The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-24
CLOVER SAYS HE STANDS WHERE HE
 YEARS AGO Other Citizens Comment on Operation of the PrOhi-
 bitiOn Laws
BELIEVE THE LEGAL
 SALE IS SOLUTION
Smiley Says the Consumption of Beer Has Decreased But the Use of Whisky Has Increased
 Under Prohibition

John T. Glover who was a member of the state legislature from Jefferson county when the present prohibition laws were passed, in speaking of the coming local option elections, said: 'I am still where I have always been on the pro- hibition question. While in the legisla- ture I advocated a limited number or high-license saloons under strict regula- ton, and failing that, I tried to get local option bill passed. The drastic statewide laws were passed, however, my vote being the only one of the Jefferson delegation cast against them. I thought I was right ,then I am sure I am right now, for the deplorable conditions that have existed in the city during the past four years under statutary prohibition, and the iniquitous blind tiger, must con- vince any thinking man that the well regulated saloon is the best, the wisest and most moral, if you please, solution of the question at issue"
 ''The present prohibition laws are bad from start to finish, said James B. Smiley of the Alabama Livery company. q make the assertion advisedy, and have come to this conclusion from close observation of the operation of the liquor laws during the past four years. There may be less beer drank, but whisky drinking has increased four fold.
 '"rhe search and seizure laws have been productive of the worst kind of abuses, and breed a most contemplate system of petty graft The blind tiger in the residence section of the city Is worse menace to morality than the restricted district. The attempt to enforce the ty- rannical and unpopular laws has brought into being that most despcable of all persons, the hired spy and dirty snitch. In fact, the whole system, in my opinion, has been a fiat failure, and brought about contempt for the law and disre- gard for truth. I base the latter as- sertion on the reports of our court of ficials that have appeared from time to time.
 .'The open saloon with police regula- ton is much preferable to the wretched blind tiger and the evils arising there from"
 
 q favor the return of the saloon but only on the condition that it Is put under strict police supervision" said J. D. Smith. q am thoroughly convinced that change in the present conditions is al- most imperative. yet I would not be in favor of a return to the dive and cheap joint of former years. My opinion is that a limited number of saloons, in a restrict Cd territory, with high license and proper police regulation is the best possible manner of handling the liquor question condition of law violation, open and se- cret, and the continued agitation such conditions bring about"
 A. Fiene, merchant, said: q have all ways been believer in the well-regulated open saloon, but I am unaterably op- posed to the return of the negro dives and saloons on every corner, as during the closing months of the legalized liquor traffic. In my opinion it was this that brought forth the spasm of prohibition that shook the state during 1908. If I be- lieved that the return of liquor would bring back these conditions, I would un- hesitatingly vote against it."
 H. c, Bartlett, travelling salesman, said: q am In favor of the return of liquor legally, and although I do not vote in Alabama, if l did I would vote for the abolishment of prohibition I have seen the so-called prohibition in operation in Georgia and have been in close touch with the situation in Maine, and so far as I know in no case has prohibition been successful In Birmingham there is glaring illustration-the assault on Arlie Barber If prohibition provokes such af- fairs as that. then In the name of all that's good, lets have open saloons"
 F. H. Colley, manager of the Bonita, said "I think that local option is the only solution for the liquor problem. Prohibition has been given a thorough trial and has failed woefully. Open sa- Icons with high license will be the only solution, and I think that the time has come when this election should be held. have been In several towns lately from Tampa to Little Rock, but think, un- doubtedly, that the condition of Birming- ham is the worst. In Atlanta the prob lem has been dealt with o,the satisfae-