The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-30

Following IS the proNlSloh ol liS 0Vot7 gia law on this subject
 'Tt shall be illegal for any corporation incorporated under the laws of this state or doing business therein, or any officer or agent thereof, from corporate funds, to make or authorize any contributions. directly or indirectly, to campaign funds or for political purposes, in any election or primary election held in this state, or for the purpose of influencing the vote, Judgment or action of any officer Of the state, legislative. executive or judicial v
 The second section of the act provides that the punishment for violation shall be a fine ten times the amount of the sum so contributed, but in no case snail the fine be less than $1000 and in addi- iton. the officer or agent authorizing the contribution shall be imprisoned in the penitentiary not less than one year nor more than four years, unless in case or recommendation to mercy by the trial jury in which event the fine shall stand as the only punishment
 The national election is held in Georgia as we'll as in other states. It Is the be- lief, therefore of those who have read the law that any Georgia corporation which makes a contribution to the demo- cratic campaign fund could be held ha- ble under its terms
 The law. of course, was passed with ll6 SDtClnG NitN Oi PitNti contributions by public utility corpora tjoy1s such as might exercise undue inf1u- ence in governmental matters in their own behalf but it seems to have been made broad and sweeping enough to prevent any corporation whatsoever, though it's capital stock may be not more than $1000 and though it could have no personal or direct interest In the out some from making any campaign con- tribution whatsoever, t-s
 Considerable amusement has resulted from the fact that an Atlanta corpora tion, chartered under the Georgia laws. and one which urged the enactment Of this very law, recently announced it's contribution of s100 to the Bryan cam paign fund. So far as is known, 1t Is the first violator of the law, if such be a violation. Nothing has been said re- cently about the matter, but it is under stood that the contribution in question will be withdrawn on the part of the cor poration and made as a personal contri- button and ostensibly from the personal funds of one of its members
 If an officer of a corporation person. ally contributes funds derived from the corporation, he is equally guilty under the law as if the contribution had been made In the name of the corporation. It is probable, therefore, that there will be no corporation contributions to campaign funds. either national or state, in Geor- gia for some time to come.
 There is a certain element among Att lanta's oitizens chiefly among financial and business men and more particularly prohibitionists, which is determined, If there is any way to do it. to defeat the aspirations of former Mayor James G. W. to fhn rnaVOr chair.
 Up to the present time it has been gen. erally conceded that MT. Woodward has had a "cnch" on the nomination which is to be made at the primary election to be held September 24 but now that or ganized attack is to be made upon his aspirations, a considerable element or doubt has been injected into the situa- ton.
 The particular ground of opposition to Mir. Woodward is his known inclnations as to the liquor question. His warm op- moments believe that if he were mayor there would be a lax administration of the state prohibition law, and that pret- ty soon things would be free and easy and wide open. Mir Woodward himself says that he is opposed to the prohibi- ton law but now that it Is on the stat ute books he would undertake to en- force it. There are some who seem to doubt that he would be very rigid about it.
 Of course, they present other reasons for opposition to MT. Woodward, though they do not deny that he made a good business mayor.
 The opposition has crystallized into what Is to be known as the Good Govern ment league, which already has an en- rollment of some 300 citizens. This, how ever is barely a handful for some 10, GOO votes will probably be cast In the city primary.
 While the league has made no formal announcement. it is known to be its purpose to get back of Joseph Hirsch, the only announced candidate with whom there is thought to be any possibility of defeating MT. Woodward. It Is said the league has had an understanding with MT Hirsch who in addition to being a successful business man, has agreed, if elected, to use the full force of his ex- ecutive power in enforcing the prohibi- ton law and other measures designed to keep the city free of crime.
 Efforts were made to get other we'll known citizens into the race, but with the primary only a month off 1t was con- sidered too late to do this with any eff feet. MT Hrsch's campaign was all ready well under way when the league Jumped into the game. The opposition to Woodward will therefore, be lined up solidy back of Hirsch. The fight is go- ing to be an interesting one not to say exciting
 It is predicted that a general court