Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-08-02
A Tart Review of
TWo Prominent Subjects

WI TIUIIIllICIIl OuOICOto
| Because l will play fair, and am de-
sirous only that truth shall win l cheer
fully copy here a late letter addressed to
me- as editress of Country Home Column
in the Semi Weekly Journal
| I think l can peep behind the scenes
and discover that the Veteran" is clear
/ ly a partizan for the government partner
ship in the manufacture of intoxicants.
This is a free country and everybody has
the right to his or her own opinion-but
we find that the principal use that this
system is applied to, is to keep In posi-
ton with fine salaries a whole lot OF
folks, who would have to do something
else for a living If the system was abol-
ished and thus relieve the taxpayers.
| / would like Veteran, to answer
question, rs not the amount of liquor
manufactured and consumed, the best
! indication of how liquor sales increase
and will not the courts of the country
show us how crime has not been lessen
ed by the internal revenue system, and
| is ii not a fact that blind tigers and
shipped liquor jugs are in full evidence
as to the extent of both manufacture and
sale?"
! 1t is not a fact that the state of Geor-
gia attempts to control the sale and does
not do it? Is it not true that the great
liquor trust is backed Up by government
partnership, while the small liquor stills
are hunted down and fought like demons?
Just as the Standard Oil Company has
bought its way and driven out all the
smaller and Independent oil companies,
Just so this great liquor trust has run
rough shod over the smaller distilleries
and increased its profits in the same
proportion.
When this foul system is abolished,
pray what is to hinder relief by Georgia
legislation to control the manufacture of
liquor as we'll as the sale?
| If the state can control the sale, 1t has
ample authority to control the making.
Would it not stand to reason that the
control Of the manufacture would neces-
sarily control the sale?
| AS to compulsory education, l would
like to know why Veteran, raises hisSl
bristles, when the state of Georgia is
taxing all property to the limit to pay
negro teachers as we'll as white teach
ers?
If he is so indignant over negro edu-
cation, why not stop negro teaching in
| a fair open-handed way?
Must the white children of Georgia be
robbed of an English education because
! It would work in negro schools as we'll
as white? That would be cutting off
ones nose to spite ones face.
1 have no Partially for any sort of
compulsory taxation for school pur-
poses. / think 1t is a parents duty to
show a willing mind to assist his own
offspring to everything that is good-in
sight
But 1 do say that the state has quite
as much authority to force neglectful
parents to educate their children as it
has to sell the tax payer out, to the
! bottom sill, to get the money to educate
| these children. If the state can put an
iron hand down in your pocket to get
money to pay my child's teacher, 1T has
| as much authority to make me send the
child to school, and ought to send any
sorry parent to the rock pile who
wouldn't be willing to educate his own
| children after another man has been
deprived of his income to pay for such
! education.
! am not fond of either plan, but since
] the state of Georgia has been forcing
| this school tax for more than 40 years.
the time is here to make good and show
some returns in the way of removing
/ illiteracy.
! I feel pretty sure Veteran" is near
akin to some of the short-sighted legis-
lators who mis-stepped on this subject,
, but it is a free country and the best
thing to do is to instruct the next Geor-
gia legislature.
VIENNA, Ca, July %, 1910.
J Dear Madam: 1 was a great admirer
| of your articles in The Atlanta Journal
until my eyes fell on your views of re-
pealIng the internal revenue law. 1 was
of the opinion prior to that time that
! you was a stanch ands strong prohibi-
ZIONIST. But to my regret 1 find you
| different. For instance, repeal the law
| and every mountain in north Georgia
| and every swamp in middle and south
| Georgia would be soon stocked with
| stills, blind tigers, plenty booze for the
inebriate and niger. 1t is the federal
law that holds up prohibition. With
| draw that power and, my God, where
will we drift to? No tongue or pen can
paint the horrible scenes and tragedies
that would be enacted in the absence Of
that law. And, my dear madam, your
| views on Compulsory Education" are
not in accordance with republican prin-
| ciples. Bear in mind, that there is "a
| power behind tire throne" The learned
/ solons are not disposed to burden the
people with an additional taxation for
the purpose of educating the negro We
are doing enough for him. We do not
| desire to make disciples OF Blackstone
and Rent, Wood and Bache or Newton
or Wesley of him. suffered four years
in the civil war to keep him (the negro)
| where he properly belongs. If he ele-
Yates himself, very we'll. And NOT tax
| the orphans and widows property for
his education and elevation. The wild
ows may have had husbands who split
their lifes blood upon the soils of Vir-
ginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania or on
/ some hard contested field during those
years of slaughter and carnage. In all
| its lights, 1 look upon the measure as
you do the Legislature. 1t rings more
| like the music of Harriet Beecher Stowe,
| Greedy and others of by-gone days.
! have only written in brief. And with
my highest esteem and consideration I
am a great admirer of your PREVIOUS
| writings. Very truly, etc,
| VETERAN.