Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-10-03
PROHIBITION NOW
PARAMOUNT ISSUE,
SAY CANDIDATES
Pope Brown and Judge Rus
sell Recognize Local Option
as the Absorbing Question
of the Campaign

with Col. Pope Brown and Judge
Richard B. Russell actively in the field,
making a vigorous campaign, and with
Ex-Governor Brown resting on his oars,
awaiting the resignation of Governor
Smith, the gubernatorial campaign Is
rapidly shaping itself. This week prom
Uses to be productive of many interesting
developments. and the politicians are
hopeful that these will enable them to
get line on the situation.
While the entrance of Governor Brown
as a candidate has not aroused the en-
thusiasm that his friends confidently
anticipated, 1t has contributed to the &C
tivities Of his opponents, and the race
today LIS monopolized by Col. Pope
Brown and Judge Russell. with the pro-.
hibition question the paramount issue.
That Judge Russell and Colonel Brown.
both Of whom have already made a par.
tial canvass OF the state. recognize pro-
hibition as the principal issue Is demon
strated by the fact that each of the cam
didates has issued a statement to the.
people, celebrating his views Judge
Russell gave out an interview last FRI
day. reiterating his advocacy of local
option as the solution Of the whisky
question::
yesterday afternoon. following hts con-
ference with Dupont Guerry. in which
he more clearly states his position as
statewide prohibition candidate. He
deprecates the fact that the issue has
been raised, disclaims responsibility for
its injection. but meets II squarely as OPP
posed to the sale of liquor. beer or near
beer in any form.
GOVERNOR BROWNS CAMPAIGN.
The interest in the prohibition question
scarcely overshadows the pronounced
lack of enthusiasm among the friends OF
Governor Brown. Supporters OF both
Judge Russell and Coy. Pope Brown de-
clare that the former governors candi-
dacy has fallen fat He overstayed the
time limit. they say, and there has been
no development to justify the belief that
he will make q formidable contender.
They point to the editorial attitude Of
the Americas Times-Recorder as reflect
ing the general sentiment throughout the
state.
The Times-Recorder has been consis-
tent supporter of Governor Brown. In
both of his former campaigns the paper
was answering in It's loyalty to Mr..
Brown. 1t espoused his candidacy daily.
and his campaign managers recognized
Il as one of the strong influences that
oPrAAtSo IA MS AaSSASe1 IA SOuth"SSb
Georgia
ovERsTAYED TIME LIMIT.
Here Is what the Times Recorder says:
The conclusion appears to@have
been pretty well reachd throughout
the state that former Governor
Brown overstayed the time limit and
lost out by withholding his decis-
ion for too long a time.
IF the former governor had prompt
y announced his candidacy when
IL became apparent that Governor
Smith must retire from office in the
fall, at least, he might have rallied
large part of his former forces
around him and entered the field with
some reasonable assurance of sue
cess.
'But the policy OF procrastination
that was pursued seems to have
put the ex-governor out of the race,
so far as any prospects of winning
are concerned.
las is pointed out in the newspa-
pers of the state, the entrance of
the liquor issue. and the prompt ac-
ceptance of the issue by Pope Brown
and Dick Russell, has withdrawn
public attention from the old Smith
Brown issue
Attention is now cenered, and is
pretty apt to remain centered, on pro-
hibition as the main issue of the
campaign. Gov. Brown will not be
able TO divert attention to the state
of the treasury, the terminals over in
Chattanooga, the Atlanta port rates
scheme or any of the other thrilling
issues of former. campaigns. The real
genuine, only and not-to-be-forgotten
issue of 1911 is whether a man shall
step around the corner and get drink
10 !, To, lr
sonville or Montgomery by express.
AS Bryan would say. that is the
paramount issue of the hour. And
as the field is already covered by the
two candidates now running there is
hardly room for the ex-governor I'M
less he wants to help dig grave for
the long cherished gubernatorial as
pirs tons of Judge Russell
POPE BROWNS STATEMENT.
Col. Pope Browns statement rela-
tive to -Ae prohibition question, -SI
lows:
With reference to my attitude upon the
whisky question, / wish to say that Is
years ago the question came up in
Pulaski county. 1 enlisted under the
prohibition banner when it looked as If
It would be impossible for us to sue
coed.
1 advocated local option when this was
the temperance side of the question.
From that time until now 1 have fought
the liquor traffic in Pulaski county, no
matter in what form, barrooms, blind
tigers, dispensaries and near-beer.
When l entered the present campaign,
I did purposely avoid bringing the liquor
question into it. The legislature had en-
acted a statewide prohibition law, at the
instance of prohibition leaders and
did not favor bringing the prohibition
question into the present race
When Judge Russell raised the ques-
ton by advocating local option, ] was
asked by friend from Emanuel county
what attitude ! took on the liquor ques-
ton, replied: las you know, have al
ways voted the prohibition ticket and
shall stand or fall with that crowd" The
next day, ! was making an educational
speech at Arlington. The people de-
manded to know how I STOOD on the
liquor question. l told them frankly
was for statewide prohibition.
The liquor issue is in the campaign and
there is nothing to do but to meet 1t
without hesitation.
am opposed to going back to local
option. deny the right OF each county
in the state to do just as 1t pleases
with reference to the sale of liquor. The
sale of liquor in packages in the cities
of the state Injuries the people in the
fa5t he