The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1908-04-24

!. response to our lnVuatlOn W y
i. the public to discuss the sub +
j. ject with the view of helping +
!. to solve the liquor problem, +
j. rather than keep up an argu- +
+ ment. Some of the writer's are +
i. willing their names should be +
+ used with their articles, while
j. others prefer that they should +
!. not-not because they are +
j. ashamed of their views, but be- +
j. cause they do not care to be +
+ in the lime light.-Editor.) +
+.. i. + j. + + !. + + + + + + + +
GEORGIA OFFICIALS ENFORCING
THE PROHIBITION LAW.
(By William E. Curtis in Chicago
Record-Herald.)
Atlanta, Ca, April 9.--Prohibition
is the principal topic of conversation
down here, and wherever men or Wo-
men meet you may be sure that it IS
under discussion. Gov. Hoke Smith
and other officials declare that the
law is going to be enforced in Geor-
gia as it never was in any state De-
fore, and that they will demonstrate
that perplexing problem whether pro-
hibition really can prohibit. The an
!. ti-saloon league is strongly ORGANIZED
In ever town and is alive and alert.
Its members are on the LOOKOUT TOT
every weak spot and have every
doubtful official under surveillance
Tey are fighting everybody who does
not agree with them and are pro-
pounding pertinent questions to eve
nv candidate for Office. They do not
propose to permit the election OF any
official who may be weak or uncertain
and require pledges from every canal
date. The ministers, particularly
those of the Methodist denomination,
are very active. The Rev. J. G. Solo
mons is in charge of the headquart-
ers at Atlanta. The city attorney OF
Atlanta, Mr.. James l.. Mason, IS pres
ident of the local organization and is
running for congress on his activity
for prohibition. Teh ministers have
led raids against blind tigers" and
other places where the law has been
4 violated, like the Rev. DR.. Parkhurst
in New York, and have furnished the
evidence to secure the conviction OF
several violators Of the law.
There have been two prosecutions
of note in Atlanta. former ser.
Y geant of police was fined thousand
/. dollars after a determined fight, ano
a former patrolman, having been con
victed of running blind tiger, o.
evidence furnished by the antl-Sa
loon league, was sent to the chair
gang to work on the streets witt
negro offenders because he could no
pay a 5000 fine.
The whole town, and, indeed, thu
entire state, is stirred up on the SUP
tect, and the agitation is likely t.
continue for some time. There is NJ
disposition on the part OF the brew
ers and distillers and the better elias
of saloon keepers to defy or violat
the law. They are agreed that, a
Gen. Grant once said, the best wa
to secure the repeal of an offenslv
law is to enforce it, and it is onl
the lowest class of GROCERIES that ar
now offending. The barrooms haV
been turned into soda fountains; tn
brewers are manufacturing ice, gin
ger ale, pop and other soft drinks
and the express companies nave
monopoly of the liquor business.
Importation of Liquors.
Prohibition cannot be effect1V
here. however, unles scongress enac'
one of the several laws that hav
ben proposed to prohibit the sh1l
ment of liquors from one state int
another. The newspapers tell us tht
a majority of the judiciary comm
tee of the senate, to which the sui
ject has been referred, have repor
ed that such lgislation is in Violate
of the constitution. The southeI
people are strict constructionists, u
ually, and the lawyers in this sectlt
are almost unanimous in their OPT
ion that the police power of the sta
gives them the right to control Il
traffic in poisons, in explosives,
adulterated foods, in insanitary me
chandise and in alcoholic liquo
when they are shipped into their te
ritory from other states. They arg
that congress would not oppose Ia
prohibiting the delivery of yellc
fever germs or deadly poisons in G
press packages, and declare that
toxicating liquors come within t
same category But notice that t
opinions on this question, like the
on evry other subject, usually &C
form to the wishes of the persons W
deliver them.
49, There is not the slightest dou
about the large shipments of liqut
in to Georgia from Chanttanool
Jacksonville, Louisville, Cincinns
Baltimore, New York and other
ties. AS wrote from Augusta, ne
ly all the passenger trains carry
extra express car for liquors alo
and they are usually loaded W
beer and whisky; but the expr
companies will not handle jugs 6
longer, because they are SO cas-
broken.
Increase i'm Postal Business.
Mr.. Blodgett, the postmaster
Atlanta, tells us that he sold $5,1
more money orders in Februa
1908, than in February, 1907,
80 ~ Suoraa 40 from the st of j