The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-08-19
Local Option Meeting

With the echoes Of the nearby saloon Opposition league orators mingling with the voices of their own speakers, the Bes- semer local optionists held an encouraging rally in the tent tonight. attended by a large outpouring of voters only.
 Seated on the platform were P G. Bow man, B. Pepperman, Jones c. Moore, Fred Staley of Birmingham, George Ross, K. H. Lopez and George w. Jones of this city and M. w. Howard of Fort Payne.
 The local secretary introduced the coun- ty chairman, Jones G. Moore, who dwelt on the failure of statutory prohibition, begged those present not to inhict !, pon the county another four years of law lessness and predicted that the result on August "A would be four to one.
 George Ross next gave an account of the hissing following his announce nent made a few minutes previous before the Saloon Opposition league in the hall, that the local option rally would be in the tent, thinking that some who were in ignorance of the change of place would go to the hail. and presented P G. Bowman as the next speaker.
 MT. Bowman launched his remarks with the enumeration of the reason advanced by the prohibtionists for the dispensary, illustrated his developments of these req sons with the victories of the counties re- gently voting wet and aptly introduced many witticisms that were we'll received by his hearers. He outlined the history of the dspensary in South Carolina and the cost to this county of convictins the lawbreakers under this system.
 "rhree hundred and fifty thousand dol lars in spot cash has been paid down by the county to convict about 15O coons and coonettes for violating the liquor laws" said MT. Bowman.
 we don't have joint meetings With them because because we furnish the crow0s and don't care to have our crowds listen to them.'
 Lon Greer, the farmer orator of Choco- locco valley, expressed sentiments Ier- taining to the issues, and spoke of Brooks Lawrence and w. D. Upshaw in no flat tering terms.
 At this point number of prohibitionists from the meeting adjourned in Rebie hall increased the $50 men listening to the local option speeches in the tent
 Upshaw Makes Appearance
 Among those entering was w. D. Up shaw, who had the pleasure of listening to some pretty vigorous language about him by speaker and was forced 10 ad- init that he had made the reference in his Mt Pinson address that a represen- tative of the African race would be an addition to the local option platform. Mir Upshaw attempted, without success, to gain the attention of the crowd Ut this juncture but was unsuccessful and later found 1t advisable to make a precipitate departure. The local option meeting vas very enthusiastic and great excitement prevailed.
 After the adjournment of the local op- tion. meeting, Mir. Upshaw, standing in drug store, stated in the presence of the local option speakers that he had been shamefully attacked and had it not been for the presence of ladies and .he en- treaties of his friends he would have il,l- swered them at any cost.
 Bowman to Challenge Beddow
 From the, Bessemer local option plat form tonight P. G. Bowman, one of the local option speakers, stated that he would send written challenge to c. P. Beddow, saloon opposition league chair man. to meet him in joint debate at the Jefferson theatre Wednesday night. August 23. The question to be debated is to read. If Jefferson county should vote wet on August 24, which would he better for the people. the dispensarv or the open saloon?' Beddow to sneai, in favor of the dispensary and Bowman in behalf of the open saloon. Beddow will make the opening and closing speeches and the audience to be composed of men only. .}ssfs " 'r7
 MT. Bowman stated that this last nam-