The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-30
When Alleged Fangs Are Ex- traCted from Resolution of
 Rules Committee
THE LOCAL OPT|ON|STS | ARE GREATLY COMFORTED
Good Prospect That All VIII Get Be- hind General Bill With Force and Enthusiasm-Prohi
 Also Are Hopeful
BY HUGH w. ROBERTS

Montgomery, January 29.-(Special) The friends of the administration, when they extracted the alleged fangs from the resolution of the committee on rules yesterday morning. won a great victory. The local optionists, whether correctly or incorrectly believe that that victory was, a victory also for those who are determined to carry out the mandates of the people, and put into effect the platform of the demo- cratic party.
 The local optionists as a matter of fact. have taken unto themselves a great comfort, and tn cir belief is strong that they have the fight whipped. This comfort is due to the fact that all friends of local option and the ad- ministration O. Governor O'Neal are de- termined to begin the battle in real earnest this week. They have de- termined to put an end to an alleged game of politics. They are determined to "call," in other words, whether they hold the winning hand or not.
 Agreeing on Bill
 As stated in The Age Herald of to-
 
 on a bill behind which they all can get with their entire strength and their unbounded enthusiasm. The bill Is to be a general local option bill-what the platform of the party calls for without ruffles and furbelows. It will provide for an election in every coun- ty of the state, provided the people of the county petition the probate judge to that end. and the question will either be prohibition or dispensary," or prohibition or buffet"
 There is nothing, it is supposed, in this bill which can be offensive to the friends of local option, 1t matters not from what county they hail. It is certain that an sther bill will follow, which. will seek to determine and set forth just what is local option. The point at issue in the second bill will, of course, be concerning the unit. It is probable that there will fol- low stiff fight on this proposition. But 1t is pretty safe to predict that even should those favoring county and those favoring city units fail to agree, it will be so arranged that three cities at least in Alabama will have the e'right to accomp- fish their own legislation.
 Positive Statement
 Representative Alex Pitts of Dallas, who led the fight of the friends of the admin istration against the resolution of the, rules committee, which resolution called 'Ipon Governor ONeal to enforce the pro- hibition laws, states: '"The platform of the party declares in favor of local option. Before We transact any other important business we must get through local op- tion bill, general local option bill am ready to open the battle for such a bill. The time for dilly-dallying and petty poli- tics playing is passed. The issue is plain ly before us. We must go to meet it this week.
 In case the house does not pass the gem eral local option bill the senate and the house will be at loggerheads.
 Senator V. B. Atkins of Dallas says: I believe I speak for the majority of the members of the senate when I say that we must first of all pass general local option bill. If the prohibitionists and the so-called independents of the house refuse to pass such bill then we will block all other important legslation.''
 Senator Screws of Montgomery says: 'sThe majority of the senate does not in- tend to hold. out threat to the lower house. But if. for political reasons. the independents rush into the camp of the prohibitionists, then the other important Legislation originated in the house will be blocked. The people sent us here to enact a local option bill. This we should do and at once. It is ridiculous to con- tinue the present course of dilly-dallying."
 The Fight Is On
 The local optonists, in other words, have got their backs up. And Governor O'Neal, if reports be true, has his back up. This means that either a general local option bill will be enacted or that the legislative halls will reverberate with the furious clashes of a furious argu- mentative battle.
 The report concerning the attitude of the governor-and that the report is true, has been unofficially confirmed-is that he will aid, too, in an active role, in putting into effect the platform of the party The influence of every governor is a great influence. and his power vest ed in the right of veto is a great power.
 The prohibitionists are standing firm in their tracks ceaselessly hoping that the local optionists will be unable to agree on any bill. They realize that fol- lowing an agreement bv the local OptiOn-