The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-08-24
Weakley, Upshaw and Others Urge Voters to
 Keep Out Saloons
WEAKLEY SEVERE IN
 PLAYING SMITH ACT
Burr and Rice Make Short Talks and Large Crowd Did Not Leave Thease Till After
 Il O'Clock

Capt Richmond P. Hobson closed the campaign of the prohibitionists in the local option fight at the mass meeting last night in the Bijou. The audience had already sat through three hours of spech making before Captain Hob senss arrival at 1O:5O from North Bir- mingham, where he had been address ing the voters, but they were still eager to hear him, and his appearance on the platform was the signal for tre- mendous and long continued applause.
 Captain Hobson spoke only 10 min utes, prefacing his remarks with the statement that there was no further argument in the case to be made by him. Tt Is uppermost in my mind to say, however" said he, that you people of Jefferson county have fought good fight. I have seen many politi- cal fights but this battle, beginning es 1t did with the odds against you, and being continued until now you have reached the strength of certain victory, is. In my mind, the greatest political fight of my day"
 The speaker urged his hearers to put their full strength into the supreme moment of the battle the climax, and to be on the firing line during the moment today. In conclusion Captain Hobson thanked the people with whom he has fought for the opportunity they had given him of taking part in the conflict against the saloons.
 At the opening of the meeting at 3, o'clock Vice Chairman Borden Burr took the floor. He referred tog the chairman of the prohibition forces as away 'slaughtering the innocents.'
 This is the last call to arms,' said MT. Burr, and I am going to make last call for contributions to put tho blind tiger out of bushes. The whrl- winders of1-the opposition have mis- taken the call os their chief for the summons of the voters They have con. ceived the idea that because the farm CTS voted against the constitutional amendment. they are going to vote for the return of the saloons to this coun- ty. But they will find tomorrow that the farmers will vote solidly with the city against the domination of .sliqucr." MT Burr at this point turned 9fthe meeting over to Secretary Rce saying that his presence was needed to 8duTtSS HtHe oNtIiioW dl lHe JclHt ue- bate.
 { Judge Samuel D. Weakley was called upon by Mir. Rice to take the floor end Judge Weakley spoke hour and 25 minutes. the bulk of his address be- ing taken up with a condemnation of the Smith bill "Thc opposition leaders have published a list of citizens who say that the Smith bill is the best liquor Legislation that the state of Alabama has ever had" he said. .I want to state on my reputation as a lawyer that 1t is the weakest liquor regula ation law now in existence in the United States, snd that it is weaker than any regula- ton law Alabama has had in 35 years.n Judge Weakley included in his indict- ment of the Smith bill i've counts. He said that it had done away with the former requirement. that the applicant for license to sell liquor must be reputable citizen; that under this law 1t is not required that the applicant be a voter; that the Smith bill makes no requirements as to citizenship of incor- porators of. or state of incorporation of, corporation to which license is to be granted; that this law does not retain the salutary provision of former regulations about closing saloons on election days. that it takes the bridle off of the wholesaler in the ma tier of the minimum quantity of liauor he may sell.
 Judge Weakley scoffed at the idea that there would be any enforcement of the regulations laid down in the bill. Al the close of his speech he congrat- y11a cd of tio, forces on their faultless campaign and the manner in which it had been con- ducted.
 MT. Rice followed Judge Weakley. So confident of victory in today's election was he that he said; q now engage the band to go through the streets of Bir- mingham tomorrow night about o'clock and play the funeral march of John Barleycorn." MT Rice spoke at sooe length in a congratula tory strain. with full predictions of the coming vic- tory, until Will D. Upshaw, the "Geor- gia Cyclone" arrived and took the floor amid the shouts of the audience.
 But MT. Upshaw was not ready to speak, saying that he had just finished speaking at North Birmingham in an effort to hold the crowd there until Captain Hobson should arrive, and that while he was catching his breath, he would call on Charles c. Brown. MT. Brown praised the characters of all the leaders of the prohibition side of the fight, being particularly profuse in his commentators of Captain Hobson and of Judge Weakley.
 MT. Upshaw followed Mir. Brown in characteristic discourse. He reviewed the history of his own life. and of his opposition to the saloon.' He stated that the prohibitionist's case was that he 'loved the saloonist too much to allow him to go back to the business of sell Ing whisky, and loved the boys and girls too much to allow the sale of 1t to be resumed" He concluded his re- marks by calling upon the voters to go to the poles on tomorrow and cast your votes for God. for home and for native land"
 MT. Upshaw's address waA the last of the evening except Captain Hobsons, which brought the meeting to close.
 Ambassador Bryce May Attend