The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-01-03
CREATES SENSATION
GrRARp,s MAYOR WOULD NOT ACT
 ON PROHIBITION.
The Mayor of Columbus, Ga, Notified Mayor of Gfrard, That Colum- bus Was Dry-A Com
 plfrated Case.

Girard, Jan, 2--(Special)--A sensa- ton was created here this morning when there became public, the repiy of Mayor Foster. of this city, to Mayor Browne, of Columbus. who at the re quest of citizens. yesterday notifieo the Girard mayor that the sale or liquors is now prohibited in the Geor- gia city.
 The Alabama law fixing the prohipi- tion status of Girard. provided lnat the act should not go into effect until the sale of "vinous, spirituous or mat liquors" is prohibited within the cor porate limits of the City of Columbus State of Georgia; "that whenever the Mayor of the City of Columbus shaii certify to the Mayor of Girard that the sale of yinous, spirituous or malt liquors Is prohibited by law within the corporate limits of the said City or Columbus, the Mayor of Girard shall publish for five days in some news papers circulating in said city such fact. and after publication the pro- visions of this act shall be operative"
 yesterday, at the request of com mittee from a mass meeting of Gfrard citizens, Mayor Browne furnished certificate to Mayor Foster of this city to the effect that under the recent prohibition law enacted in Georgia, the sale of any alcoholic. spirituous. malt or intoxicating liquors, or intoxicating bitters or other drinks which if drunk to excess will produce intoxication' IS not now permitted in Columbus.
 Mayor Fosters reply to this letter was received by the Columbus mayor at late hour last night. The Gtrard Mayor makes courteous acknowledge ment but added:
 q beg to say, in answer to your let- ter to me, that I have examined the Alabama statute adverted to in your communication and find that the paper furnished me by you lays upon me no duty to take any action whatever.
 A thousand eyes immediately con- centrated themselves upon Mayor Browne's certificate to see what if any. was the supposed defect in it. Only one point was noted and that possibly is not material. The Alabama law pro- vides that he shall make certificate as to ''vinous" liquors. and in his certifi- cate the word "vinous'' does not occur. While this class of liquors is not spe- cifically referred to. all intoxicating liquors are covered in general way, however.
 The letter of Mayor Foster caused a profound sensation, and prohibitionists of Columbus, Girard and Phenix City immediately got busy, for all are inter- ested in preventing the sale of whiskey in either of the three cities.
 Mayor Browne was seen today and prepared another certificate which states the prohibition status of Colum- bus still more explicitly. This was given to Mayor Foster. and he said this afternoon that he would take the mat ter under advisement. In his second certificate furnished today, Mayor Browne uses the term ''vinous" liquors the certificate being entirely explicit. Mayor Foster left this afternoon for Scale, Ala, to consult legal advice.
 Judge of Probate Benton of Russell County, states that attorneys are pre- pairing mandamus proceedings to com pei him to issue liquor licenses Tor Gl- rard.
 Mayor Foster late tonight, after his return from Scale, authorized publi- cation of the desired advertisement regarding the prohibition status of Girard