The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-19
LIQUOR QUESTION
 ALIVE IN GEORGIA Local Option and Prohibition
 Will Be Fought Out AGITATION IS STARTED It Is Believed That Campaign Against Near Beer Will Be Carried Into Next Legislature For De-
 clsive Action.


 is widespread belief in political circles that Georgia Is going to witness a cam paign in the near future upon the Ques- ton of local option vs. prohibition, and there are those who believe so strong ly in it that they predict it as easrly as next year.
 This belief arises from the fact that the most outspoken prohibition element has demanded the scalp of so-called near beer" In other words. as a eGor- gia politician put 1t. in discussing the situation. '.the prohibitionists don't know enough to hold onto good thing when they have it.
 According to his view of it, if the pro- hibitionists would let the matter alone where 1t Is the fight might not come for long time at any rate, but it is their continued agitation which is Ike ly to precipitats it.
 "If this question is brought before the people of Georgia now in a bitter polit- ical fight on the stumj." he said. ''ths prohibitionists will be responsible for 1t. For I am convinced that just as sure ly as they continue the same sort of
 
 near beer tax which was begun in the last general assembly. they will have to go before the people and stand q chance of losing some of the ground they have gained.'
 Whether there will be renewal of the fight against near beer at the next legislative session has not been made ap parent. But the chances are that In some shape or other 1t will be attempted. t1A Ixxf fuIn f<ru 1zo<r 1oa o+ and have had heart to heart talks with their constituents. Will this make differ ence? The question is not devoid of interest. sf.
 The near beer tax is embodied in tho general tax act which Is parsed to cover a period of two years; notwithstanding which it is subject to amendment by the legislature at any time.
 So there is plenty of room for another near beer scrap If the legislators want tiff the constituents of the legislators want it.
 In all the discussion speculation Is rife as to how soon the situation will develop a local option candidate for gov ernor.
 There are reasons why many consider next year too early for such a develop ment. The campaign will be on, If not al- most over, before the legislature gets to business, and unless the attempt Is made by the prohibitionists to force the issue in the race for governor. should there be a race. it is likely that 1t will be de- ferred.
 Nevertheless there is a well-known Georgian who is seriously thinking along this line right now, and if the situation should develop in accordance with his ideas, 1t is said he would not hesitate to make the race on the local option plat form. He does not care to come out publicly at present, yet he does not deny that hs has been giving thought and con- alteration to t.< subject. He is good campaigner, too, and a nrst-rate stump talker.
 situation is the current of talk growing out of the belief. in the light of present conditions, that sooner or later the people of Georgia are going to come to vote on tho question and decide at the ballot box just how they want the liquor situa- ton handled.
 Possibly this talk has been increased as the result of the recent election in Ala bama in which constitutional prohibition was defeated by a majority of some 25.ooo, . fact which has been attributed largely to the radical and stringent nature of the Alabama prohibition law. enacted by the state legislature.
 Radicalism was held largely respon- sible for the heavy adverse vote in Ala bama; and radicalisn, past and antici- pated. is the foundation for the belief that Georgia will soon have to pass on tho matter tt the ballot box.
 There arc, perhaps, few Georgians who will welcome the fight; 1t would be a mean ono at best. and concensus of opin- ion seems to be that with things left as they arc. without further agitation, it's coming would at least be deferred.
 Victories in other communities where the question has been submitted to vote of the people. 1t Is said. have encour- aged the opposition to extreme prohibit ton. a fact which may help to bring on the struggle.