Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-02-20

ROME. Ga, Feb. 19.-Scarcely had the
shout of victory died upon the lips Of the
dispensary advocates in Floyd county be-
fore the cry Of defiance from the ants
sounded upon their ears.
When the last vote was officially count
ed before Ordinary Davis today at noon,
giving the majority to the dispensary
by ESQ votes, a petition was hurrfedly
placed before the officials eyes. 1t was
a protest from the other side. asking
that no result Of the election be declared,
the request being on these grounds.
The protest was signed by NJ. G. Kay,
of Floyd county, a saloon man, accom-
panied by the signatures of Denny and
Harris, attorneys-at-law.
The ordinary declined to declare the
asked that the arguments on the petit
ton served upon him be heard this after
noon at 2:30 O'Clock.
At that hour the hearing was begun, be-
ing participated in by nearly all OF the
lawyers Of the city and heard by an au-
dience of interested spectators that crowd
ed the court room almost to suffocation.
The antis are emphatic in their declar-
alton that the election was not according
to law. They ask boldly that the result
be declared as against the dispensary,
giving three reasons for their demand.
Should they lose in the decision Of the or
binary this afternoon they viii carry the
fight to the supreme court of the state.
Equally as confident are the dispensary
advocates, who declare with no little
positiveness that the filing of the petition
was simply dilatory practices ana solely
for the purpose of annoying the temper
ance side.
Bitter Legal Fight On.
That a bil1er legal controversy is now
on In earnest is not denied by any one
who knows the determination of the lead
ers of the two parties at interest. What
ever may be the final outcome Of the
contest, this much is certain: A long
drawn-out legal encounter is on; more
money will be necessary; the barrooms
will probably have longer respite grant
ed them and the chasm between the peo-
pie Of the city and county viii be deep
ened.
To many OF the interested The proceed
inRs today came as q great SURPRISE while
to others IL VS. expected. The ants had
declared, It is said, that the dispensary
would be fought to the last ditch, what
ever was the result of the ballot Of yes
terday.
The ants had planned to take this step
sometime ago, taking the chance or being
prepared for an emergency. The law nrln
of Denny & Harris was employed to draft
the petition and have it in readiness and
the manner OF warfare was arranged up
on.
The dispensary people have retained the
following lawyers to nght the procest o1
their opponents: L. A. Dean, g. N. Feath-
erstone, W. ]. Neel, Seabord Wright and
Nose Wright.
Grounds of Contention.
The reasons given for asking that the
result of the election be declared against
the dispensary are as follows:
]. That a majority of voters must rattfy
the dispensary act before IT is legal
q That only 1,469 votes were cast for
the dispensary, while the registration ex-
Nceeds 1890 votes and the voting population
of the county of Floyd exceeds 5000.
g. That more persons were permitted to
vote for the dispensary than LOO votes
not registered.
Ordinary Davis announced that he
would not declare the result at all off,
cially.
The official count, however, shows the
following figures:
For the dispensary, ,459.
Against the dispensary, L19o.
Giving the dispensary majority OF go
votes.