The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-19
Liquor Legislation of Para mount Interest to En-
 tire Country
LOOK AT ALABAMA
 AND TAKE HEART
Prohibition Is on Trial and Outcome in Georgia Will Be Influential. Either Way-Will Elect
 United States Senator

Atlanta, June 1S-The forthcoming ses- sion of the Georgia legislature. which will convene on Tuesday June 27. will have al least one important work be- fore it and probably two.
 The first is the election of a United States senator To succeed Joseph M. Ter rell, who is serving the unexpired term Of the late A. s. Clay by appointment of Governor Brown. Tie other is the matter of liquor legsation-of far more interest to the people of the state and of interest to the people of other states contemplating prohibition fiehts-as it will
 be practically prohibition on trial" and has possibilities of guiding the assem- plies of other commonwea1ths 1 Just what is in store along this lat ] Ter line not even. those taking active
 interest in politics seems to know. Two
 things affecting liquor. it is pointed out l by those close 10 legislative affairs, are likely 10 be brought up, only one Of
 which has any kind of an organized back ing so far as can be seen. The prohibi- tion forces are expected to make strong effort to extend the present anti-lquor laws and abolish the sale of near beer.'' The other is a possible fight to repeal the present statewide prohibition laws and substitute therefor a county, town or ward local option statute which will throw open to the licensed sale of liquor those communities where II is desired.
 The dry people, especially the leaders
 in Atlanta, already are sounding the call to arms. and it is practically certain that some measure to mako more drastic the statutes already on the books will be introduced.
 As to the wet side little is known. If there ias been made any plan looking toward opening the question from their standpoint it has not been announced and leaders in the assembly profess ig- | norance- lt Is pointed out that the com- pexion Of the Incoming legislature is not
 known well enough to get line on how
 it would vote, as the liquor question wss not made an issue at the last state eiec-
 ton.
 Look at Alabama i;5a 1 The liquor people look al Alabs ssid which so recently returned 10 a situnts of l making possible the licensed sa1oation in take heart. The opposition is say
 tie. but apparently thinking mucl
 silence and absence of announcemel .;o o definite course of action by the ''wegite are causing some uneasiness among thes ranks of advocates of prohibition. They fear some trick which will take them unawares and possibly sweep aside all they have gained in the past. The matter of a United States senator is causing little stir, and here a rather peculiar situation exists. It is general ly conceded that Governor-elect Hoke Smith, who will be inaugurated this month, will be elected with little oppo- siton. Although he has not announced
 himself a candidate. he is in "recep-
 tive mood" and it is known that for
 years he has had his eye on a seat in
 the national capitol.
 Senator Terrell Is an avowed candidate
 to succeed himself, but is making no strenuous personal campaign. His recent | illness and the calling of a special ses- sion of Congress, which necessitated his presence in Washington, prevented any
 extended speechmaking tours. His friends
 look upon these as unfortunate for him. | The election of a senator will be the
 business during the week of July F and | that over, the way will be clear for the
 expected prohibition fight and other mat | ters which the members are certain to
 have cooked up in large numbers.
 The selection of Governor Smith as sen-
 ator would of course. create vacancy | in the governors chair, which would be occupied by the president of the Senate. | who is required by the constitution to call l a special election within co days to choose another chief executive. John M. Slaton of Atlanta, who was president of the last senate, is more thaa likely to be chosen this year. Tn that case he would be the acting governor.
 | Already there are half a dozen pros- peciive candidates for the office of gov ernor One is Governor Brown himself. | who was defeated by Hoke Smith at the l last election. He has made no formal announcement and his interests are large | ly in the hands of his friends. l John NJ Slaton is another He has long been prominent in state politics, having been speaker of the house be-
 fore going to the senate. He is said to l have a large and especially strong fol- | lowing Thomas Hudson. former commits
 sioner of agriculture, is vet another. His | strength lies principally in south Geor- | gla which has not been represented m 1 the governors mansion in a long time!
 John C. Hart, former attorney general;
 Richard B. Russell and Judge Charles H.
 Brand of Athens are the other possibil-
 tiles.