The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1898-11-30
DITINSHES CRIME;
INCREASES DRUNKENNESS.
.-DugME COURT JUSTICE COBB'S
VIEWS OF THE DISPENSARY.
=. Preferable to Prohibition. 1
s.rsng Presentation of the Question
by an Able Georgian.

law ~
s...O0 Presentation of the Question
by an Able Georgian.
suDreme Court Justice Cobb, in dis
.;nr the recent withdrawal of fellow
~. .,om the Athens Baptist church
- .be association to which it belonged,
S.,.use member of that church is en-
s,ovad as manager of the dispenSary 10
hat city, contributes to the Christian
7.dov an article that is strong aIgu-
..nt in favor of the dispensaV over pIO-
uhition. After explaining the position
:, the tAtbeus church in the matter
7r,tce Cobb tells why, after a trial of
,rohibitiou in Clark county for several
,..rs a dispensary was established there.
Be says:
The next question to be considered is
,sbv such plan for the sale of liquors
was established in Athens. Years ago,
in the early history of the county, the
mower TO license persons to engage in
ths retail sale of liquors was vested in
ths corporate and county authorities.
Under this power barrOOms were IL
Gepsed, They Increased in number
from year to year until there were
large number Of places in which liquor
was sold, the greater number being
where sales by retail were had can
myself recall the time when alinosL ev-
sry road leading into the town had on il
licensed barrOom, and two or more
minor streets of tie city connecting
more important streets were entirely
given over to this business. Such was
the extent of the traffic that on every
day of the week it was unsafe for ladies
to walk upon these streets, and on Sat-
urdsys and other days when crowds
we're upon the streets a lady was de-
barred from going into certain parts of
the town, and men even who were not
frequenters of such places were accus-
toned to go upon such streets only
when mperatlvely required to do SO.
This condition of affairs became intJl-
cradle, and in 1884 an act was passed
submitting to the qualified voters of the
county the question of prohibition" or
No Prohibition" It was therein pro-
yided that if the result of the election
should be for prohibition the sale of
LIQUORS within the county should be un.
lawful, but the provisions of the act did
not prevent practicing physicians from
furnishing liquors themselves to their
patients under treatment by them. -
The vote resulted in favor of prohibition
BY alarge majority. The result of this
election abolshing altogether the law full
sale OF liquor within the county was
that the condition of affairs was very
greatly changed from that above de-
bCrlOed, and 1t vas expected by those
VINO mao been instrumental in working
THIS change that the better condition OF
analrs which had begun to prevail
would continue and be permanent. In
short time, however, persons were
1ound VINO were willing to disregard the
IA" ana take the chances of CONVICTION
Fropnetors of drug stores pretending
act under the color of the section above
quotsd engaged in such practices as
we're palpabe evasiOns, if not direct vio-
iaCons, OF the law. Liquor could be ob-
tainen almost as easily as it was former
Y ootalned under the license system,
OtunEenness and crime began to increase
asaIn Snd the courts, both state and mu-
nlclpaI, were beginning TO have, to q
great extent the same accumulation of
BUSINESS brought about by intemper-
1uce as mad been the case before the
'uoptIoh OF prohibition, The Law be.
oame so unpopular that it was almost
!; ~ to convict any one for
l vs. violation. Ia 1890 bill was intro
a luz INTO the general assembly to re-
E T 'le law, but the same failed to pass.
yuuef The provisions of the law a new
s SeU.I9n could be had upon petition
vo,a ou " a majority of the qualified
. .V:etS VI the county. In 1891 such pc
oSon was filed and a new election was
rSa req 1t will be seen at once that
~; ;no Ltlends of prohibition were thus con-
~ with the fact that a majority of
Jis o 4uaiined voters of the county were
I los 81 with the operations of the
+b": Ane friends of prohibition saw
ra" 49, mere was no hope of obtaining a
majority of the qualified voters for the
tioH Nfr Sr OF the existing prohibit
,iJa"' The question then to be con.
n,se was how could tie re-establisb-
wbot VI oarrooms be prevented and
81 IiS Olan could be devised for the sale
snoo quors which would be in further
suUo OF temperance and at the same time
nroIi p Ine approval of those persons in
ths 1,oillon as it existed but who were
'9ommanity who wore opposed to