The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-08-17
GEORGIA NOT
ENTIRELY DRY
State Prohibition Law Does
Not Prevent the Clubs
from Drinking.
THAT THE NEW
LAW WILL PERMIT FORMING
OF CLUBS WHOSE ONE REAL
OBJECT WILL BE THE GENIAL
USE OF WHISKEY.

NCoA Sid pTOHlDIlOn law Is not as
sweeping as the extreme prohibition
lists would have it, and they are not
at all pleased with the act as it
stands. 1t doesn't prohibit social clubs
from using whiskey or other intoxi-
eating drinks and it is conrended
that any number of men, even ne
groes, can form these clubs and by
paying $500 licenses have all the
liquors they want, ard it is suggest
ed that these social clubs will grow
and multiply in Georgia. Any ten men
under the provisions of the bill can
form a social club.
Some Provisions.
The provisions of the Georgia law.
as outlined by its advocates, are as
follows:
Ffrst-The law as passed by the leg
islature prohibits-without exception
the manufacture of Intoxicating Ii
quors in Georgia.
Second-It prohibits-without ex-
ception-the sale Of intoxicating IL
quors in Georgia.
Third-It prohibits the keeping of
liquor in any public place in Georgia
There are two things the law does
not do:
First-It does not-and under the
interstate commerce law, could not
prohibit the shipment of Intoxicating
liquor into Georgia.
Second-It does not prohibit the
keeping of intoxicating liquors in any
place in Georgia-nOt a public place.
Seaborn Wright Explains.
In explaining and defending the pro-
visions of the bill, which he contends
was the best that could be gotten un-
der the circumstances, Seaborn
Wright the head of the prohibition
movement in the state, says:
Having fought the sale of liquor
in clubs in my home town consistent
" and persistently, I early saw the
danger in the bill and suggested that
it prohibit the keeping of liquor in
clubs. Our friends thought then we
had all on our hands we could man
age without bringing on us the oppo-
sstion of the social club members
of Georgia. I yielded, and was right
under the circumstances in yielding.
"Then, with the bill IN this shape
as passed, the question presented IT.
self to me: 1t is better to tax Cnot
license) a thing which can exist with
out tax.
without tax under the bill any ten
negroes in Georgia can have their
room where they may keep their
liquor for individual use With the
tax, they must pay 5000 simply for
the privilege of keeping their liquor.
Which is best? We are confronted
with a condition. not a theory.
THE time for shouting is past, the
time for practical detail work In
the enforcement of this law Is at
hand. With this tax we have all CLUBS
in Georgia in the Open-thoroughly
located. Without it, they may be ID
every cellar; in reality blind tiger,
and when found out and arrested
claim they are lockers,
Will Put Them Out.
This locker arrangement Is not
half the evil taxed as it will be I'M
taxed. Lockers taxed will have q
heavy burden to bear: l. Room rent
3. The hire of men to keep them 3
The expense of building. 4. A $500
tax. 5. The certainty that the leglS
lature in 1905 will abolish them.
Now. let me state plainly what
ought to he done. The senate has the
right to amend by striking out the
$500 and inserting $4,000. AS a mat
Ter of fact, I drew for Mr.. Sheffield
of Decatur, the $4,000 tax amend
ment he introduced in the house
which was defeated. | was unfortu
nateIy absent when he introduced the
| amendment and could not help him
With this amendment defeated in the
house. nothing else could be done eX
cept put back the old tax of $500 and
appeal to the senate to raise IL &c
| $4,000.
IF | had not put the amendment or
in the house. so that the senate coulc
amend it. then the senate of the1l
own initiative could not place any ta'
on it at all. all tax sections having tt
| originate in the house.
$50, if our friends want to help us
let them, before they go into the pub
| lie print and denounce us, know Wha
we are trying to do, and not knowing
it, aid us with all their power, IN the
senate, to strike from the amendment
! $500 and insert 100000.
NO" complained the young paint
er. L can't believe that 1 am pro