The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1911-02-01
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
The Liquor Traffic


It strikes me very forcibly that all
members in the legislature who were
elected as democrats on local option
platform (Which was made by dele
gates elected by the people for the pur-
pose of making a platform for the demo-
cratic party are acting in bad faith when
any of them refuses to carry out the will
of the majority of the people who elected
the delegates to the convention which
formulated platform for the representa-
tives to carry out. 1t matters not as
to the individual opinion of any repre-
sentative whose name went on the demo-
cratic ticket and on which he was elect
ed. If his name had not been on the
democratic ticket he could not have been
elected.
Private or public views expressed by
anyone regarding his position on the pro-
kibition question cut no figure. If he
was elected on the democratic ticket it's
his moral obligation to carry out the
platform. If platforms are only made
to get into office on and fool the people,
the sooner they are abolished the better
It will be for the people morally. De-
ception is an imposition and twin brother
to fraud. The people will take notice in
Alabama of how those they elected to
represent them conduct themselves and
will hold them responsible for their acts
OF Misrepresentation.
1t is the duty of the present legislature,
as the majority of them were elected as
democrats on democratic platform, to
pass local option BILL" thereby repeal
ing the statewide law, allowing the peo-
pie of each county to settle their own
local affairs, for self local government,
which is fundamental principle of de-
mocracy as laid down by Thomas Jeffer-
son. the father of democracy
I believe the unit should be the county,
as the officers of the law, judges, juries,
ETC., who are elected by the people of
the county have to deal with the en-
forcement OF the law regulating the pro-
hibition of liquor statutes as the case
might be. The county should not be ig-
nored as to revenues, In case they decide
to regulate the liquor traffic, therefore
as the people outside of the cities are
beneffciaries they should have a voice.
AS a rule the people living outside of
the cities may always be trusted to vote
right on questions of morality and econ
omy We had fair Illustration of this
during the amendment election, and the
history of our state is full of such ex-
amples The cities of Birmingham,
Montgomery and Mobile on down to the
Queen City of the Coosa (Busy Gadsden)
need have no fears of the rural voters
not helping them to solve their troubles,
In Kidding themselves of blind tigers and
q disregard for law and order by them.
l believe 1t is the sentiment of our peo-
pie in Etowah county to give Gadsden
and Alfalfa dispensaries with saloons for
beers and light wines under strict laws
regulating same and especially as to the
character OF drinks dispensed In my
humble judgment this would be much
better than It is under our present state
wide laws, which permit the railroads and
express companies to dispense to any and
everybody regardless of quantity or quail
ity, without any revenue to state, coun-
ty or municipality. Our statewide pro-
hibition laws deny the citizens of the
state the right to do for themselves what
they permit citizens of other states to do
for them.
mitted to manufacture or distill spirits
or liquors. nor are you permitted to deal
In them, but citizens of other states can
manufacture and sell you all you want,
without any revenue to the common
wealth of Alabama. regardless of guam
tity or quality
/ am not prepared to believe that the
voters of Etowah county will stand for
such foolish business proposition when
they are allowed a voice at the polls to
remedy ii. Prohibition is beautiful
theory, it appeals to the conscience and
moral side of life of man, hut for CEN
turtles in all the civilized worlds the
liquor problem has played its part on the
stage of human life, without yet being
solved w. r. PHILLIPS.
Gadsden. January 80, 1911.