The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-01-13
FORECAST OF PLANS
OF PROHIBITIONISTS
ENTIRELY ACCURATE
Little Opposition Is Offered
by Local Optionists as the
Steam Roller Tactics Car
ry Anti-LiquOr Forces
to Great Victory
by HUGH w. ROBERTS


Montgomery. January 13.-(speciai.D }
The prohibitionists, as had been fore
cast. scored slgnalIy this morning.
A. II. Carmichael. by n vote of n 10 70.
defeated Ed Johnston, administration n
candidate. for speaker of the house.
Thomas l.. Bulger. prohibition candi-
date for president pro tempore of the
senate, won In the democratic caucus
without opposition. his opponent. Oscar
Lewis. falling to appear ON the scene.
The senate. when in session, adopted n
resolution proposed by John A.. Iusk OF
NIarshaII, wAick xsve to the laestensnt I
governsr-elcct the right 20 nanae stand !
ing committees.
And before adjournment for lunch
con was ordered, prohibition bills were
before the house. Henry p Merritt
OF Macon. chairman of the temperance
committee, and floor leader of the pro-
hibition forces. introduced the meas
ures. 1t is the intention of the prohi-
bitionists to put these mea sures
through both houses within the next
few days.
1t remains to be seen, of course.
whether or not in this respect they
will be successful. At the present time.
the indications are that they will
The Prohibition Legislature
What The ge-Herald has printed
regarding the plans of the prohibition
lists and the provisions of their Ills
has been remarkably accurate The
measures introduced this morning by
Mr.. Merritt provide for the resuscita-
tion of the Carmichael and the Fuller
prohibition bills, drastic measures
passed during the administration of ex-
Governor s. B. Conner and the repeal
Of all laws in conflict. If the meas
ures of Merritt prevail therefore, the
Smith and Parks local option bills, en-
acted during the administration of the
present chief executive, will be deprived
of life and entity.
There are very few people in the
state vino are without general knuwl-
edge of the Carmichael and Fuller bills.
These measures led up to, as is re-
membered. the fight for and against the
proposed prohibition amendment to the
constitution. They are regarded as
being very stringent. aiming AS they
do not only against the licensed saloon,
not only against whisky. but against
social clubs. light wines and beers
alike. These measures, when consid-
cred in connection with the Webb anti
shipping bill. WILL the prohibitionists
believe. make prohibition effective in
Alabama, as effective as 1t is in Russia,
where the Car stands ready to enforce
his ukases at the point of the bayo-
net.
AS indicated in The Age-Herald Of
this morning, tho proposed prohibition
legislation is intended to be effective
April l.. .
The Houses Organized
Comparatively little interest was at
tached to the victory of the prohi-
bitionists in carrying to a successful
conclusion their plans to organize the
lower branch of the legislature. Their
victory was scored SO easily that there
seemed little excuse for the rather
hoisterous yell which some of them
emitted when Carmichael was declared
1t was, as a matter Of fact, slaugh-
ter. The roll was called The local
optionists. in q pitiable minority, stood
by their guns. They responded and
awaited with knowledge of what was
to come, the overwhelming charge Of
the militant majority.
In the senate, however, while the
prohibition victory was equally as en-
phatic, 1t was attended by more inter-
esting circumstances. When the eau
Gus was called to order. it was noted
shat Senator Lewis. candidate for pres
ident pro tempore of the senate. to-
rether with five or six of his sup
rorters, was not present. This called
for a short recess. When at the con-
clusion of the recess, the local OPP
tionists had not appeared on the scene,
the steam roller was put into opera
ton. Mr. Bulger was nominated and
unanimously elected president pro
tempore Clerks. assistant clerks and
pages were elected. And then the eau
Gus was adjourned.
Senator Judge Criticixes
When the Senate was called to order by
Lieutenant Governor Seed, the local op-
tionists were in their seats. when the