 90 barrels of beer Of the crowd at Bes- semer the records will show that in- functions sworn out by the circuit solicitor are pending against them. It would have been very easy for the ex- else commissioners to have ascertained that fact and then passed upon the ap- plicants.
 q requested the excise commissioners to allow me to assist them in ascertain- ing the most fit men for licenses. How ever, see that they have passed me by and there cannot be any question but that such policy will do away with all corporations between us.
 Will Try to Enforce Law
 T wish to say emphatically that l am going to do all that is in my power to enforce the laws and I am willing to cooperate with the police, the city commission, the excise commission or with any body charged with enforcing the laws. But as to the matter of H. censes, 1t would seem that l am not wanted by the excise commissioners. In connection with those issued prior to yesterday I am positive that no con tradiction is possible when l say that 75 per cent of all issued are men who have consistently violated the prohibi- ton law. Some of them did it inde- gently and some in less fragrant man ner l am disposed to give them trial now and warn all that I see vio- lating the laws After that they may well look out. In this connection it is only fair for me to say that some men to whom licenses have been issued are all right and pretty fair men. They have not, so far as I know, violated the laws
 "I intend to visit all the places in the county as soon as possible.
 .'The scene I witnessed in one 'regu- lated saloon today where the whites and blacks were drinking together beggers description They were using gallon buckets, jugs and every Kind or a receptacle to pour the beer down their throats. That is one place | in tend to notify that witnessed the vio- lation."
 Sheriff McAdory. with deputy made a personal inspection the first night the saloons opened and then again yester- day afternoon.
 1rnrodiatalv aftar raturninU tO his