The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-23
GOOD IN THEORY BAD IN PRACTICE SAYS DR. FIELDS Other Citizens Give Views on Prohibition or Open
 Saloon REMEDY NEEDED
 FOR BLIND TIGERS One Man Says If He Had Thousand Votes He Would Cast
 Them All for Pro-

? "I have always been Squarely against statutory prohibition, which, however admirable in theory, is to my mind inn practical in large and growing cities, " said pr. E. T. Fields 'I am firmly of the opinion that the prohibition laws have porved a failure in this district, and l have yet to learn of any community where they have proved a success.
 .'The abuses and tyrannical procedure in the attempt to enforce the dispensary laws of the Carolinas are matters of his tory. and after 50 years of trial in the state of Maine, the laws are still dis turbing factor and understand are about to be repealed.
 Moral suasion has done more for the advance of temperance than all the po- litical forces and laws combined, and believe that any people can be more easily lead than driven.
 In view of the existing conditions with the attendant system of stitches and spies, and as the records of the various courts will show the inclination to graft on the part of petty officials, 1 am of the opinion that the saloon with high license and proper police regulation is the best solution of the present situation and shah vote accordingly"
 eff I had thousand votes or more than that number I would cast them all against the return of the saloon in any and all forms" said Joseph Martin of the Pratt Land and Improvement company ''The saloon has at all times been a to tu and moi hesitate to say that not one single in- stance could be quoted where any good came by or through them.
 "On the other hand, the amount of misery, degradation, wrong and crime that can truthfully be laid at their doors is simply appalling Whenever we con slider the few dollars of revenue that might be derived from them, as against the brighting influences and destruction of the souls of men brought about by the saloon, we have taken a step backward in the moral uplift of our city and state.
 T shall oppose the return of the saloon, and if those who believe in morality will stand squarely together the iniquitous measure will surely be defeated"
 Between the blind tiger and the well regulated saloon, I certainly prefer the latter" said Troupe Brazelton. That the blind tiger exists in Birmingham in increasing numbers is patent to everybody who will undertake to study conditions. Drive him out of one locality and he opens up in another, for notwithstanding the present rigid enforcement of the li- quor laws, I am reliably informed that whisky Is still being sold illegally.
 q respect the opinions of those who differ from me as to my view on this question: and expect to be given the same consideration. My conclusions have not been hastily formed, but are the result of personal observation and the perusual of the daily papers, in every issue of which instances are cited of the discov- cry and capture of blind tigers in every conceivable form and location,
 "The present conditions justify a change, and I shall vote for the high li- cense saloon, in the honest conviction that 1t is the best way to settle present agitation.
 q favor the return of the saloon under the plan suggested by MT Moore, chair man of the local option campaign com mittee," said Jones Nelson. "G believe the conditions in and around this district fully justify the stand taken by the local optionists, and that a change would not only be desirable, but 'consummation devoutly to be wishe1
 T am not unmndful of the benefits that have resulted from the four years of prohibition; for instance, the build ing improvements on the principal cor ners of the city, of which the Empire and Farley buildings are notable exam ples, which under the old regime were too much of a gold mine to have been torn down for many years to come. But with these benefits have also come many evils, and to my mind the greatest is the fact that the blind tiger has in vaded the home and that many women are now engaged in the sale of whisky, and often women of family at that.
 "The constant agitation of the question has most depressing effect on business, and drives money out of the state and visitors from our city.
 From moral, as well as other stand points, believe the high license saloon under police regulation is the only prac- tcal solution of the question:
 There Is no question in my mind abous what is the right thing said V. Hugo Marx. "The open saloon with high license and strict regulation is what T favor now and what I have favored in the past. From either business or moral standpoint this is the solution of the question: