The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-26
Many Sincere Prohibition ists Are Satisfied With
 Local Option
FEAR ACITATTONS
 WILL HURT CAUSE
Indications Are That Senate Will Be Willing to Throw State Into Another Period of
 Turmoil
Fly HUGH W. ROBERTS

Professional agtators who agitate at so much per diem may be disappointed. or rejoiced, in the outcome of their present scheme of making Alabama "dry."
 In the next session of the legislature the agitators will endeavor. whether sincerely or insincerely, to enact a statewide prohibition bill. They con- tend at the present time. that they are in control of both houses. The indi- cations are that they will be up against a very stiff proposition.
 In the first place, there will be a governor in the chair who of his own volition would let the "liquor' ques- tion be, In the second place. instead of an overwhelming majority in the sen ate favoring statewide prohibition there is every indication at the present time that a majority will express itself in favor of letting the situation remain as it is.
 The majority of people in Alabama are dry" local optionists. This ma iority may be depended upon to keep every rural county of the state free from the sale of intoxicants But this majority is not fanatical enough to agitate continually a question in the agitation of which they have nothing to gain and very much to lose
 Prohibition Now Supreme
 The professional politician in the pro- hibition camp is the greatest handicap the prohibition movement labors un- der The professional politician who agitates because in agitation he reaps harvest of money makes prohibition the issue in every contest For in- stance, he insisted that the prohibition ists of Alabama declared war against Oscar W. Underwood. He is the type of extremist upon whom rests the re- sponsibility for the prohibition amend ment campaign of 1909
 The sane prohibitionst realizes that in Alabama at the present time are 50 dry counties. In these 60 counties pro- hibition is upheld by the strongest law that man can write-law which puts the burden of proof on the ac- rused. National anti-shipping statutes prevent the shipment of intoxicants into these 60 counties. And the prohi- bitonst can further console himself in the thought that every four years he has a chance of making the seven wet counties dry" counties through the operation of local option primaries
 This is the situation In Alabama The average prohibtionst has reached the stage whereon he thinks for himself The asitator is beginning to lose his spell. The average prohibitionist realizes that from his viewpoint Alabama Is in excel lent shape, and that as soon as he goes to extremes, goes to extremes in answer to the eXhoTtation of the professional eX- horter, he carries his cause into jeopardy. The amendment campaign is recalled. The late senatorial campaign, made vicious through the interference of so-called up lifters'' and fake reformers, IS another instance.
 Further Agitation Dangerous
 From the present outlook the agitators will have a very difficult job in passing q statewide prohibition Dill through the senate It will require sne bull whip of governor, and neither of the men who have an opportunity to be governor will According to what they have said and intimated, desire to use that whip.
 Should the agitators, fn desperation, submit prohibition to the people of the state as a whole, it would fa defeated this despite the fact that through the operation of local option Alabama will remain in greater part dry for many years to come. But the people ore tired of constant political agitation, and they know that time fo: rest and nope of prosperity will come only when the a gi- tator is snubbed and completely sub dued.
 The liquor question is settled in Ala hama, according to indications. The pro Shibitionist has settled ft. He remembers the story of the dog who. in springing for shadow droppen the meat which he held in his teeth. He is applying common sense to the sit1ation, and fur ther spread of prohibition in Alabama will be the result of voluntary action on the part of the peop,, of the counties concerned