The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-01

l decisions expected to be handed down by the supreme court of the United States. There will probably be a hesitancy as l long as these important matters are un- settled, but when policies are made known and court decisions handed down, it mat ters not what particular interests are ben efited or injured. there is going to be a general revival With the tremendous trade balance that now exists in favor of this country, and in favor of the south | in particular, with it's enormous corn crop and its billion dollar cotton crop. re- newed activity is both logical and in- evitable'
 For the Sake of Real Temperance q was one of those who voted the sa- looms out of Jefferson county when we had a 'wet-or-dry' election in 1907 under the local option law. and would never be willing to see the retail liquor traffic restored along the old lines which made the dives possible said a prominent member of the Chamber of Commerce. ''But like the business men of Birming- | ham in general, I want to see the pres | ent drastic statewide prohibition laws repealed or modified, so that liquor might be sold by dispensary or under high li- cense and strict regulation In such cities and towns as demand it. When I voted dry three years ago I did it on the theory that the liquor traffic in Birming- ham needed curbing, and that the best way to do it was to vote it all out and start over again.
 l Tn view of the miserable failure of prohibition and the hypocracy and law lessness that has resulted, it should be plain to every man of common sense that such severe sumptuary laws as were | fastened upon the entire state meant lit- | tie or nothing for moral progress. The orists and professional agitators might | talk from now until doom's day about the ultimate good of statewide prohibi- ton, but they would convince no con- servative thinker. The enactments we have are wrong in principle and are di- rectly hurtful to some of the best in- terests of Alabama.
 'I am no politician and have no idea l how the new legislature stands on the question of saloon or no saloon, but | take 1t for granted that our lawmakers will act like men and not like children; that they will provide for vineyardists | turning their grapes into wine If they see fit and for the encouragement of the | brewery industry so that large percent age of the money now sent out of the state for beer may be left in circuln- ton at home. Beer that is in most de- mand nowadays contains very little alco- | hol--less than per cent, am told--and | that being so 1t is to all extent and pur- poses soft drink. It behooves all sane temperance people. therefore. to promote the beer trade and put the screws on John Barley Corn. But above all things. let the new legislature do something to offset the i'll effects. moral and com mercial, of the rabid Fuller law" 1 Different Modes of Celebrating l There is a marked differences in the mode of celebrating the Christmas and New Years holiday in the northern and southern states" said man who has travelled extensively.
 "The noise that predominates in the south on Christmas eve is delayed in the north until the advent of the new year and then pandemonium fairly breaks loose. do not recall a noisier Christmas eve than that celebarted in Birmingham last week, nor a bigger crowd. Yet large as was the crowd. and terrific as was the din, the rev elers were in the main good natured and well behaved. sss.g,
 Tn the northern states Christmas is celebrated quietly but,as a rule they make up for it on the night before the New Year.
 T was in one of the large, towns in England q few years ago during the holiday season. On New Years eve every brass band in the city-there must have been at least 3o-assem- bled on the town hall square and un- der one leader united in playing Hail Smiling Morn." Just as the clock in the town hall tower chimed the last stroke of the hour of 12 the bands started to play, the. vast multitude as- sembled cheering the performers to. the echo at the conclusion of the selection which was excellently rendered. It was quite an inspiring scene and made a decided impression on mo as being q very sensible way of ushering in the new year."
 Praise for the Census Director 7
 T believe 1t is generally said in Wash inston that Cenaus Director. Durand has handled his difficult job well.s' said P. " snowden of the national capital. while he has not pleased every body he l seamS to have satisffed the vast ma jority. air
 T took much interest in the census of 1900. when was living in western state. and have taken even more interest in the