The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-12
GEORGIA To HAVE
FIGHT NEXT YEAR
viii Be Local ption Against
Statewide
CONDITIONS IN The SOUTH
Cavalier Element Still Supreme in the
South and IL HAS Always Been
Against Drastic, Sumptu-
airy Legislation.
nv SMITH CLAYTON.

Atlanta. December 13-(6pecial)-The
opinion prevails in certain quarters that
the great body of the southern peopie
are for statewide prohibition.
There never was a greater mistake,
or rather. a more vivid deluson
The opinion referred to springs from two
erroneous ideas. to-wit: That the MAJOR
ity of local prohibitionists, or local OPP
tionists, of the dry brand, are statewide
prohibitionists; and that the voice or the
legislatures is always the voice OF the
people.
The fact is, that the people of the
south are still stronger in descendants
of the Cavaliers than of the Puritan, and
the sentiment of the former. when allowed
free expression, is dead against all forms
of sumptuary legislation.
This is the unbroken record of the
Cavalier element since colonial days.
What Is left of 1t, and there Is enough
to win before the people, is strong
against statewide prohibition in the south
as it used to be against the blue laws
which consigned so-called witches to wa
ter or fire and forbade a man to kiss his
wife of Sunday.
Upon a full and free expression of the
people at the polls no southern state
has yet declared for statewide prohibit
ton.
And this reminds me. A gentleman who
passed through Memphis the other day
said to me: while waiting at the depot
for a train II occurred to me that l want
ed a. pint of good whisky. Looking across
the street I saw in big letters over
door the word bar I said to a man,
Can a man buy liquor in that placer
Voc aai ha
the real stuff too. Not only that, but
there are 600 places in this town where
a man can get all the liquor he wants.
Why, I thought Tennessee was a
prohibition slater said I.
ut may be- he replied. but Just be-
cause a lot of hayseeds outside of Mem
phis say that she shall have prohibition
is no reason why she should have 1t when
she don't want tt
81 went over to the saloon, which was
a big place. having all of the appoint
ments including mirrors, and got my pint.
1t was the genuine article"
Now, then, In a memorable state
campaign 1t will be remembered that a
comfortable majority of the people of
Tennessee declared against statewide
prohibition although under the question
of local option all of the counties of
that state except q very few had gone
dry. In the face of this fact the ex-
pressed voice of the people at the polls
in a general election, the legislature
came along and passed a statewide
prohibition law.
The people OF Georgia, in a state
election. once declared against state
wide prohibition. This was the only
opportunity which they have ever had
to express themselves at the polls on
the proposition. 1t was in 1902, II
remember Alright. In the general state
election of that year there were three
candidates for governor in the neld,
to-wit: Joseph Terrell. Dupont Query
and w. H Estill. Mr.. Terrell was .
local optionist. Mr.. Estill was An anti
prob ibitionist. Mr.. Query stood for
statewide prohibition. The main plank
in his platform declared for a state pro-
hibition law. He stressed it with abil-
ity and eloquence all over the state.
Despite the fact that at that time up
wards of 12o counties in Georgia were
dry under the operation of the local
option law. Mr. Query was overwhelm-
tngiy defeated. The vote stood as fol-
lows by counties: Mr. Terrell carried
so counties; Mr.. Estill 35. and Mr..
Guerry only %, less than one-fifth OF
the counties in the state.
Here was the most potential proof
that, while an Overwhelming majority
of the people of Georgia stood for local
prohibition or local option. the people of
this state did not want statewide pro-
hibition.
In utter disregard of this sentiment