The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-02
DEFEAT IF LOCAL OPTION INDICATED But Turn of Tide Is Strong
 ly Probable GOVERNOR IS ON HAND
Both Sides in Lauderdale County Are Working Hard, But Antis Have No 0rganizatiOn-Country
 Vote Will Decide
Nv HIGH W. ROBERTS


 Florence. october 1.-tSpeciaD.-At the present time every indication points to the defeat of the local option issue in Lauderdale county There are several reasons, one being the natural tendency of the people to abhor the regulated saloon, and another the fact that those who are opposing prohibition have 10 organization.
 At the present moment, for example, there is no local option campaign com mittee. It naturally follows that there are no subcommittee on the several beats. However it has not been decreed that Lauderdale county shall forever suf- fer the tyranny of the blind tiger It Is possible that the antis will win in the election Thursday But to turn the tide, 8 very clever political trick must be played, if not a series of such opera lions.
 Governor ONeal, naturally interested in the personal fight which is being wag- ed in his home county against him, has determined to remain on the scene until the votes are tabulated. Just what he may be able to accomplish remains 10
 
 is an advantage in the fact that liquor is being retailed at the present time in Colbert county. Sheffield and Florence are separated by a river. With Flor enee dry it will develop that Sheffield will get the revenue from the sale of liquor to the people of both counties, and Florence will get it's share of the drunks That this consideration is help ing the local optionsts is admitted. The saloon proprietors of Sheffield, having obtained their licenses to sell liquor, are prohibitionists as far as Florence and che the other cities of Lauderdale are con- cerned but it is obvious that this dog in the manager stunt is doing very lit tie damage to the foemen of prohibition
 Florence is dry. normally Rogersville is also dry, but the people there are firm adherents of Governor O'Neal. They may rush to his assistance on account of local pride if they are assured that the governor will not appoint an excise corl- mission there even if the county goes wet The location of state school may have much effect also. But Florence from all appearances is absolutely hope less.
 Florence Against O'Neal
 It is remembered the vote of that city went in favor of Colonel Mallory and against Governor O'Neal by majority of 7O The prohibitionists will probably carry the city by majority of 10o The politicians of the county are against the regulated saloons. Practically every county official will vote for prohibi- tion Thursday And as everywhere else, the prohibitionists Of Lauderdale are workers They never drop stitch in the seam. They have secured the coun- ty from Tennessee to Colbert. They have had speakings in every beat. And as Morgan, Covington. Henry and other counties, Lauderdale came very near going to the prohibitionsts by default. But for the timely arrival on the scene of Governor O'Neal. Jesse Stallings, Tom L. Long and Alex Walker that result would unquestionably have obtained.
 As is intimated above their arrival, after all, may have been too late. Until the end, Governor O'Neal, Long and Walker will remain in the fight. Col onel Stallings will return to Birming- ham tonight. but if it is possible he will be in Lauderdale again before the counting of the ballots. Len Greer, the orator of Choccolocco valley, with his trenchine blade, is expected to report tomorrow The wool hat boys are in- clined to oppose prohibition in Lauder dale When the original petition for an election was filed it was turned down, Judge Koonce holding that no man could be considered d qualified voter whose name did not appear on the official list. Many of the country boys, though, who are qualified to vote, had neglected to comply with certain routine or red tape methods. and their names were rejected They immediate ly got themselves presented in the proper light and the petition was ulti- mately granted. Though Judge Koonce in this regard follows the precedent set by judges in Jefferson, Montgom- cry and Mobile counties. he necessarily nettled some of the members of the wool hat brigade and they. in turn. aware of the prohibition tendency Of