Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-22
ATLANTA'SGREAT FIGHT.
A REVIEW OF THE CAMPAIGN
NOW ABOUT TO CLOSE.

Birth and Growth of the Temperance
Sentiment in tho Counties and Small
Towns OF the State-The War Carried
into the Strongh0lds of the whisky
SINGERS.
ATLANTA, Nov. 2l.--On Wednesday
next will close the most remarkable local
contest ever carried on in any Southern
city, when Atlanta will decide whether
the sale of liquor shall be prohibited or
not. For ten years the temperance agita-
tion has been carried on in Georgia,
which has SO far succeeded that now out
of 137 counties Of Georgia the sale OF
liquor is only allowed In fifteen. These
fifteen counties are the seats of the large
cities, where the liquor element has large
property interests at stake.
THE LAWS INVOLVED.
The principle by which the agitation
was carried on is known as that of local
option. 1t has been broached in each
community as moral and police meas
ure, thus meeting the support OF both po-
litical parties, both colors, aud the entire
moral element of society. 1t was not un-
I'll the movement reached the cities where
large property interests were at stake
that any serious opposition was met.
These local option elections were held
under special acts Of the Legislature.
IN THE LARGE CITIES.
Tho business interests OF the large
cities was always strong enough TO pre-
vent the passage Of such local option acts
so far as they were themselves concerned,
hence the Legislature passed general
local option bill, under which the Ordi-
naries of the counties were required TO
order elections upon petition Of a
given number OF citizens. The first city
to which this was applied was Atlanta.
An election on the question was ordered
by Ordinary Calhoun on petition OF $500
voters 10 take place Nov. 20. Then begun
the canvass which has since developed
most remarkable features.
THE HEAVY REGISTRY.
The highest vote ever cast even in a
presidential year WAS little over 5000.
The registration in this election has run
up 10 5000. The prohIbitonists organ
tied a strong committee, backed by near
ly all the preachers in the city, with Sena-
tor Colquitt, District Attorney b. IA. Hill
and other prominent men actively at
work. The brunt of the battle, however.
b. Hawthorne, the celebrated Baptist
preacher, Rev. Sam Jones, Col. Sam
Small, Rev. Atticus q. HaygOod, Rev. W.
II. FELTON, and others have for ten days
been addressing audiences OF from 5000
TO 5000 in Sam Jones' only gospel tent.
WORK OF THE RUN SELLERS.
The -prohibitionists have been
equally active, being leo-by J1ilus Brown,
son OF Senator Brown, Hon. Albert Cox
and many others. They have been par
ticularly active in committee work. The
most remarkable feature of the campaign
has been the breaking up of party and
color lines. The meetings of both parties
are attended by whites and blacks, and
earnest efforts have been made by both
sides to capture the colored voters.
TALKING TO THE NEGROES.
For this purpose not only have the
speakers Of both sides addressed large
bodies of colored men, but have imported
prominent cOlored speakers, such as Bish-
OPP Campbell, Of Philadelphia, Bishop
Turner and eX-Congressman JEFF. Long.
The ladies', too, have taken up the contest
with vigor. In word, every element of
society, all ages, sexes and cOlors are
stirred up, and nothing else is talked Of
but prohibition. The general feeling is
that II Atlanta goes dry the movement
will spread rapidly through all the South
ern States.