The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-31
SHERIFF HOOD IS AFTER TIGERS WITH HAMMER AND TONGS Members of Legislature Will Be Asked to Testify Before
 Next Grand Jury BELIEVED THEY KNOW
 OF SOME VIOLATIONS LocaI Option Cause Has Been Hurt By Fragrant Conduct of Montgomery
 Saloon Men in Defying the
 Existing Laws
BY BERRyMAN G. BETTY

Montgomery, January 30-(Specia, J. Respecting blind tigers and the enforce inent of the present prohibition laws as long as they are on the statutes of the state, Col. Horace Hood, sheriff of Mont gomery county, has issued what is con- sidered his fiat. It is that the law is going to be enforced, regardless of where the blow falls, or regardless of the severity of the steps taken with this end in view. The determination has been reached after thorough study of the temper ament of the legislature, and is directly due to grumblings of dissatisfaction which have been descending from the capitol since that body began Its quadren- nial deliberations on January 10. It IS admitted that the city has been in a worse siege of tigerism since the legisla- ture met than at any previous time in the history of Montgomery. fact which is attributed to the general understand ing that the solons were going to strike their first telling blow at a repeal of the present statewide statutes
 This belief iaiiing of realization, the
 
 have slapped the states chief executive and the legislature in the face by disre- garding the laws. In retaliating for this injury, as a consequence he has issued a general order that the city must remain as dry as the Sahara desert, just so long as prohibition is on the statutes of Ala bama.
 Blow at Friendship
 Under the administration of Governor Comer" Sheriff Hood stated today, "the city was fairly dry, there being no flag rant violation of the laws, to our own knowledge. It is a recognized fact, nu,~- ever, that with the coming of the lcgis- lature and the advent of the new admin istration the sa1oonists ran riot, despite our protests, passing their action upon the belief that the legislature intended to immediately repeal the present statewide l laws. This development, however. has not taken place, and whether it does or does not, will be immaterial to me-
 Tt is my intention to make raids as long as conditions are alleged to be un- savory. The saloon interests have vio- lated all teachings of friendship by seek ing to hasten the deliberations of the legislature. They have mistaken Cover nor O'Nears local option attitude for license to sell whisky. The chief execu- tive is rightfully hurt, and the legisla- ture is rightfully enraged''
 SOIOns to Testify lH.
 Tpe sheriff announces that he intends | to call before the county grand jury, l whic hassembles in its winter session on hext Monday, q. number of the members of the legislature who have made | speeches against blind tigerism in the city. He thinks that their testimony be- | fore the county inquisitorial body will | lead to direct revelations of the extent of the whisky traffic in the city. So far | the sheriff has been led to believe that l the saloonists have retired to rear rooms, but he has been unable to get direct proof of this. Allegations on the part of a number of the legislators that the blind | tiger condition has returned constitute the only basis of belief the sheriff has 1 that whisky Is being sold from pigeon 1 Eoles if
 Should the legislators who have har- l sngued the tigerism refuse to obey the subpoenas calling them before the in | quisltors, the sheriff, of course, will be unable to compel their testimony. arrests being quite ineffective during progress l of the session. He believes however, that they will not refuse to answer the summons. | Strengthened Opposition
 | Political leaders in Montgomery believe | that the action of the saloonists in re- | turning to their alleged Hairs has been the cause of much strengthening of the prohibition forces of the two legislative houses Opposition to local option has sprung from centers which were unex- pccted. Tine city of Montgomery is &C., cused of holding local option legislation | in check. because of the action of a num- ber of the saloonists in returning to open | saloons at the time of the incoming of the new administration. These open sa-