The Washington times., 1915-07-01
STATE OF ALABAMA
BEGINS PROHIBITION
Most Drastic of All Anti-Liquor
Laws In Effect In Southern
Commonwealth.

ATLANTA, July 2--Alabama has en-
tered the prohibition ranks with the
most drastic anti-liquor law adopted by
any State. This Is the second prohibi-
tion law for Alabama in the last ten
years. the first one failing and being
repealed, 1t is asserted. because II
proved ineffective. The present law was
designed to overcome the defects Of the
other. and In 1t is embodied practically
every prohibitive clause to be found IN
the various laws Of other dry States.
This law. after being drafted so as to
include all these prohibitive clauses, was
carefully gone over by legal experts,
who made every change thought neces-
ssry to assure that 1t would be upheld
in all the courts. The amendments
these lawyers voted for were embodied
in the bill before 1t was presented to the
legislature.
The law prohibits the sale of liquor or
beer In Alabama. or anything that looks
like liquor or beer and has Intoxicating
effects. In order to protect the State
against beer in any form, the law spe-
officially prohibits the sale Of anything
that looks like beer. smells like beer
or is intended to take the place of beer.
The law provides that in a mans
home mot a hotel or boarding house,
only quart Of liquor can be kept at
time and six dozen bottles Of beer; that
the railroad companies or express COM
panies cannot bring to any man or
woman in Alabama more than two
quarts Of liquor per month from outside
the State. and not more than twelve
dozen bottles of beer a month. The law
also prohibits the sale In Alabama Of
any newspaper carrying whisky or
beer advertising. This does not apply
where q newspaper from outside the
State sends its paper direct to the sub
scriber.
That part Of the law relative to limit
ing the shipments of intoxicants and pro-
htbiting the sale of newspaper with
whisky advertisement went into effect
two months ago, together with several
other regulations. The full law became
erective with the estoppel of all traf-
fic in intoxicants. The last named
restriction was not made effective be-
fore in order to give those in the busi-
ness time to get rid of their stocks and
fixtures and to adjust themselves to the
new conditions.
1t seems to be settled that the law will
stand the test in the higher courts. AL
ready newspapers have been prosecuted,
and the law has stood. Saloons and
wholesale dealers were prosecuted for
allowing signs upon their buildings and
were convicted. and the convictions
stood through the higher courts.
In several other prohibition States It
Is possible for members to buy intoxi-
cants in their clubs, or at least for the
the members have made the purchase
The Alabama law allows no club. firm
or other subterfuge to sell. give away
or have in hand any intoxicants beyond
the limit set out for individuals.
The liquor dealers themselves seem
confident that there can be no VIOLA
tions without serious trouble. and, as
far as can be learned. Alabama is going
to be dry State. in fact as we'll as
in name. The Law and Order League
and the Anti-saloon League will active
ly cooperate with the police and court
officials to arrest, prosecute, and punish
all offenders
The law will be further strengthened
at the approaching session Of the Legis
lature II the prohibitionists succeed In
having passed an "ouster law now be-
ing drawn UP by their lawyers.
This drastic law will provide that. upon
the petition of a certain number of citi-
gems. removal proceedings may be
brought against any State, county or
city executive who has failed to enforce
the law. No details as to the number
Of signatures required for such proceed
ings are available, but 1t Is said that
the number will not be more than so.