The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-10


 The doctors are very secretive in their maneuvers and decline to make statements.
 
 1 said that he did not intend to betray the trusts which the people of his county had imposed on him.
 MT. Pitts rose when Mr. Mulkey took his seat and said he wished to reply to some of the remarks which had been made in reference to him. The Dallas representative reiterated his belief that the members of the house should stand by the party platform.
 Percy's Attitude
 Representative Walker Percy, who fol- | lowed MT. Pitts, said "The gentleman who has just preceded me is not voting Tor the return of the saloon. but he is | voting for method whereby the saloon i can be returned" He thereupon outlined his position as one depending upon his promises to his direct constituents and not first of all to the party platform. He sad that the matter of individual con- science was one that should enter into | consideration as well as others.
 T have been impressed said MT. Per l cy. with the high character of the ad- dresses which have been made on this | question
 T have the greatest respect" con- tinued MT. Percy, for all prohibition ists Personally, however, I'm not a lprohib1tionist; all my friends know it. believe that prohibition in the cities of Birmingham, Mobile and Montgom- cry Is failure. It Is fact that whis- ky is being sold in these cities At first l wanted to see prohibition fairly tried. But it was a dream. The trial was not fair. I feel that if pro- hibition could not succeed under the ad- | o man of the highest ideals. 1t could not succeed under any conditions. I can't see how another four years atrial will do any good in Birmingham.
 The trouble Is deeper rooted than the men who are enforcing the law. Sentiment of community is matter that enters greatly into every enforce ment of the law. It was told me some time ago that if I waited for the cleo ton of a new chief of police I would see better regard for the laws. But l I can't see it.
 T opposed the statewide amendment because 1 thought it was a crude in- strument to. be written into the or ganic law Of the state. But I did not oppose 1t because I feared that homes would be entered.
 | 'I was impressed at the inaugura- ton of the present governor when that large crowd of spectators when wild
 
 now say that If we are not careful in our steps the present executive will re- tire from office on the occasion of the jubilee for the next governor that will be much more pronounced than was the recent celebration" l MT. Percy reiterated his statement made to the temperance committees: When I told them" yhe said. that I believed the legalzedS sale of whisky to be the best way of handling an evil. Even then with restrictions l The speaker stated that improve ment could be made only by dispen- sary or by high license. When they told me that 132 saloons would be put | in Birmingham" Mr. Percy said, T told I the temperance committee that they could put me down as prohibitionist.' Did you ever prepare a bill which i'm cludes your views?" inquired MT. Smith.
 "No," answered MT. Percy "but the reason l did not do so was because l got 0 very frigid reception when l let my views known" t< 1 MT. Percy then said In response to another question from MT Smith, that while he had been invited to all of the meetings of the temperance committee, he had not been requested to attend the private conferences. The speaker was l frequently interrupted in the course of his remarks.
 | "As far as I can learn" concluded MT. Percy "the rural districts are in favor of either dispensaries or prohi- bition. It is strong argument with me. It is significant that the counties do not want the return of the saloons. T believe" he added, that the ma l jority of the people in Birmingham are | in favor of dispensary. 1 believe, more over, that we ought to have an election to determine this point. But I'm not in favor of voting in favor of bill to this end without knowing what the regula- l tions are to be. I must know where this step Is going to lead me. And the dis pensary has this advantage: Under it the l liquor traffic does not wield powerful | influence. Moreover, it is easy to get rid | of the dispensary. / If you are going to have high license, I want the number of saloons very much | restricted.
 'I am going to vote against the Parks | bill unless I know what the regulation | feature Is going to be-" Democratic Speech | Representative Jenkins of Baldwin county said that man cannot go in one direction and come out at another direc- ton. The speaker complmented Judge | E. B. Almon, speaker of the house, by saying that the speech made by him when he was inducted into office was | one of the ''grandest democratic ad- dresses which he had ever heard | Mr. Jenkins said that the state was | getting tired of Brooks Lawrence. He | paid his respects to The Citizen. organ of the Anti-Saloon league. which, he said was weekly insulting the common wealth. Charlie Lewis, he said, was nightmare which was weighing heavily | on MT. Lawrence's mind
 '.If you fail to pass this bill" declared MT Jenkens, you will invite to Ala bama the administration of another party l the republican"
 | Representative Pegram of Marengo county said that he would yield to no man in allegiance to the democratic party.
 l Yield to No Man | MT Pegram paid compliment to for mer Governor Conner, who, he said, had earnestly and. conscientiously endeavor@d | to enforce the prohibition laws. Tt failed I of enforcement" he said, 'becs use state wide prohibition Is theory-a beautiful dream-that will not and cannot come
 The, oher said that when 1t came to a matt4f of choice he had right to | make up his mind in accordance with the | wishes of the voters of the state; next in accordance with the provisions of the | platform. MT Pegram said that before he could vote for the Parks measure he would have to be certain that regulations were included which would restrict such liberal sale.
 | stand by Platform