The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-07

A petition containing the names of at least $500 qualified voters of Jefferson county was filed yesterday afternoon in the office of the probate court by Jones G.. Moore, chairman of the local option campaign committee. The petition con tains over 5000 names and was signed by voters from every precinct and hamlet in the county.
 The list has been gone over carefully by the campaign committee and after check ing it up it was decided to file the peti- tion.
 Accompanying MT Moore when he pre- sented the petition to Judge Stiles was Secretary J. Fred Staley and a number of the campaign committee among whom were Eugene Brown, Walter B. Fowlkes, Tom c. McDonald, F. P. Glass, Sr., John w. Altman, Victor H. Hanson, J R. Brown, w. B. Hillhouse, Marcus Veil w. A. Gibson, K A Konville and others.
 Among the spectators present was c. P Beddow, chairman of the prohibition committee.
 The proceeding was marked by busi- nes like brevity and consumed but few minutes.
 Judge Stiles in receiving the petition from the hands of MT. Moore stated that he would comply strictly with the law relating to the petition and would, or would not, call the election, according to his findings.
 MT. Moore, I am governed entirely by the law in the natter said Judge Stiles. T shall give this list my close and care full attention If I find it contains the required number of qualified voters l shall call an election If not the petition will be rejected"
 In presenting the petition to Judge Stiles, Chairman Moore said: ''I have the honor of filing with you petition signed by qualified voters of the county asking you to call an election for the purpose Of voting for against the open sale or whisky I present the petition knowing you will give fair and prompt attention"
 The document filed with Judge Stiles N- names of qualified electors of Jefferson than any petition for any cause ever filed with the probate judge. It contains the names of men prominent in every walk of life, and from every part of the county. That the local option committee were sure of it's ground in filing the petition Is eVl- denced by the fact that the members abandoned looking up the records of the signers that have been pouring in during the past week. Up to that time all the names had been carefully and systemati- cally checked. m The exact date of the election VIII De governed by the length of time Judge Stiles consumes in checking the petition. On this point he stated he would be as expeditious as the circumstances would permit, but that he would examine the record of each individual signer If 1t took the entire 30 days allowed by law. How aver it is mt lielievad hv the hlars or the petition that more than 10 days VIII be necessary owing to the systematic manner in which the petition has been prepared for presentation.
 When the probate judge decides that
 
 there is a sufficient number of names he is required py Jaw to call an election within 40 days from the date he declares the petition sufficient. The election must be advertised not less than 20 days prior to its date.
 Allowing 10 days for the probate judge to examine the petition and 20 days as the minimum time to call the election, the date of such election would be 90 days from the date of filing and could be less. On the other hand, should the probate judge take 30 days to examine the petition and call the election in the maximum time of 40 days, the election would be held 70 days from yesterday.
 However, the date of election is with these limitations, in the hands of the pro bate judge, and the local optionsts as- sert they are ready for the fray at any time the judge may set. And not only that. while confident of victory they are prepared for an aggressive campaign and to that end strong campaign committee is being selected and will be announced at an early date. Every section of the county will be represented and by men from every station and walk in life.