The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-07-08
DR.. JORDAN ON THE BOYCOTT.
Says LAW and Order Leagues Object
Is Only to Enforce the LAW

Is Only to Enforce the Law,
Rev. DR.. ]. D. Jordan, pastor of the
First Baptist Church, preached on
"Courtship and Marriage" last night, but
before he did so he talked to his con-
gregation on the boycott by the liquor
dealers, against the members of the Law
and Order League and their employers.
1T is question that is agtating the
public. The idea of having boycott
here in staid old Savannah! Something
has happened" continued DR.. Jordan,
that l very much regret; a gentleman
stopped buying groceries from a man.
giving as his reason for doing so, that
the man was engaged in the sale of liquor
He had perfect right to do this, a per-
son can buy groceries where he pleases
so long as he pays for them. But in ex-
planning his reasons for quitting this par
ticular dealer. he is reported to have
said that he had $500 ieaguers back of
him. If he said this it was a mistake
ana he had no right to connect in any
way the leaguers with the matter. Any
man, whether Lacquer or not, can buy
goods where he pleases, but he has no
right to involve in his individual prefer
ences the name of any organization.
hC Law OIu6F League was organ
lied for the purpose of suppressing gam
bling, forcing the observance of the Sun
day liquor law, and for the publication
of the ballot. Where a man should buy
his groceries has never been mentioned
In II. The League has not started in any
such peanut business nor will 1t allow
itself to be entangled in any such mat
ter Everybody must exercise his own
right as to where he shall buy and where
he shall not
Then" said Mr.. Jordan, getting back
to the cause of the trouble, "another man
friend of the first, went to a merchant
settled his bill and said that he would
buy no more goods there because a mem
Der of the League was in the employ of
the firm. That man stands indicted be-
fore the people of Savannah for violating
the Sunday law. He probably was mad
and people that are mad do foolish things
want to give you piece of advice when
you get mad and want to do something
do nothing. And another thing l want to
say to you is that the man that gets
mad because he may have been
indicted by the grand jury for violation
OF the law stamps himself as not
In favor of thai law. The League asks
nothing but what is right legal and equit-
able. If we had a law allowing the sale
of liquor seven days out of the week or
three hundred and sixty-five days out of
the year there would be no fight against
the liquor deaser, but against the Legisla-
ture that made such a law So If the
saloon men are not willing to abide by the
laws of Savannah and Chatham county,
let them see to 1t that these laws are re-
pealed
THE question of a boycott is foolish,
and 1 hope it will be given as little pup
licity as possible, and that it will speed
lily be hushed up. No self-respecting
merchant is going to discharge a man
because he buys at one place, rather than
at another. And no self-respecting citi-
zen is going to stand by and see the
merchant hurt because he takes such
stand. My advice to the saloon men and
gamblers, indicted or unindicted, is that
there be no such thing as a boycott, for
If they organize such a thing it will
arouse the conservative citizens, who
will see that they get the worst of it,
The League desires no boycott, but Of one
thing all persons may be quite sure, that
good citizens will not stand by and see
any law-abiding and respectable citizen
trampled upon"
Mr.. Jordan closed his talk by suggest
ing that no man rave because he had
violated that commandment, Let no man
get caught