The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-09-09
LIQUOR MEN PROTEST.
THEY OBJECT TO THE METHODS
i. OF THE POLICE.

Fellows Hall Meeting-The Associa-
ton and Mayor ,McDonough.
The liquor Dealers meeting at Odd Fell
lows hall last night to protest against the
methods adopted by the police to tempt per-
sons to violate the Sunday law, and also to
be legally advised as to how the association
should conduct itself in regard to the state
! legislation against the trade, was attended
| by about 100 people. The meeting was very
conservative and temperate, aud the mem
bers of the association reiterated their In
tention to obey the laws.
President George Meyer presided. On the
stage were R. R. Richards, Esq, Thomas
s. Morgan. Jr., Esq, and Walter 8. CHS
holm, ESQ.,, the speakers Of the evening,
and Gustave Fox, Sam S. Guckenheimer
| aud John Bresnan.
President Meyer, iD a brief speech, stated
the object of the meeting, which be said
was called for the purpose OF entering dig
nitied protest against certain things, listening
to advice as 10 the conduct Of the associa
| ton in regard to inimical legislation, and
also TO give the association an opportunity
TO place itself right before the people in
view Of the manner IN which il has been rep
| resented by the ne wspapers. He asked that
everything said be Of q temperate char
aoter.
r. R. RICHARDS SPEECH.
President Meyer then introduced r. r.
Richards, ESQ.,, as the first speaker Mr..
Richards was received with much ap-
plause.
He began by saying that as ne had been
| specially invited to talk to the meeting ON
the subject OF the rights and duties Of the
| liquor dealers, he had secured statistics
showing the smountioe capital invested in
the business. the number OF man employed
and the amount of taxes paid by those
engaged in the liquor trade. Mr.. Richards
then read his figures which show that there
are 40 city licenses amounting to S55, 900,
go state and county licenses amounting TO
| Sl3, $50, and real and personal property
| upon which taxes are paid amounting to
| S2,25oOO0. The toIal taxes paid annually
| to the city by the liquor dealers foot ND
| Sl49, $50, the amount OF capital in vested is
| S4,O4S.OOO and the number OF men employed
! l,4lT. representing an annual pay roll Of
| $c9l 900 t sy-
Mr.. Richards said these figures show the
amount at stake in the community,
whose tendency IS being directed toward
prohibition by persons secretly fomenting
the cause and secretly at the bottom of the
excitement recently caused. He then read
history of the liquor trade, bota in Eu-
rope and America. from the best writers on
the subject, showing the movement Of leg
islation against it.
Mr.. Richards nsxt read the laws OF
Georgia aid the municipal ordinances on
the liquor traffic, which he commented
upon by stating that they are more string
emit than the laws Of Europe, and any fur
Their legislation means prbaibitiOn-the cut
ting up Of the business by. the roots.
SHOULD NOT BR PROHIBITIoNISrs.
The Judges to enforce the law, no said,
should not be secretly in favor of prohibit
ton, but men who viii not allow their pri>
vate opinions as to legislation to affect their
judgment-Inen who wilt enforce tho laws
ImpartiallY. The doctrine that the end
justifeS the means, Mr. Richards said. is
one whlca will not be accepted by the Chris
tan ministers Of the community, because it
is too dangerous, and affects the body
| polite 'uto too great an extent. 1t
Is one thing l2sto employ a
| detective to prove arcrims already com.
United, and another and entirely different
thing TO send out officers to tempt people to
violate the law. Mr.. Richards spoke in
rather warm manner about the testimony
| OF dlsreputable persons being taken in
| preference to the word of the saloonkeepers.
Mr.. Richards referred to the statements
| made numerous times about the improve
| ment OF the observance OF the sabbath
under the pre- ent administration, and askei
II such is the case, why is there nee ssity
| for such increased vigilance as TO have dis
| reputable parties endeav oring to tempt
| liquor dealers to violate the law, and when
they refuse to violate it to have the words
| OF such characters taken in preference to
theirsl
| He closed his speech by advising the
liquor dealers to obey the laws strictly, AID
said that he believed the great body Of con-
1 - lii
| their business will receive from a thinking
public that protection which is its right as
a legitimate vocation, recognized by the
| constitution OF Georgia.
MR.. CHIsHoLM's VIEWS.
Mr.. Chisholm followed Mr.. Richards, and
discussed the license question and the right
| or municipality to levy license which
means practical prohibition. He quoted a
supreme court decision, which holds that
the limit Of license is covered by expediency,
ard is in the hands of the township officers.
and the only remedy before the constitu-
ency Is to place in power by the ballot men
| more liberal. u!A rs
Mr.. Chisholm read to the meeting the
bills now before the legislature inimical to
the trade, and be said he hardly thinks the
measure prohibiting the sale OF liquor
within three miles of a church or school
house will be repTteo back from COM
| AAlOtops L16 Shlu LIhb uo uau DSen sent TO
Atlanta to find out the sentiment of the
! legislators on the bill, and after mingling
| freely with them and hearing their ex-
| pressions he believes the bill will never be-
| come law. si .eC
He said he was glad to see the LIQUOR
dealers so thoroughly organized, and he
| feels satisfied that the. organization has the
| favor of the better element of the commu-
nifty. He was also glad to see such a con-
servatlve meeting, the motives and objects
OF which, he said, had been misrepresented
by the newspapers, aud believed that to-day
| the people will understand and be pleased
| with it.
THE MAYORS MEETING.
| Mr.. Chisholm also expressed the hope
that the meeting to be held to indorse the
mayor in which saloonkeepers will be sand
wlched In between preachers, will be
| equally conservative.
1--WE are not-and when l say we mean
1t, because am with you in sympathy and
sentiment said Mr.. Chisholm, Opposing
the law, but demand its impartial enforce
ment. Justice and law should be equally
weighed in the scales. The liquor men have
all along been ultra-conservative, and only
ask for justice. While we are anxious for
the strict enforcement of the law we want
to see justice shine out from the clear sky
Of constitutional freedom
The speech of the night was made py Mr..
Morgan. President Meyer introduced him
as young man who is a friend of the
liquor dealers and one who has done much
for their interests-one TO whom the LIQUOR
dealers hope some day to reciprocate.
f-r THE Law OF 1T