The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1909-02-19
PROHIBITION IN GEORGIA
Benefits Marked in Cities and Rural
Districts Alike.


Districts Alike.
Atlanta, Ga, Feb. 13.-The Rev. G..
H. Trevor, D. D., in contribution to
the current Christian Advocate, reviews
the Prohibition movement in Georgia,
and takes hopeful view of the general
situation.
One year ago, on January 1, he says,
Georgia, which was already to large
extent dry, legally banished all saloons
from the State. As merchants are ev-
erywhere taking stock, it is well for the
anti-saloon forces tosdo the same. At
ter year of experience, what has the
Commonwealth to teach the nation as
to outlawing the saloon? In the limits
of single article it is impossible to pre-
sent the Statewide aspect of the case.
We confine ourselves chiefly to consider
the result in her metropolis, the Gate
City" of the South.
First, there have been some tremen-
dous difficulties in the way of enforce
ment. Greatest of these is Uncle Sam
uel himself. Not only does he permit
liquor to be poured in floods over the
border from whiskey States in spite OF
the protests of the sober Common-
wealth, but he actually himself inyades
it and openly and detiantly sells whis-
key and brandy right under the shadow
of its Capitol. Behold this strange and
horrible picture; Between 1000 and
1000 men of both colors and ages,
gathered one morning about the United
States postoffice, blocking the delivery
of the mail, crowding the plaza, throng.
ing every window on the Federal build
ing, packed on its roof, and nearly
breaking up the business in the eas
end of large office block.
UNCLE SANS ANOMALOUS POSITION.
What is the excitement? Uncle Sam
auctioning off at public outcry 500 gal
Ions of blockade liquor in a Prohibition
State, with none to modest or make him
afraid. 1t required twenty police Of
ficers, with special privilege, to preserve
order on the property, which, belonging
to the Federal Government, is outside
the jurisdiction of the State county or
city. An hour before the time set for
the sale it was impossible to get within
twenty feet of the spot where GA bar
rels with bung holes gaping wide at
tracted the thirsty throngs. At the APP
pointed time the revenue collector an
nounces: I'VE are going to offer for
auction $50 gallons of blockade stuff,
of which $40 gallons is corn whiskeI
and ten peach brandy" 1t went off
rapidly to the eager purchasers, who,
in many cases, paid more than the mar
ket price. After the sale the packages
were delivered and hauled through the
streets of the city with the Prohibition
law powerless to touch any person con-
nected with the business. What hor-
rible spectacle is this What fright
full handicap to the enforcement of law
Here is a great State with one standard
of morals and the United States with
another. If anything would make a
man sigh for the victory of a national
Prohibition party this scene well might.
For a little while one might almost be
excused for wishing for State rights.
Another difficulty has been the so
called near bear" nuisance. This
stuff is substitute for the genuine
thing, within the law, but so near the
real article that it is intoxicating, as
many have proved to their cost.
SETBACK FOR NEAR BEER" SALOONS.
But these near beer" saloons have
just received setback, and with the
new year more than forty of them have
gone out of business. All the licenses
expired with the old year, and taxes for
1909 had to be paid. The State refused
to accept the tax with any condition at.
tached Many of them, unable to pay,
had to close. Having fought off by in
junction the payment of the 1908 tax
until last week, finally paying it, and
then having to pay Immediately the tax
for the new year, they were at the end
of their resources and closed up. At
torney General Wright has held that
the tax is due on the first of the year,