Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-03-30
LIQUOR LEAGUE
PROHIBITION LAW
MODEL LICENSE ORGANIZATION
SUGGESTS TO GEORGIA LEGIS-
LATOR A VOTE OF PEOPLE ON
LICENSING ALCOHOLICS.

Definite proof of the fact that the man
ufacturers and dealers in whisky ana
other alcoholic beverages are making a
concerted effort to bring about certain
changes in the present prohibition law In
this state, has recently come to light
in the shape of letter that has Just
been received by a member of the Geor-
gia legislature from an organization of
LIQUOR men known as the National Model
License league, with headquarters IN
Louisville, Ky.
1t is presumed that every member OF
the legislature has received similar
communication. The letter requests that
the voters of Georgia be given an OPP
portunity of expressing their exact wishes
in regard to the sale and use of alco-
holic beverages The manner in which
this may be done according to the let
ter, is by permitting the people OF the
state to vote for or against the saloon
license, the tavern license or the mer-
chants license.
The term saloon license is self-explan-
atory, tavern license is explained as 8
license to permit liquor TO be used with
meals at hotels, while merchants IL
cense is one that allows liquor to be sold
in original packages not to be opened on
the premises of the merchant. In case
no form of license was adopted, prohibit
ton would be the result The letter
states that the league does not favor
the sale of alcoholic beverages In ter
ritory where the people do not want to
use liquor and that the league will not
oppose any law against the use of liquor
in prohibition territory.
The full and exact text of the letter
is given below:
Text of Letter
Dear Sir:
Some days ago we mailed to YOU a
solution of the liquor problem formu-
lated by the National Model License
league. together with statistics showing
an increase in the use of alcoholic hev'.
erages, Notwithstanding the spread of
dry territory.
We are now writing TO suggest to you
the desirability of affording the voters
of Georgia an opportunity to express
their exact wishes in regard to the sale
and use of alcoholic beverages.
In order that there may be no mistake
as to the attitude of this league, we
will say that the league does not favor
the sale of alcoholic beverages In ter
ritory where the people do not want to
use liquor and that the league will not
oppose any law against the use of liquor
in prohibition territory. What the league
proposes is a form of ballot that has prov
en- effective in districts that are preJu-
diced against the saloon, but do not OPP
pose the moderate use of liquor. Such a
ballot would provide for vote for or
against % the saloon license; 90 the
tavern license Qiquor to be dispensed with
meals at hotels); 60 merchants license
Qiauor to be sold in original packages
not to be opened on the premises of the
rnerchanD. Each form of license would
be voted on separately. Under this sys-
tenn any and all forms of license that
the people might desire would prevail but
if none of these forms were desired the
result would be prohibition.
Il seems to US that the mechants
license would he best adan+ed 20 rural
communities where there Is little or no
police protection. This form of sale
would have the advantage Of being le-
gal and the home merchant would get the
trade that now goes to foreign mail order
houses and the state would receive .
revenue that it is now deprived of and
the consumer I would have a better
chance to get unadulterated beverages.
Very truly yours,
NATION'L MODEL LICENSE LEAGUE,
By A. H. Woodson,,
Manager Publicity Department.