The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-07
Brooks Lawrence Sounds His
 Gall to Arms
PLAN ID MUDDY WATERS
1 Debate Are Means to Bee Used in Waging Fight on Local Op- tlon--Cnll to Arms
BY HUGH W. ROBERTS

Montgomery, February 6.--(Special.)-- Members of the legislature are willing to talk of little else than the impending fight against statewide prohibition. The city has rapidly filled up tonight with returning members, and each has had heart to heart talks with the folks at home. They have made up their minds as to how they will vote. There is hardly a chance to change single man.
 The -prohibltionists. although they realize that they are whipped at tho present time. have not given up the fight. They are in desperate straits and are planning to kill local option legisla- tion by the continuous offering of amend ments and substitutes, and by process of endless debate. If the local option strength can be held together under ev- cry emergency. the day is won. But if on certain amendments splits occur, then the prohibitionists may hope. The Parks bill as 1t stands today would pass. If it is made to bear even one amendment. It's passage may not be as certain.
 Sounds Call to Arms
 The Rev. Brooks Lawrence. according to well authenticated reports. has sent out hurried calls for his flock of political parsons These gentlemen of the cloth are expected to swoop down upon Mont gonery Wednesday. They will come from every section of the state, and according to the plan, each will petition the legisla- ture to hear him. In this way the vote may not occur Thursday. It may even go over for day or two or more.
 To counteract this system of political warfare. the local optionists will hold conference Wednesday night It Is the hope of the leaders of local option that the conference will determine to vote down every amendment offered and to smash every substitute. It is considered certain that the conference will urge the limiting of speeches, for should there be no limit, the argument might be stretcneo out for the remainder of the session. The leaders of prohibition declare themselves certain of being able to clog | the wheels. Representative Rrindley or F,towah shakes his heae wisely, and Representative Merritt peacefully smiles The leaders of local option | on the other hand are moving with lips pressed together in determination. l The senate says: Just let us get Q whack at the bill" Senators Moultrop of Barbour and Tunstall of Hale are especially sanguine of success. Eacn declares himself confident that Wln- ming fight against prohibition is pend ing. But it Is expected that the fight Is just on. that 1t will last through out the current week and that the de- cision might not be rendered until the opening days of next week.
 Other Important Matters There are other important matters coming up this week. Representative Percys bill providing for commission government for Birmingham. with fa- vorable report from the municipal or ganization committee, is on the cal endar and may be considered tomor- row It will not have the easy pas sage which the Smith commission bill for Montgomery experienced. Percy's bill provides for three commissioners Many other people of Birming gham want five.
 The revenue bill will probably be presented Tuesday. The appropriation committee will make report soon after ward And then Speaker Almon's bill providing for a state highway commits sion will probably be passed Wednes- day.
 This Is expected. as a matter of fact. to be the most interesting week of the present legislatures history.