The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-11-04
PROHIBITION IN ATLANTA.
Mayor HIiIyer Makes an Investigation and
Telegraphs the Results to New York.
The Atlanta Constitution of October 26

The Atlanta Constitution of October 26
says:
yesterday afternoon contained an accu-
rate statement of the prohibition situa-
ton in Atlanta. Early yesterday morn
ing Hun. George Hilyer, Mayor, received
telegram from the managing editor of
the Voice asking for positive information
upon the subject. The telegram resd:
"NEw YORK, October %, 1SS6-May-
or of Atlanta, Georgia. Please give US
FIVE hundred words on the effect of pro.
hibition since the last license expired
Give the number of arrests for drunken
ness and deeds of violence yesterday as
compared to the same day the last two
years. The morning papers here are
filled with reports of big jug trade in
Atlanta. Important to have facts in the
Voice this afternoon.
"EDIToR DAILY VOICE."
Immediately upon receipt of the tele.
gram Mayor Hillyer caused the city
docket at police headquarter for Saturday
and Sunday just passed to be carefully
examined, and comparing them with the
same days of 1886 and 1884, sent the
following telegram:
"MAYoR's OFFICE, ATLANTA, Ga,
October 25, 1SS6-Editor Daily. Voice,
New York: shall publish your dispatch
in the Atlanta daily papers with the
following reply: In the barroom days,
drunkenness was common, and not always
noticed the police less attentive, and
many escaped arrest. Now, ifa man
gets drunk, or even partly drunk, it
attracts attention; police are active and
yigilant, and arrest early certain. The
figures in the police Office show the arrests
for disorder and drunkenness on Saturday
and Sunday, October % and "a, 1886, to
be %; corresponding days in 1885, 81,
and 1884, 25. Many cases at present are
chargeable to domestic wine, which is
not prohibited, and which it is said is
often doctored. Figures in the express
Office show hardly one jug or demijohn
shipped into the city per 1000 inhabi-
tants. All exaggerated reports are 10 be
condemned. The good effec's of prohi.
bition here are apparent. Trade in all
branches, except the whiskey traffic, is
prosperiDg. There is marked improve
ment in the habits, morals and happiness
Of the people. Prosperity is admitted
and rejoiced in, both as TO private and
public affairs. 1t is greatly to be depre-
Gated that when scores and hundreds Of
facts, such as peaceful streets and happy
homes, and sober husbands, sons and
brothers, with plenty to eat and to wear,
where before was broken hearts and fear,
and sometimes actual want, the great
daily press abroad say nothing about it;
hut if hand truck load of jugs is seen,
which is no great matter to sixty thou
sand people, this must be magni6.d into
a 'iug train," and the whole press of the
United States made to ring with it !!
There is not one-tenth as much iDtoxi-
cints drank in Atlanta now as there was
a year ago, possibly much less than that.
Formerly the advocates of barrooms were
numerous and powerful. Now nobody
advocates restoring the barrooms. For.
merly the issue was high license against
barrooms; now the very most that the
opponents of total prohibition would
contend for is high license. The barroom
nuisance has gone out from Atlanta
forever, and we would like all the world
to know il. We are determined to give
total prohibition fair trial under the
law, and are greatly strengthened and
encouraged with it so far. But our peo'
pie are already practically united in tine
belief that the barroom will never come
back. I only wish the people at q dis,
tance could see the truth as ne have it
demonstrated here, and thus escape the
danger of being misled by the many
exaggerated, prejudiced rumors that are
published in other States on the subject.
GEORGE HILLYER, Mayor"