The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-14
DICKINSON SAYS
 GIVE THEM ROPE'
Believes Prohibitionists Should Begin Plans for Another Amendment
 Campaign in State

Messrs R. M Goodall, F. NJ. Jackson, r. C. Ratliff, Walter Sessions and others.
 Gentlemen: I have, as requested by you,. made investigation into the advisabilty of getting up a protest from the people of this city and county against the pres- ent efforts to force the legalized sale of liquors on this city by legislative flat without a referendum to the people. My investigations convince me that the or ganized liquor interest is in complete control of the present legislature. having acquired a majority in both houses sub servent to it's will, and any effort to thwart their intentions would be futile. That interest has determined to force tho sale of liquors in the cities of the state regardless of local option privileges of the several counties by legislative fiat and in the form and under the regula- tions which may best conserve their busi- ness The grafting of the local option policy in the democratic platform and its enactment into law in the Parks and Smith bills is intended only as wedge to open the way for this direct legislation
 
 they may think profitable. and so local option finally means granting options to exploit with their beverages such com munities as the liquor interests may find profitable, and that, too, by direct leg islative fiat. I do not believe that any of the representatives of the county, or a sufficient number from other counties, can be moved from the subserviency to this programme of the liquor interest. think, therefore, that any effort to that end would be but a waste of time.
 This situation is the result of the de- feat of the amendment. The argument with which 1t is sought to vindicate this programme is that in the defeat of the amendment by which it was sought to take the fixing of the policy of the state | In the sale of liquors out of the hands of the legislature was equivalent to the people saying that the matter should remain contingent on the control of that body. The liquor interest having control of the legislature has the grant of the people to fix the policy of the state in this matter and it is now proposed to use this grani to the fullest extent of It's power. So they interpret recent events with reference to the sale of Iiouor In this state as follows: The amendment defeat meant that the legislature should have full power to formulate the policy and laws of the state with reference to the sale of liquors
 The election following gave the advo- cates of liquor the control of the leg-
 
 to the liquor interest power and priyi- lege to put liquor back into the state which, unless all signs fail, a subservi- ent legislature is now preparing to do by legislative flat. The people, by the defeat of the amendment, refused to take the control of the matter from the leg islature, and then they elected a leeis- lature favorable to the return of the sa- loon, and this means that they have voted for the return of the saloon.
 All the state has voted for the re- | turn of the saloon" This argument of the liquor interest, 1t is true. means | that every section of the state has voted for the return of the saloon to it's life. regardless of previous conditions. So the fact that the present city of Br- mingham voted by a majority of more than GOO against the sale of liouors just year before the amendment cleo tion' and the county by nearly 20o0 majority voted the same way, does not annul the meaning and effect of the amendment campaign later So it is pro- | posed to put the liquor back into Jeff ferson county and any other into which the dominant liquor interest may desire. Whatever may have been the interpreta- tion of the meaning and effect of that amendment by the liquor advocates when it was pending. they now construe it to have had the meaning and effect of | saloon or no saloon.'' However little effect our arguments may have had on the blind friends of prohibition in that contest, we have at last brought our enemies to see in that contest just what we then say and heralded, that the de- feat of that provision meant the return of the saloon. It would seem after re- cent events at Montgomery, and in view | of, the present threatening situation to | force back the saloon any one ought to see that the only way to put this ques- ton to rest and secure permanent relief | from the domination and degradation of | the liquor interests is to take from the legislature power to legislate on this | matter.
 The amendment fight must be re- | newed So it would be wisest for pro- hbitionists to begin now to prepare for the renewal of the amendment fight four years hence. The present legislature is fast -vindicating the necessity of incor porating prohibition into the organic law and the expulsion of the liquor in- terest thereby from the control of legis- latures and legislation of Alabama. advise therefore, that we let the present dominant liquor interest have all the rope 1t wants. and I am sure we shall have glorious hanging in Alabama four years hence Let us get ready for that great event. when we may get perm l. nent prohibition A. J. DICKINSON Uniform Contract Awarded Varley &Bauman have been awarded | the contract for the summer uniforms of the police depa Tt ment The nrce ui,I