The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-17
PEOPLE BETRAYED
 BY PROHIBITIONISTS
 DECLARES GOVERNOR
(COntinued from Page One)

bama, now in session. has OVerthrown,
 to the extent of it's power, this cardinal principle of the party which it represents
 IL has accomplished this result by passing
 bills known as the Merritt bills, which imposes statewide prohibition upon the people of this state without their consent and in the most drastic form. The legal effect of these bills is to repeal the right of local option now possessed by the va
 rlous counties of this state. These bills
 must be presented to the governor of
 the state for his approval amendment or veto. In the event they reach the
 executive office before the inauguration
 of my successor. I will decline to pass upon them and leave that important duty
 to him. 1 will adopt this course because
 the attempted enforcement and the eco
 homie effect of these bills, if they be-
 come laws, will vtally affect the whole
 of his administration. I will leave the
 performance of this executive duty to MT. Henderson with the full assurance
 that he will, in dealing with them. up- hold the tenets of the party-remain loyal
 to the platform upon which he was elect
 ed and firmly uphold the principle of local option.
 Own Position Known
 My own position upon the question of local option is known of all men and un- necessary to repeat. l cannot. however, refrain from addressing myself. in this
 grave conjuncture. to that supreme ar
 bitter of the policies of this sovereign state-to the people who are the source | of all political power and to whom un- faithful and selfish politicians must soon render a full accounting.
 | l am abount to return to you the high commission with which you have honored me. and it is proper that I should to the very end of my term of office en- deavor faithfully to surbserve your in- terests and maintain your rights. The bills in question tagrantly viola te a plainly and definitely expressed prin-
 ciple of party law; they constitute a breech of the political contract entered | into between members of the legislature who are responsible for them, elected as | democrats, and their democratic constit- 1 uents; and more than this, inspired by l fanatical zeal and partisan bias, they 1 ruthlessly sacrifice a cherished principle 1 from which chiefly springs the political
 freedom and the civil liberties of the English speaking peoples.
 That the bills in question are in con l f1'ct with the party law cannot be de- nied The democracy of Alabama in 1 convention assembled is the only au-
 thority which can assume to formulate l principles of democratic faith. That | democracy in the convention assem- olet, 1 in 1906. adhered to a fixed and car 1 dInal article of the democratic creed 1 when it then and there committed it. self by an express declaration to tine i r. inciple of local option and at the 1 same time ratified your selection of l ex Governor Conner as your chief ex- | ecutive
 | The convention of 1910 while declar- | 'ng itself as all good men are, to be 1 in favor of temperance and sobriety,
 deplored the legislative attempt which 1 had then been defeated to disregard l the principle of local option.
 ForsOOk Doctrine
 | After the convention of 1908 M'. Co., 1 r,er, who along with the legislature of l tl.at year was elected upon the plat 1 form declaring in favor of local option | forsooll the doctrines of the party ano
 seduced by the foreign votaries of diff fereut gods, abandoned the faith ol the fathers. fastened upon this state against the will of the people a pro
 hibition law and vainly sought to in corporate the same into the organic l law of the state. The indignation O. l the democratic electorate expressed if self with the utmost emphasis at th' first opportunity. The proposed amend ! lnent to the constitution was over | whelmiRgly repudiated, receiving ma iority in only five counties of the state | One of the leading advocates of tn
 proposed constitutional amendment wa | subse .iu ently a candidate for Soverno of Alabama. and though in persona | character and in every qualification de
 n,anded by that high office stahdinl high among the people of thes state
 the people again registered their in
 tense disa pproval of an unwarrante
 interference with their rights and he too met the same verdict.
 | The Legislature which you then elect ; ed with me restored to you the fiber ties of which you had been deprive and re-enacted into the laws of Ala bama the principle of local self-govern ment
 As the next gubernatorial and iegis , lative election approached the variou
 candidates for governor were well un cerstood by you in their attitude to , ward local option and in electing MI