Fitzgerald enterprise. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1895-1912, 1908-07-25
Prohibition Law and "Near- Beer" Discussed
By SeabOrn Wright.

The following strong appeal to law abiding
Georgans most cordially endorse.
Atlanta, Ga, July %, 1908.
Editor Atlanta Journal: Sould law be re-
pealed because it is violated
The Atlanta Constitution under the caption,
''Enforce the prohibition law repeal it" plants
itself behind the sermons of Drs. White and
Broughton, published in Mondays Constitution.
Neither Drs. White nor Broughton, in any
thing they said, justified the conclusion of The
Constitution. I am very certain that neither OF
these distinguished ministers would endorse the
position of The Constitution, that repeal, regard
less of the character of law, should follow its
non enforcement
For myself, | can say that there is no more
dangerous, deadly idea that can possess the peo-
pie than that the violation Of law by the crimi
nal element demands it's repeal. The logical re-
suit of this idea is absolute surrender to the law
less, criminal part of any country.
If the prohibition law is violated in Atlanta,
what element of the people are violating it?
Men who violate law are criminals. care
not their station or condition in life. Now, when
this class defy the law violate it, trample it under
foot, the idea of The Constitution is to repeal the
the law, surrender to the criminal element.
If the prohibition law is to be repealed be-
cause criminals violate it, how about other laws7
Is The Constitution in favor of repeating laws
against gambling or pistol toting or adultery? Why
is it that the Constitution, like other anti prohi-
btion organs clomor for the repeal of this one law
because criminals violate it? Is the desire father
to the idea?
The great overshadowing danger to our coun-
try today is the idea that the personal liberty of
men to sell liquor in violation of law is higher
than the law. Papers like The Constitution en-
courage this idea, when they say in effect to the
criminal classes if you continue to violate the law
it will ultimately result in it's repeal
1t is folly for The Constitution to urge the enforce
ment of the law and in the uext sentence say in
effect to the criminal element, if you can hold out
in your violation of the law, it will be repealed
Intelligent men must understand regardless of
this position on the liquor question that the peo
pie cannot Oxford to yield inch to the criminal
classes MY opposition to the liquor interest has
always been its open, fragrant violation of law.
The saloon is the Inestling place of criminals.
Gradually they raising up race of savages in
our great cities which will one day destroy the
government if it is not stopped The old saloon
system in Atlanta did in this respect for Atlanta
what it has done for other great cities. The men
who are violating this law in Atlanta today
the product of the old saloon system. They are
bent upon repeating the law, and, mark well what
I say, as long as the hope is held out to them by
such papers as The Constitution that it's repeal is
conditioned on their continued violation, so long
will they violate the law
do not want to be misunderstood. / believe
the law ought to be enforced and to this end de-
sire to impress the people of Atlanta this thot:
The greatness of Atlanta has always rested in the
spirit of her people, The spirit has been one of
law enforcement. The faith of the people of the
country in this spirit was somewhat shaken by the
Atlanta riot. Let the government of this city
tamey surrender to the criminal liquor element of
the city, suffer the open shameless violation of
law, and the millions who have been in great At
lanta, the home of law and ORDER the seat of civil
righteousness, will turn with pain from her pitiful
degradation.
In conclusion want to say that do not be-
lieve the prohibition law is being violated in At
lauta to the extent claimed. I have been in At
lanta for one month. l have not seen an intoxcat-
ed man on the streets of the CITY, Men have told
me that the smear beer' establishments were sell.
ing straight beer. If this is so, it is remarkable
that around these places see no drunken men I
turn to the records of the city courts, and find a
marvellous reduction of crime. The old dirty vag.
oIop,ont oh suarnoad tho StraatS of old