Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-24
new PROHIBITION LAW
TO Go Into Effect at Midnight De-
cember 81. -
LIQUOR MEN ON THE MOVE
Nearly All Going Into Tennessee to
Engage in Business-Phases Of
the Big Contest.

- right now on the edge Of one Of the
greatest changes that have marked the
history Of the state. and the transition
from the legal sale of liquor to dry
state 10 bringing about almost a revo-
luton In many lines OF business aside
from that Of whisky.
When the legislature first passed the
prohibition bill and 1t was signed BY
Gov. Hoke Smith there was q general
protest from all directions, by bankers
and business men generally, but in a
short time these men realized that the
law had been put upon them and that
there was no help for 1t. When this
became a realisation these Same men
went to work to prevent q stampede
on the part OF merchants and others
who feared that there was going to be
q business panic. In this they have
been greatly successful, ana plans are
now being made to improve sections in
many Of the larger towns in the state
that have. in great measure, been
liquor and to the bad class Of citizens.
Tho bill 10 one that allows on op-
portunity to sell liquors Of any kind, not
even alcohol. except In the smallest
q physician. So Georgia 10 going to be
q really dry state when the LIST day Of
January, 1908. begins. There was only
one loophole In the measure. and that is
one that does not prohibit clubs from
selling liquor because the bill! prohibits
only in public places When the authors
Of the measure saw their mistake they
sought to correct It by placing q tax on
all clubs that had lockers. and this was
done to the extent OF $500 per year. But
the cities In the state have the right to
place q tax on them locally 30 large that
they cannot exist, and in many places
this has been done. The majority OF the
towns and counties in Georgia have long
been dry. and the change will not be felt
by them 30 much as it will in Atlanta,
and Augusta. Here there will be . very
different situation to face, but the CO.
operation Of the business men in all Of
these places Is doing much to help mat
tiers.
To Give Law Fair Trial.
Numbers of stores that have been used
for the sale Of liquor have been rented by
merchants who have either come into the
state to do business or have been here
for years and are enlarging their estsb.
lishments. The general sentiment II to
give the law a perfect trial, and even
those who are not in favor Of the measure
as passed are going to do all in their
power to uphold It until It 10 seen ex-
actly what the result will be.
In Atlanta there are a number OF legiti-
mate clubs that have been in existence
for years, and these are at sea as to
what they should do. Their membership
Is composed Of men who do not want to
evade the law in any particular. yet they
do not want to see the places that have
been 50 much pleasure to them complete
ly destroyed. What these men will do no
one knows, not even themselves. The ef-
feet on the business Of the state by pro-
hbftion 10 not going to be damaging. The
merchants confidently believe that busi-
ness will be better in all lines.
The liquor men are nearly all going to
Tennessee. and many Of them win make
Chattanooga their headquarters In future.
A. q result rents have gone UP in that
town and things are on q boom. Georgia
expects to be just as prosperous as ever.
now there are few trades being made In
real estate, although one very extensive
dealer In whisky recently sold some Of his
Atlanta property at a great advance.
In the Rural Districts.
The situation in the rural districts Of
the state just now Is amusing. Jugs. bot
ties, and, In fact, every sort Of vessel that
win hold whisky, is being called into use,
and supplies are being laid in that will
last for many months. There has been
no change made In the financial status
of the state. Increased value In real es-
tate, caused by the upbuilding Of the COM
munities generally is the cause Of this, and
every dollar that was appropriated by the
last LEGISLATURE will be paid just as pro-
vided.
In Atlanta there will be no difference
caused by the Improvement OF property.
At first 1t was feared that the loss OF
revenue received from the sale of whisky
v,.l-b$ S,o% yo . vary had effect hut IL In now
known that this will not be the case. OF
course the city would have had Just that
much more had this not been cut of. but
the financial situation Is in good shape
and public Improvements Will go right
ahead. There IL strong sentiment In the
former ardent advocates OF the sale OF
whisky are now opposing 1t.
It Is believed that the bill will In time
be amended 80 that saloons will be en-
tirely eliminated, and that liquors Will be
sold in original packages. The Tight has
not been so much against whisky as It has
against the saloons. There Is little atten-
tion being paid to the last days OF the
saloons here, and there IL no more liquor
being consumed than usual.
Many dealers are selling out their stock
at greatly reduced prices and a number OF
paintings and furnishings. Atlanta. that
IL said to always claim everything In the
country, IL now pointing with pride to the
fact that In q few days 1t will be the
largest prohibition city in the world
There is every indication that the entire
An effort is said to be on foot here to
make a fight on the prohibition bill in the
United States courts, but 1t has not taken
on any tangible shape.
War Department Clerical Changes.