Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-11-14

declared that ne mas neglected none OF
the duties of that court OF which he is
a member. / take it for granted that he
Is telling the truth. therefore, we must
conclude that he has no duties 90 per-
form. Therefore, If he has no duties to
perform there Is no use for the court
Therefore. the people should be saved
the expense of that court which amounts
To about s25.00g per annum. II, on the
other hand. the supreme court should
need relief we do not need such court
as the court of appeals. for the reason
that there are now two courts with con-
current Jurisdiction over many subjects
and rendering different decisions SO that
not only laymen but lawyers are at
loss to know what the law is.
PROHIBITION.
In the second place, there has been
another issue injected into this campaign
which is OF more Importance TO the peo-
ple OF Georgia than any question which
has confronted them for many years
II is proposed that we take backward
step upon that question. II is proposed
TO repeal me laws upon temperance as
they now stand Not for the purpose or
Improving these laws but in order that
Georgia may give its sanction TO the
liquor traffic within her borders. 1t has
lbeen stated that this question was in
Iected into this campaign By Judge Rus
sell and myself That is true or II is
not true Without any apology for the
part which have taken and am now
taking propose TO give the facts in the
case. Not until this question had been
injected did / ever make any reference
to il. directly or Indirectly, In any pri-
waite conversation or in any public speech
for the simple reason that it was not
for me TO raise the issue. We have a
Jaw in favor OF statewide prohibition
enacted by the legislature. Two legfs-
latures have been elected since that
time and the people have made no pro-
test through their representatives. 1t
was not for one who was in favor Of the
law TO raise the issue II remained for
those who opposed the law and wished
/ TO have II repealed 10 attack the prin-
ciple for which the people of this coun-
try have been contending for many
years. The attack was made by Judge
Russell in his speech at Lyons. Ca,
when he declared for local option, which
in its last analysis is another name for
whiskey In other words. his proposition
was ,nat Georgia should sanc..on ,.le
sale, of liquor within her borders. I did
not believe then. and 4 do not believe
now, thai any man should take either
side OF this question to use as a hobby
horse to ride into office. At the same
time it is too great a question for any
man TO dodge for the purpose of get
ting votes. There is a wide difference
in raising an issue and in meeting an
issue. Judge Russell raised the issue
met IT, The Hon. Joseph NJ. Brown
tries to dodge the issue. Three days
after Judge Russell injected this issue
into the campaign I was called upon by
kilograms TO state my position upon
that question: Without any hesitancy
sent the following reply: II have al
ways voted the prohibition ticket and
viii stand or fall with that crowd
IL Is contended that this question should
not have been an issue in this campaign.
That is theory The condition rs that
II has been made an issue by Judge Rus.
sell. The question is shall we meet it.
run from ii or defend the principles OF
prohibition / have undertaken TO de-
fend the principles which have
stood for all my life. It never occurred
TO me that / would be called upon 10
acs as the standard bearer of so great
cause II was far from my intention
70 assume this position, but when
found my position endorsed by that
noble army OF men and women from one
end OF this state to the other who for
so many years have hmen. conteudfng
Tor this great principle I take II as an
honor greater than the governorship.
FROM personal standpoint Il would
make but little difference to the people Of
Georgia whether / am elected or deeeat
ed. but for the cause OF prohib3tlon 70
be defeated or weakened would be a CA
lamity worse than Sherman's march 70
the sea IT Is contended that the cleo
ton OF local option candidate would
have no bearing upon the status OF pro-
hibition; that the legislature is already
elected and fixed. My contention Is that
the legislature could become unfixed In
~ "a aauT
ed member OF the legislature is
known as the representative OF the views
OF his people. As an individual he may
be in favor OF prohibition II his peop,e.
after ne was elected, should record them
selves as in favor of local option he
would within his rights feel authorized
TO vote for local option and represent the
views OF his people rather than his own.
Even should that not be the case IL the
local option candidate should be elected
/ II would have its effect upon the sue
ceeding legislature. Some OF those who are
opposing Judge Russell are amongst those
who have advocated the whisky traffic
for years and are amongst those who for
many months have cried local option The
trouble with them is that the wrong man
said it, but when he heard so much from
these advocates Of local option for the
past IS months be thought that there
he decided TO speak first David Harum
says: Whenever you go to trade horses
with a man do unto him as he would do
unto you. but do it TO him first" That
I is what Mr. Russell did Then these peo.
: pie who had been advocating local option
hOoted at the ieda and said there was
4 nothing in his position. The truth is.
I the wrong man said It. IN my opinion,
they had a man tied out whom they
I expected to run on a local option plat
form Now these people were IN
quandary as TO what they would do with
that tied-out candidate There was al
ready enc candidate in the field adyo-
eating liquor; there was another candi-
date opposing il. II was serious ques-
ton as to where they should place their
candidate. In his first letter to the peo-
/ pie OF Georgia as a candidate for gov
ernor the Hon. Joseph NJ. Brown made
bid for the whisky vote. They lined
I'D behind him from one end OF Georgia
to the other. After a great deal
Of maneuverinE his friends finally
placed him on plank which
they called dry. and he went
forth, some prohibitionists believing
he was with them and the whisky men
knowins he was with them. He was