Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-11-24


ne people take eouns shemslves for
turns upon whether the NOple eta SOW
sreign state are willing 10 Surrender
without q protest the right OF local self
government.
The county Is the constitutional unit,
upon which is based the entire super
structure OF the state government 1t Is
upon the basis Of this unit that popu-
lar representation in the general assem-
bly, rests. II is upon this unit that the
system Of taxation FOR the support OF
state government reposes. and il is from
this unit that all the public institutions
n the state must draw their support In
the creation Of the house OF representa-
ffres- In ne creation of a state. senate,
In the apportionHnent OF congressional
renresentation the county Is the govern
mental unit
The legislature may create or destroy
cities. towns and villages. may at It's
pleasure change the geographical limits
of any Of the minor Subdivisions of the
state. but created by the Constitution the
county Is as an independent constitution
al entity and is thus placed beyond the
legislative control This IS the reason
why what is known as the county spirit
is so deeply imbedded in the people. of
this state. and this Is why the several
counties independent of each other, but
interdependent in respect Of their rela-
tons 20 the State. are and ought TO be
Jealous OF legislative encroachments upon
their prerogative. This IS why, when we
speak OF the term local option. the mind
naturally turns 10 the county in which
that option is to be exercised as the
unit upon which it is to operate While
ii win be admitted that the legislative
power residing primarily in the Senate
and House of Representatives is supreme
and extends to all subjects of legislation,
not expressly. or by necessary implica-
ton. denied TO It by the Constitution, yet
the tendency for the last half century
has been constantly TO bring the govern
ment nearer TO the people themselves.
and TO give to the people a more direct
and larger voice in the making, as
they have always had through the jury
/ box. in the enforcement Of the law.
This tendency OF late years, has had
the effect Gin a great many cases where
legislation could not be given uniform
operation in all the counties in the State.
without running counter 10 the manifest
interest and sentiment or the people TO
be affected by it,. OF causing the General
Assembly 10 pass laws but requiring
Them to be approved by the voters of a
county before they should become opera
tive This right OF approval or rejec-
tion is what + called local option. and it
IS a principle. applied TO many different
subjects. including fence laws. taxes for
public schools, road Improvement taxes.
bonded debts. the regulation Of the sale
OF liquors. and numerous other subjects
20 which reference Is unnecessary Prior
70 the year 1917. there had been for many
years IN force local option law as ap-
piled 70 the sale OF liquors. and under
which in each county in the State the
people at the ballot box, by a direct vote.
could determine from time to time
whether liquor should be sold in that
county at all, and IL So upon what terms,
upon what conditions, and under what
circumstances. Under The operation of
that law the traffic in liquor had been
forbidden in many counties in the State,
and while there were occasional, sporadic
cases OF violation of the law, the in
stances were comparatively few. and the
law itself meeting with almost universal
So FAR as disclosed by any antece-
dent discussion there was no widespread
dissatisfaction with this method of deal
ing with this subject. But when the gen.
efal assembly met, IL. without any man
--siate from the people. and against the
/. advice of~Governcr Smith, who had been
chosen az the same election, passed
law so FAR reaching drastic. and /
might say revolutionary in its character
as 10 produce widespread CONSERVATION
IN the public mind ana to cause every
citizen in every county in the state 10
inquire. whether the right OF local op-
ton In respect Of this or anyNother mat
ter was thereafter to be respected. The
nsanufaeture Of liquor Of ALI kinds, and
in any quantities, including domestic
wines. was prohibited under severe pen
alties- The sale OF the same in any
quantities or under any circumstances
WAS under Ike penalties prohibited. Al
though fu-rsceut years large investments
had been made In cultivation OF grapes.
and the production. Of wine. and although
the people OF the state had been urged
TO engage in the manufacture of good.
wholesome domestic wines as the surest
means OF promoting the cause OF tenn
perance. the general assembly for the
first time in the history Of the state,
by penal statute. outlawed this industry
and made criminal out OF the man who
went into his own vineyard and gather
ed his own grapes and made wine for
his own consumption. II was made Grim
inaI for u physician 20 prescribe ans
kind OF wine OF liquor Except pure al,
cnhoD for his patient. and made IL Grim,
fnaI for the druggist 10 M any such
@---r-fnstnn tt slammed in thA face Az.