The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-08-13
Thinks Blind Tigers Will Continue To Make Sneaks Under the Dispensary
 System
HAS THE HIGHEST
 RESPECT FOR VIEWS
 OF PROHIBITIONISTS
Cites Figures To Show How Vigorous Has Been the Attempt To Drive the Blind Tigers Out of the City of
 Birmingham

Birmingham, former judge of the circuit court of Jefferson county, and now com missioner of public justice in Birming ham yesterday issued a statement an- nouncng that he will vote for licensed saloons and giving his reasons for taking this position.
 A statement of this kind coming from Judge Lane will have unusual weight because of the high esteem In Which he is held all over Alabama. He has been prominently known for years for his fear lessness. fairness and firmness in dealing with public questions and when Governor O'Neal announced his appointment as one of the commissioners of Birming- ham. the choice received unanimous ap- proval from prohibitionists and anti-pro- hibitionists alike.
 Judge Lane cites figures to show that everything possible has been done to sup press blind tigers in Birmingham with but poor success, and adds that blind tigers are converting many of our young men into sneaks, undermining our social or ganism, and entailing heavy expense upon our city, county and state.' The statement in full reads as follows:
 Statement in Full
 "To the People of Greater Birmingham: :
 Nothing but sense of duty would induce me to write you this letter. We are confronted with a political and so- biological problem of grave importance which must be settled this month. It ought to be considered In calm, ra- tional, conservative manner, but It can not be. It is utterly incomprehensible to me that prohibition-a question of tenn perance-inflames the passions of men beyond any other issue, although any thoughtful man must know that the wis., dom of prohibition is debatable even among the best thinkers and truest pa- triots Jefferson Davis and Abraham Lincoln, both brainy, thoughtful and patriotic statesmen, always held that prohibition does not prohibit while equally able and patriotic men took the other view. Then why should the dis cusson of this issue be attended with aermony anger, abuse and rancor?
 T have studied sociological questions from my youth up, and I have had large experience in municipal affairs. It is SA debate, to deny what the records of the courts unmistakably show Since the commission took charge of this city (April 10, 191D, there have been 1066 ar rests for violation of the prohibition laws, and of that number 66S were con- victed Of the 66S convicted, 559 appealed, leaving only 1O9 to pay fines In money or labor. During a whole week In the criminal court, before judge and jury, in last June the entire docket consist ing of prohibition cases alone, there was not a single conviction. All who were tried went Scot free except two. and these two got mistrials. It is stated, l learn, that the evidence was not worked up. This is a mistake. I detailed two officers two weeks before the time set for these cases, and placed them at the absolute disposal of Solicitor Joseph k. Tate, an able and conscientious officer, who himself selected said officers to aid him in working up the testimony
 Ten Special Officers
 T have had ten patrolmen whose sole duty has been to run down blind tigers, and believe they have done faithful and efficient work, and the records show this to be true. For the four months here inaboye referred to, it has cost the city about $30 a day, 800 per month. or SlosW Ter annum, less the inconsiderable fines collected. True it is that the evil has been much diminished, but not suppressed, and my judgment Is that it cannot be wholly suppressed under existing condl- tions. That the blind tiger Is an evil TO thoughtful man will deny It is con verting many of our young men into sneaks, undermining our social organism, and entailing heavy expense upon our city, county and state.
 "I am informed that there are suffi- cient prohibition cases on the criminal docket now to occupy both divisions Of that court one-half the next term, which lasts nine months if said cases be tried, and those emanating from the recorders laa tsial laSs