Fitzgerald enterprise. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1895-1912, 1906-08-11

Though the night On the Oil 10 Tx Inc WINS"
key tax in Irwin county at $4,000 was car
ried to the governor after it bad passed the gen.
eral assembly, the governor signed the measure
Friday morning.
1t fixes tax of $4,000 for liquor in Irwin
comfy and abolishes the dispensary at Ocilla.
Interested parties, pro and con, appeared
before the governor Thursday, but upon the de-
cision of the attorney general that the bill was
legally all right, he signed it.
Years ago; rot many to be sure, for Fitzger-
aid is young yet, but 10 The early days" many
family moved to Fitzgerald impressed with
the idea based on faithful promises that Fitzger-
aid shall be a dry town, but people coming
from every state and section of the union,
large percentage of them restless spirits whose
coming was result of dissatisfaction with cond.
tons whence they hailed soon tired of the col
ony and moved on. 1t is estimated that from
first to last some twenty thousand have come
aud gone. In this large number there was quite
anelement with the wide open" spirit The fron-
tier conditions here invited them, and before it
was realized what had happened the prohibition
sentiment was overidder, brothels and gam bling
hells become centers of attraction and entirely
too com mon for comfort or contentment.
For seven years at least the war has 5een
on good and strong, between the saloons and
Sabbath schools, the pulpit and poker dens, the
brothels and benevolent societies, the virtuous
and the vscious.
In 1899 the fifth year of the colony, when
this wide open element vas at the zenith
of it's strength and power, Fitzgerald was
the deadest town in civilization.
That year the first organization against vice
set the campaign on foot that has resulted in
freeing the community of gamblers and high
way robbers. Dens of vice and vicious men.
Today the saloons were closed. Seven
places that paid $1,000 annually into the city
treasury for the privilege of taking $4,000
every few months, out of the tls of the deal ers
in legitimate me- chandse are out of business.
There are good citizens, among them some
of our best business men who believe that these
places, this traffic represented a sort OF BUSH
ness prosperity and for that reason only were
unwilling to see the saloons go. They do not
strongly believe it, but actuated by their bust.
ness association with, and personal esteem for
those actually engaged in the whiskey traffic
they were always willing to give them comfort
and protection. We believe that their good bus
mess discernment will soon point out that Fitz-
gerald is commercially much stronger without
saloons, certainly that she is much better IN
everv other respect will not be denied by any
one.
For the saloon men thems selves we have no
unkind word some of them at least are personal
friends of the writer, toward none of them do
we bear the slightest animosty. We believe
each of them cad find as profitable and more
elevating employment right here in Fitzgerald
where they will ever be welcomed.
Truly Fitzgerald's greatnes has just be-
gun.
The legislature has created Ben Hill county
and if the people of the thriving city of Fizger-
aid don't stand up to Editor Mercer for his eff
forts in their behalf, they certainly UNI
appreciative.- Record.
Certainly, Sawtel1. The good people of
Fitzgerald are standing to Editor Mercer" in
a most gratifying manner They, not only say
all manner of good things for him, but they
vouch safe other proofs of their appreciation
There are some indications of envy and spite
from some weak brothers here about-but they
do not even irritate US We feel sort of COM
passion for their weakness and utter worthless
ness, at least we would feel that way if we had
time to think about it. We are really too much
absorbed about things that are coming Fitzger-
AIDS way and the good people of the community
are so constantly reminding US that we are in
the fore front of the battle that is being waged
for progress and prosperity that we have but
little time to think of the occasional sorry
white man" that feels agrieved at our success.
aj1 nd h.