Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-02-09
National Capital
NeDs and Gossip
By Ralph Smith

WASHINGTON, -. C.S req. o.-Aho
prohibition campaign which has just
been precipitated in Maryland is attract
ing considerable attention in Washington,
especially among congressman and SEN
ators. They evidently realize that sooner
or later they will have to meet squarely
the prohibition issue in so far as the
District of Columbia is concerned, and
the proximity of the Maryland campaign
offers a rare opportunity to study the
question.
The Maryland campaign was inaugu-
rated at the Lyric theatre, in Baltimore,
last Sunday night, and the Baltimore
papers state that 5000 men-an voters
packed and jammed the auditorium to
hear Hon. Seaborn Wright, the Georgia
prohibition leader, whom the Baltimore
American declares to be 1.-The foremost
prohibition orator Of the country.
Last Monday Mrs. Mary Harris Armor,
who has been assisting the Anti-Saloon
League of the District of Columbia, went
to Baltimore, and is now in the midst
of the campaign. Thus Georgia is espe-
cially we'll represented among the ranks
of the prohibitionistS who are bathing
for "dry" Maryland.
The Maryland prohibitionists, under
the auspices of the Anti-Saloon league
are at present fighting simply for legal
foothold-an entering wedge. They are
advocating a local option law, such as
Georgia had prior to the enactment OF
the state prohibition bill.
Liquor Interests Intrenched.
1t is generally conceded that the pro-
hibitionists have picked a hard row 10
hoe in choosing Maryland as the scene
of their next big fight. The liquor inter-
ests are we'll intrenched. Baltimore is
- - hn hfUUaQf
richest distillers in the country, not to
mention the scores of prosperous whole
sale LIQUOR houses, and these interests
may be depended upon to fight to the
last ditch before yielding point to the
prohibition forces. The fact that the
''prohis" are not at present clamorlhg
for statewide prohibition, but are insist
ing only on the passage of local OPP
ton measure, makes the fight less saw
age. but the liquor people are awake to
the ultimate purpose of their ancient ad-
versaries, and they do not care 10 lose
the first trick.
Maryland is not as large as Georgia
either in area or population, and the city
of Baltimore holds considerably more
than the balance of power in most cleo
tions. Its population is equal by nearly
half TO that of the entire state, and
with anything like an even break In the
rural districts only a fair majority in
the city of Baltimore will swing the bal
ance by a decided majority.
Thus. the prohibition fight in Maryland
is little more than a prohibition figh TIN
the city of Baltimore, one OF America
first ten cities in point of population anu
material wealth and prosperity. There
has long been and still is a belief more
or less general that the prohibition issue
pF
support; but. the Maryland prohibitionists
evidently believe this view to be falla-
cious.
The Maryland prohibitionists openly
declare that they will oppose every can
didate for the 1910 legislature who doesn't
commit himself squarely to the local OPP
ton bill. and the fight will be made to
capture the legislature.
Mr.. Wright's Baltimore Speech
The Baltimore American quotes Mr..
Wright as follows:
Recently Shreveport, La, had local
option election. 1t was a peculiar one In
many respects. There was no stirring and
sensational temperance campaign of the
whirlwind variety. no speechmaking, no
meetings, no advertising and nothing to
arouse enthusiasm. Enthusiasm was not
needed. 1t was not wanted. The case
was one where sober sense and calm
Judgment were required. The city adopted
and exercised its option and went dry by
an overwhelming majority. 1t all came
about on account of little girl, Margaret
Leer. She was a beautiful child, the
daughter of humble but respectable
parents. her father a labOrer well thought
of in his community. The little girl was
only 10 years old. One day she passed
saloon out of which was coming a drunk
en- negro She did not see this black
beast but nevertheless he followed her.
About a quarter of mile from the sa-
loon. and about the same distance from
her home. to which she was going, the
brute caught up with her.
I will not harrow your feelings by de-
scribing to you what occurred there.
Suffice it to say that after particularly
brutal assault the drunken man tried to
kill his victim. The poor little child
crawled on her hands and knees, with
blood flowing from a half dozen wounds,
to the gate leading into her home. The
little thing reached up and took hold Of
the latch of the gate with both hands
She was found there dead two hours later,
her hands still grasping the Stats of the
gate. Well. they traced. by the blood
stains, the course of the little girl from
the branch and soon afterwards the negro
was found lying near by in drunken
sleep. You know what usually happens
in the south, or anywhere else in the
country when such a thing as that oc-
ours. The negro never saw the sun &C
down again. C'Good." cried a voice in
the audience. NO said Mr.. Wright,
1T was not good. 1t was bad. 1t was a
blot on the community That negro
was not altogether to blame. When ne
was found bottle was found near him
This BOTTLE had contained gin and on it
was an indecent label This bottle had
come from Baltimore firm. That start