Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-05-15
FORMER AUTHORIZATIONS
FOR GUERRY AND PROHIBITION
DoUGLAsvILLE. Ga. May 6.

DOUGLASVILLE, Ga, May 6.
Editor Journal:
After you invited a Joint discussion of
the issues involved in the present cam
palgn for the governorship. 1 decided to
write logical and dignifled communica-
ton, indorsing the principles Embodied in
Hon. DUPONT Guerry's platform. did not
intend to refer to Mr.. Terrell at all. ex-
cept to mention the fact that he was so
far above the average citizen of Georgia
that we could not reach him by any of our
arguments I notice. however, that Mr..
Terrell has come down OF of that high
lofty plane of campaigning on which he
started. He lit in Forsyth (strange to
say, on OF about the spot where the
Potts telegram was delivered. He aid got
ten so high above Mr.. Guerry and his sup
porters and the people that 1 decided
(figuratively) that he was sailing through
the air in one of Dumont's airships. and
! that communication with his headquarters
was maintained by wireless telegraphy.
His principal manager must have wired
him that Mr.. Guerry Is about to carry
the state, as Mr.. Terrell came down very
suddenly and swiftly to the earth. As
soon as he landed he rushed forth with
his armor on. his political pistols in hand,
or rapid fire gattling gun and began the
most terrible fusillade on Mr.. Query at
long range that has been heard in Geor-
gia for many years. The high plane cam
paign has gone up in air. Was any man
ever so bethumped with words before. by
another who had pitched his campaign on
such a high plain?
I am for Mr.. Guerry's election because
the principles he advocates now are right
and I want to see them enacted into law.
1t is not a question with me what he or
anybody else has advocated in the past,
but what do they advocate now?
One Of his strongest planks, in my Judg-
ment, Is the total prohibition Of the sale
and manufacture of intoxicating liquors
in this state and the closing up forever
of every barroom in the state. once
spoke and voted against prohibition, but
1 have changed my mind on that question.
/ have been so thoroughly convinced by
actual results that my position then was
wrong that l have gone further in my
fight on the liquor traffic than many good
men who were for prohibition when was
against it, / am now opposed to dispen-
sary and have been for years, when one
has been proposed for our town. A dis
pensary, however, is better than par
room and II l lived where barrooms were
permitted, would be willing to exchange
them for a dispensary, but not otherwise.
The position of Mr.. Terrell on the ques-
ton of local option and absolute prohioi-
ton reminds me of q story that Is tolo
of negro. his master and a rattle snake.
A large RATHER crawled into the master s
lot and the master took a hoe and chop
ped his tale off, with the rattles. Soon at
ter this the negro went into the lot and
the snake bit him, whereupon he set up
an unearthly yell. The master fastened
to thes pot and asked the negro what ne
was yelling about. The negro replied that
he had been bitten by the snake. The
master said. Why, Sambo. 1 cut that
snakes head of awhile ago. The negro
then said: well. boss, If you did you
cut IL off at the wrong end"
The local optionist have helped to cut
the tale of of the old whisky rattlers, but
their heads are still biting and poisoning
the men, women and children of this
state.
We want to cut their heads off now at
the other end and kill the old monsters
forever.
These old snakes lie in some counties
and stretch their venomous heads into all
the other counties round about. biting
and poisoning the people. These local OPP
tionists ought to know that there are GER
tain places I'm Georgia where the good
people are not able to drive the barrooms
out without help from the outside on ae-
count of the irresponsible voting popula
ton in the borders of such localities. The
liduor element supports the local option
fist because they know that the traihc
has nothing to fear now from men who
hold to that policy.
And they know that the policy of local
option now means the stoppage OF the
further progress of the prohibitive move
ment and it gives them longer lease on
the privilege of debauching the people.
What say the fathers and mothers, sons
and daughters of Georgia? Shall this priv
ilege be extended or shall 1t be stamped
out now2
AS for myself, 1 am one to the people,
that II my vote can aid in.closing the
barrooms and thereby save one blind man
from being stabbed in the back. and one
s5 wears old woman from the rapist ana
murderer who were drunk, 1t shai' be cast
that way. will have something Iurther 70
sav about the other planks in Mr.. Guer-
RVS platform. Very truly,
w. A. JAMES.