The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-08-03
REFERENDUM DATE
RESET FOR Sept 9
Delegation of Liquor Deal
ers Before Commission
WEATHERLY OPPOSES
By Having Election on Thursday the
Saloons Would Have Been Com
PEELED to Close Two Days
in Same Week

Upon the insistent request of the Liquor
Dealers association of this city, the city
commissioners yesterday by vote of
two to one rescinded its former action
setting the referendum election for Au-
gust 20 and reset the election for Sep
TENDER 9. The vote was President Exum
and Judge Lane yes. with Commissioner
Weatherly voting no.
The change in the date was not timex
pccted. because for the past several days
the pressure has been strong for the
change. The application of the saloon
men was made by a committee of the
Law Enforcement league. the spokesman
for whom was DIR. Schulloefer. He
pointed out to the commissioners that it
was useless for him to dwell upon the
heavy fixed expenses of the saloon men
of this city or the net losses which would
be sustained II the election were allowed
to take place on Thursday rather than
OH any Monday. He also called attention
to the county bond election. which is
set for August 12, being next Monday
week. He said that the saloon men would
suffer considerable penalty II the date
remained unchanged and pointed out
other facts for the consideration of the
officials
Committee Present
The committee was composed of Presi-
dent William Wise of the association,
Secretary Riley D. Cronk, Harry Rens-
ford and others. No one made any talk
except the spokesman, and his references
were brief Mr.. Exum spoke immediate
ly after the verbal petition had been
made, saying that he was in favor of any
day for the election personally, but that
he did not think the saloon men should
be compelled to close three days. one OF
which could be saved without any penalty
upon those who oppose the contract. He
accordingly moved that the day be set for
upon agreed with Mr.. Exum and Mr..
weatherly arose to voice his objections.
He said:
Weatherly Statement
II am utterly alone In opposing this
change of date. but personally / shall
vote against it. l am speaking as a cit
izen and commissioner The gentlemen
here ldQ every opportunity VI piOtcSiihS
before August 20 was accepted as the cleo
ton day. The only reason so far as l
am concerned for opposing this change
Is that it will raise a legal question of
which the water company may take ad-
vantage and thus postpone the results.
They may clai mthat as the law pro-
vides the election shall be called forth
with that we exceeded our authority In
resetting the time for the election. On
these grounds shall vote no."
President Exum then asked Captain
Boyd If the election could be legally
changed. The city attorney replied in the
affirmative, and added that G. r. Harsh.
one of the contract opponents. had agreed
with him that the day could be changed
If the commission SO desired. Judge Lane
pointed out then that he had implicit
faith In the opinion of Captain Boyd, the
city attorney, and also Mr.. Harsh, and
felt that the action was in perfect line
With the law.
Upon a motion TO secure unanimous
consent for reconsideration of the refer
endum election the vote was: Ayes.
Exum Lane and Weatherly. On the
proposition of changing the date from Au-
gust 20 to September 8 the vote was:
Ayes, Exum and Lane; no, Weatherly.
On the vote to set the day for September
8 the vote was: Ayes, Exum Lane and
Weatherly. Mr.. Weatherly voted in the
negative only on the changing of the date
and not on the details.
The referendum committee headed by
Robert n. Bell declined to appear and re-
sist the movement of the saloon men on
the ground that the matter was entirely
with the commission and also the only
proposition they were fighting was the
water contract.