The Washington herald., 1907-12-30

Atlanta, Ca, Dee 29.-The Prohibition /
lists had planned a monster jubilee and |
demonstration IN Atlanta on the night of /
December 81, when services are 10 be held |
in many places TO watch out the old year /
and the coming Of the new.
Prohibition will become effective Jan |
uary l. Mayor Joyner. however. put a |
stop to all Of their plans by issuing an
order that any attempt at a parade, as
Contemplated by the "drys," would be
followed by a dispersal of the crowds at
the hands of the police, and the arrest OF
the promoters if they failed to dcsist
when ordered to do so.
The "antls" are making no protest over
the situation. and there Is no possibility
Of a clash unless some exceedingly Jealous
advocate of the dry cause should Try
to override the orders Of the mayor
When the legislature first passed the
prohibition bin and il was signed by Gov,
Hoke Smith there was Il general protest
from all directions. by bankers and bus-
ness men generally but IN a short time
these men realized that the law had been
put upon them and thar there was no
ton these same men went 20 work ia
prevent a stampede on the part Of mer-
chants and others, who feared that there
was going TO be a business panic. In this
they have been greatly successful, and
plans are now being made 20 improve
sections in many Of the larger towns -
the State that have, In a great measure.
been given over for years 10 the sale OF
liquor and to the bad class Of citizens.
Law Is Stringent.
The bill is one that allows no oppor-
tunity to sell liquors Of any kind, not
even alcohol. except in the smallest
amounts and hen OF the prescription Of
a physician. SO Georgia is going 10 be
really dry State when the lst day Of
January. 1905. 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 a tax on all clubs
that had lockers. and this was done 10
the extent OF 500 per year. But the cities
in the State have the right 10 place a tax
on them locally 50 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
I and the change viii not be felt by them
so much as it will in Atlanta. Savannah.
1 Brunswick Macon. Columbus. and Au-
gusta. Here there win be very differ
ent situation to face. but the cooperation
Of the business men in all of these places
is doing much 10 helr matters.
Numbers Of stores that have been used
for the sale Of liquor have been rented by
merchants who have either come into the
/ State 10 do business or have been here
for years and are enlarging their estab-
/ lshments. The general sentiment IS 20
give The law a perfect trial. and even
those who are not in favor of the meas
Ure as passed are going 10 DO all in their
/ power 70 uphold ii until il is seen eX-
actly what the result viii be
! Clubs Are in Doubt.
! In Atlanta there are a number of legiti-
mate clubs that have been in existence
I for years, and these are at sea as 10
what they should do. Their membership
/ Is composed Of men whd do not want 20
evade the law IN any particular, yet they
do not want to see the places that have
/ been so much pleasure to them complete
! ly destroyed. What these men viii do. no
/ one knows. not even themselves. The
} effect on the business Of the State by pro-
4 hibition is not going TO be damaging The
merchants confidently believe that busi-
ness VIII be better in all lines.
! The liquor men are nearly all going to
| Tennessee. and many OF them will make
/ Chattanooga their headquarters in the
/ future. AS a result rents have gone up
/ in that town, and things are On boom
| Georgia expects 10 be just as prosperous
| as ever, although il must be admitted
/ that just now there are few trades be-
! ing made In real estate, although one
very extensive dealer in whisky recently
sold some Of his Atlanta property at a
/ great advance.