The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-16
HUGE EPET|T|ONFOR | REFERENDUM ON PROHIBITION ISSUE Movement Launched to Have Them Signed at Once by
 Voters of State MEETING HERE TO
 ACT ON SUBJECT Petition Is First Against Statewide Bill and Second That It Be
 Submitted to Voters of State

A campaign to secure 10000 names to a petition to the legislature to submit the question of prohibition to the peo- pie was launched yesterday at meet ing of prominent citizens held at the Tutwiler hotel.
 The meeting appointed a committee of five to appoint committees by blocks to secure names up to 10000 by Tuesday morning All over the state it was made known at the meeting the same kind of petition is to be circulated in an effort to get as many voters as possible to re- quest a referendum on the question.
 At the meeting yesterday it was made plain that Governor O'Neal will not tam per with the situation, one way or the other. He will leave the bill which will be sent to him today at noon for Cover nor Henderson to consider. Governor Henderson will, it was stated send the bill back to the two houses with an amendment that it be submitted to the people of Alabama This amendment, if backed up with 5o.00O names on a peti- ton will, it is believed, give some of those members of the senate courage to face the issue as democrats and permit the people to pass upon the situation.
 May Make Some Charges
 Statements made at the meeting yes- terday were to the effect that the liquor men in this state had been grievously misled about the situation. It was hint ed at the meeting that some interesting features would develop in connection with the information given by liquor men and that some direct charges would be made
 As for the petition, it was stated yes- terday that it was hoped that the sigma lures would be secured within 72 hours and that they would be sent to the leg islature to accompany the amendment of Governor Henderson next Thursday. Over 100 petitions have been sent out and the men here interested in the situation are working like trojans to get the names down to Montgomery. The speakers at the meeting yesterday were all of the opinion that the great petition was about the only hope which is left for the local optionists.
 Text of Petition
 After the committee of citizens had de- liberated at length upon the programme to be carried out it was finally deter mined to request newspapers to print the heading of the petition being circulated so that those interested may sign and mail the blank to Maj. w. B. Leedy of this city for immediate transmission to W. c. Agee and others.
 The petition follows
 PETITION TO THE LEGISLATURE FROM JEFFERSON COUNTY. ITO the Legislature of Alabama: "We, the undersigned citizens and tax payers of the state of Alabama do here- by most earnestly petition your honorable body not to enact statewide prohibition law. We ask this from you as our rep resentatives, in view of the fact that statewide prohibition has been decisively defeated in every general election held in Alabama, in which the question was an open issue.
 eff for any reason you will not grant this reasonable petition, then we urge upon you to submit this law to vote of the people of Alabama for adoption or rejection.
 NAME ........................ ADDhESS ...............s.........