Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-02-17
JUDGE SPEER WARNS
WHISKEl SELLERS
he Will Use Ills Powers TO
Assist State.

The charge made by Judge Speer
to the grand jury at Macon on Mon
day is attracting much attention.
Judge Speer again reiterated his
opinion that it was the duty of the
federal courts to give every assist
ance possible to the state in it's en-
deavors to enforce the prohibition
laws, and promised that every power
at his command would be used TO
that end. Warning was given to the
old law breakers in Savannah that
the sentences imposed in Judge
Speer's court were hanging over them
hike sword, ready to go into effect
If they were found again violating
the law. Judge Speer in this connec-
tion said:
The judge must do his work. he
mas attempted to do so in all cases,
but you have great work devolving
upon you a greater work, perhaps.
than that devolving upon the judge,
that is the Importance of enforcing
the liquor laws. When a man yio-
lates the laws of the United States
ne is at the same time violating the
laws of the state. If he carries on
the business of retail liquor dealer
without paying the special tax he is
none the less carrying O nthe busi-
ness of a retail liquor dealer, and
this the state prohibition law forbids
MIN doing. AS / said in the locker
club cases in Savannah, while it is
true that the cardinal object of the
national law is the collection of taxes
for the federal treasury. yet 1 have
never been able to appreciate the
fact that it is impossible to use law
full powers within ones Jurisdiction
as to accomplish the direct purpose
for which they were enacted, and at
the same time do all the good one
can for the general welfare of the
people, and if possible for the eleva-
ton of their moral status. The
United States courts can do great
good toward the solution of the great
problems before our people, which
engage the thoughtful hours of ev-
cry rejecting and patriotic man. The
grand jury indicted some forty odd
men, which resulted in the payment
of penalties, and with the kindness
of my heart the sentences of others
have been suspended, but they are
suspended like the sword of Damocles
and may fall upon them with pain
ful and lacerating efAct if they
violate the law again.
Already the most astounding ben
efits have been experienced by the
people at large from the prohibition
law. Why, even the dumb brutes,
who have been subject to the service
of man, would, if they could, thank
God for prohibition
''The hard driving and neglect of
the drunken negro and the drunken
white man as we'll, have been sue
ceeded by kindness and attention.
The state Of Georgia in twelve
months will gain incalculable bene-
fits in the improvement of stock
alone, because drunkards no longer
handle and drive them.
a prominent mill man in Macon,
one of our best citizens, assured me
that while heretofore he could .ot
get his men to work before Tuesday
or Wednesday after the Saturday
night debauch now that whiskey is
gone bright and early Monday morn
ing they are at the engine, the spindle
and the loom. Labor which was al
most impossible to obtain through
the rural districts, is now plentiful,
and the work has just begun. Little
more than twelve months ago l heard
experienced contractors complain
that many of their laborers would
only work day or two in week to
obtain enough money for support and
the small amounut of food CONSUME
ed, and then quit work until the
money was gone.''