The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-02
WILL BE FILED WEDNESDAY FOR LOCAL OPTION Contains Over 5000 Names and Only 36OO Are
 Necessary LISTS HAVE BEEN CHECKED CAREFULLY Some Specimen Letters Received By Secretary Staley From Those
 Who Have Signed the
 Petitions


 Judge of Jefferson county to call an elec- ton to vote on the question of local op- ton, and to determine whether the pres ent prohibition laws shall be retained, or whether liquor shall be sold by dispen- sary or licensed saloon, will be filed early this week. This statement was given out by Jones G. Moore, chairman of the local option campaign committee yesterday.
 While the exact day had not been de- termined, the petition will In all prob ability be filed by Wednesday.
 The document contains over 5000 names and has been signed by qualified voters from every part of the county. Under the law 45 per cent of the number of votes cast at the last preceding election for governor are necessary to call an election to vote on local option. According to the number of votes cast at the late gover- nors election, about 360O names of quali- fled voters are all that are necessary to require the Probate Judge to call such an election, so the local optionsts claim to nave enough signature and many 10 spare.
 The Probate Judge is required to ex- anime the individual. standing of each voters. as it appears on the records at his office, and is governed thereby. All names not appearing on his books will be stricken from the list, regardless Of exemptions by law, as in the case of the militia, and cannot be counted
 The Probate Judge has 30 days in which to examine the list. but as soon as he legal voters have signed the documen, he can so declare without going through the entire list.
 As soon as the judge declares the list sufficient he is required by law 10 call the election within 10 days from that date so that the election must be called with in maximum of 70 days from the filing |of the petition.
 The list of names has been carefully prepared and the standing of each voter looked into so that there is little or no possibility of the list being rejected as insufficient. It has been signed by men prominent in every walk of life, and in a great many instances the signers have expressed their views in no uncertain terms of the evils and abuses under ex- isting conditions. r | The following are a few examples of the letters from signers accompanying the petitions:
 MT. Fred J. Staley, Birmingham, Ala
 Yours of the 10th received and contents noted q am a man of family, having a wife and nine children, seven boys and two girls. l have one boy who is of age. He has never been in a barroom, but I tigers They are as thick as bees in our locality. I hope we will soon have legal ized saloons. Yours with best wishes.
 This one is from Union City, Ga: MT. r. J. Staley Secretary, Birmng- ham. Ala.
 Dear Sir Had I not been absent from the city I would have called and signed the petition long ere this. While I am temperate man in every sense of the word. for I never" drink intoxicants, I am forever and day down on prohibit tion. I consider it one of the most stu pendous frauds ever straddled on the American people.
 "As you will see by this letter head am in Georgia, but only temporarily. hope to be back in Birmingham in time to vote, and it will be with a great deal of pride and pleasure that I will cast my vote against fanaticism.'
 One from Ensley:
 MT. Fred J. Staley. Birmingham:
 Yours of the 2Oth to hand and con- tents noted I am more than glad to have the chance to sign the petition. think every law-abiding man should sign it for the benefit of his own home, against contamination of neighborng blind tigers Hoping the good cause will win, I am yours, truly
 MT Fred J. Staley, Birmingham, Ala. ::
 Enclosed find signed petition. Any thing to beat this mockery of pro- hibition that has brought the blind tiger to our doors and the bootlegger in our midst. I am in favor of licensed saloons and hope the election will bring them back, so that we can get rid of the law breaking that now exists" MT. Staley, Birmingham Local Option
 Campaign Committee:
 Dear Sir-Your letter received yes- terday. In reply will say that I sign the petition gladly and would have