Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-16
TELT0N'S WAR ON RUM.
MIR. GORDON OPPOSES PUTTING
CHATHAM UNDER THE BILL.

BArtow's Representative Declares That
Exemption is Impossible, as 1t would
blake the Bin Local in Its Character
Instead OF General, as Intended.
ATLANTA, GA, July l5.-Little was
done in the Senate to-day further than To
pass bill creating City Court for
Macon.
In the House the unfinished business Of
yesterday, being consideration OF the
general local option bill was taken up
and Mr. Gordon, of Chatham, spoke in on
position to the bill. He heartily favored
genuine local option. IL was the best
temperance movement ever started, as he
had seen personally. 1t was successful
because the moral movement prior to the
election was supported by the moral
force Of a majority Of the community. He
opposed the bin because it lost sight of
genuine local option. He read an extract
from the Atlanta journal stating that the
prohibition law in Iowa was a failure.
WOULD BE A DEAD LETTER.
The law viii not be observed II will
be imperative, and if the people see one
law violated with impunity they will
Nnally come TO the conclusion that other
laws may. with equal impunity, be yio-
lated. In country towns they had little
police protection, while in the cities il
was ample. The bill does not give the
initiative 70 the people Of the community
The people Of Bib1 and Chatham counties
never asked for the privilege OF this bill.
II Will be utterly impossible to carry it
out in these counties. In savannah there
is a large foreign population who drink
wine and beer who are among her most
sober, industrious and valuable citizens.
80 ELECTION IN > YEARS.
"Under the provisions Of the bill fifty
elections can be held in Chatham county
in the next two years, and elections are
very expensive III our part Of the state,
for every voter has to come TO the court
house and there deposit mis- ballot. our
principal crop Is rice, and, gentlemen, you
don't know how important a few days are
TO the crop. ANY mischief-maker can get
up the proDer number OF names and have
IN election during the rice harvest and
ruin any planter IN the county. This is [
not a question Of sentiment, but Of dollars
and cents. Go on with your noble work /
IN counties where the crops Will allow it, /
bat don't throw this apple of discord in /
our county. Leave us to work out our /
salvation in our own way"
THE AMENDMENT LOST.
The previous question was called and |
the amendment was lost.
Mr.. FELTON, appeared as the leader for /
the bill. He said that the good people Of /
Georgia were 10 be CONGRATULATED that |
efforts Of the past twenty-five years were I
crowned with success. For this we .
have labored and prayed, and woman has /
been eXerting her good influence for II. /
Georgia is on the verge OF accomplishing .
The glorious work of freeing itself from
the miserable curse OF the liquor traffic.
The bill IS general in character and pur-
pose. The Supreme court has decided
Fhat laws general in purpose and charac-
ser are constitutional"
EXEMPTION OPPOSED.
He opposed excepting Blob and Chat
ham, because il would make the bin local /
and not general. ''The friends of the bill /
DO not propose that the liquor traffic shall /
continue ia the counties of Bibb. Chat- /
ham, Fulton. Floyd. Muscogee and Rich
mond The people OF Barlow We're as /
much interested in closing up the bar /
rooms IN Atlanta as the people OF Atlanta /
themselves Let the people determine (
this matter for themselves. There is not I
a county in the state that regrets having
adopted prohibition.
PROHIBITION CONSTITUTIONAL.
Chief Justice Waite has settled the
question that prohibition was constitu-
tional. Liquor saloons are a public uu-
Eance. They iniuriously affect every in
fiyidual. Individual and personal rights
must be subservient 10 the public good.
He pleaded for the young men OF Georgia
wipe out the barrOOms. Let the tax
PAYERS abolish them. Were | to vote
against the will OF the good people and /
women Of the State should resign aud 20 /
hcme,"
Other members made speeches, and |
the probabilities are that the arguments |
will continue for several days longer.