The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-02-19
A Georgia Genius.

Georgia is a great state. It IS luii of orators, moralists, takers, tinkerers and toastmasters. Throughout the world you may wander, but wherever you go you can find Georgian ready to recite racy rhetoric.
 Of all Georgia racy recitals the At lanta Constitution gives us story from the good old town of Hawkins, vile, in south Georgia, telling us of the first charge of Judge John H.. Martin to a grand jury. which is en- titled not only to the cake, but to the full plum pudding. even including the flames from the burning brandy poured over it.
 Judge Martin is possessed of the eloouence of Ben Hill, the genius or Grady. the knowledge of Toombs, and the nerve of Sam Jones. He gets right after the people of Hawklnsyille with a six-barrelled rhetorical re- volyer. like unto the Bat" Master son sort, and in language indicating a full knowledge of all forms of gam bling.
 For instance, the .Hawkinsyille spe' cial dispatch, first column, first page display type, in lustrous ink, bentting the remarks, says;
 Spring term of Pulaski superior court convened here today and open | ed with a large attendance.
 Oldest attorneys, judges and ex- I iudces pronounce 1t as being the strongest and most plainly spoken charge that has ever been delivered from the benches of Georgia.
 Using the letter of the law in every instance. Judge Martin covered many points outside of those usually taken in such instances.
 "Confine not your inquisitorlal net 10 shallow waters, where only small fish djsport themselves, but cast your net in deep waters, where large fish abound"
 Thus commenced the eloquen Judge. Then he disported himself II this wise
 .I charge you that society people, be they male or female, who iorh social clubs and meet from time to time at the homes of the members and play whist, progressive euchre, finch, trail, bunco or any other game with cards or like devices for valuable prizes purchased with funds to which the players have contriou- ted are as much guilty of Violating the law against gambling as the Veri- est plebelans who hover around lghtwood knot fire and play seven up or poker, or skin for the paltry pennies and nieSels, and the person knowingly permitting such playing at his or her house Is as guilty or the offense of keeping and maintaining n gambling house, as Is the proprietor If the den in some back alley where garbling is practced. Quit you ike men. be strong and when weighed in the balance of duty be found nor wanting Strike at this evil in nigh places as well as in low places with all your might. It is not less criminal to play for silver card case than TOT plaln silver dollar as 1t comes from the mint. m
 "st atisticians declare that over 90 ner cent. of the embezzements and defalcations are traceable 10 gamp- ling"
 Judge Martin scored the violators of | the cigarette law. He says that this law Is fiagranty violated in Hawkins vile daily, judging from the minors seen puffing away at the obnoxious | cigarette.
 , The disturbing of public worship was given a share of his attention, as also were the railroads "The rail- roads," he says, ''have no more right 10 run freight and excursions on Sun day than the farmer his blow or the merchant his store. This law is but refrain from the divine law pro- mulgated amid the thunders and . lightnings of Mount Sinai.
 "Vagr.ncy." he says. lis a deep , and widening stream increasing in volume as it rolls Its turbulent and corrupt waters into the abyss of l waste, desolatlon. ruin and crime. It . is the duty of every sheriff, town and state officers of similar character to aid in uphoding the vagrancy law. Enforce this law and where briars and weeds now run riot the heecy staple and golden grain will wave to brighten and cheer the farmer who now loses by the unreliabilty of la |, bor. You will stop the depredations on our larders by dishonest cooks who feed the Idle Lotharios. You will stop the congregating in dens where crimes are incubated and matched out
 .Investigate if there are any col ored societies whose object Is to pre- vent any of their members from work ing for the white race"
 | Now what is the matter with Judg' Martin? He knows of more kinds Q gambling games carried on in Hawk