Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-11-17
Communicated
WHISKY AND BEER INTEREST
WOULD DEFEATPOPE BROWN

are SuppOSeQ py their be
prohibitionists. But the beer people know
it is going to pass in 1912 and that, IL Il
does, their business Is doomed. No mat
ter how many men helped to stave of
action on II last summer in the legisla'
ture, the beer and liquor people both
know that when II comes to the show
down on the direct issue, the bill VII
pass 1t accomplishes two results. il
puts an effective stop TO the licensing OF
crime, and it provides rule of evidence
that will take from criminals the pro-
lection heretofore afforded by the con-
struction that hes been put upon the pro-
hibition law by Judge Russell and the
court of appeals.
Now the whiskey men and the beer
men both understand perfectly well the
utter insincerity of Governor Browns
profession as to a referendum and that
It is merely a pretense under which he
hopes to get into office and then use
his office to defeat the Tippins bill; and
both of them know equally we'll that
Judge Russell can't get any local option
law passed by this legislature, and Judge
Russell knows 1t. But the beer people
will be very well satisfied with Brown
and a veto of the Tippins BILL because
they don't care anything about local
option as long as the judiciary, or nay
large section of IL, is doing nothing to
stop their business. They know that
the Tippins bill will not only stop the
present criminal manufacture and sale of
beer N Atlanta, but that, by cutting off
the revenues from IL TO Augusta and Sa-
vannah. a strong movement will have
been set on foot in those cities which
will eventually bring about. even there,
enforcement of the law IN spite OF the
unfortunate ruling of Judge Russell and
the court of appeals.
Let me tell you something about the
possibilities of legislation. The people
do not realize how hard 1t is to pass
prohibition LEGISLATION even where a
clear majority favors it, / can't go
into the details here. haven't the time.
But / solemnly declare the belief to you,
after seven years of experience in the
legislature, that ii is practically impossi-
BILE for the prohibitionists to pass any
effective laws on this subject, unless
the bill is the first bill on the calendar
or has three-fourths majority behind
it.
Take 1t from me, as solemn warning
to the people of Georgia, not to surren-
der the Invaluable advantage we now
have in the position of the Tippins bill.
Any other measure can confidently ex-
pect straight fight on its merits, but
whenever bill is up that will really
hurt the liquor interests, It must fight,
not merely for passage, but for hear
ing And / warn you that on that pre-
liminary fight the bill will always be
knitted by men who will not dare to vote
against it when it comes to a final is
sue on the merits.
1 am not going to discuss the right or
wrong OF filibustering. Personally /
disapprove Of It, but many sincere men
4 al xxrhn rho
respect. contend that it is right TO use
the rules of the legislature In any way
they can to defeat legislation they OPP
pose. Be that as it may, l have never,
in my own legislative experience known
a filibuster resorted to except against
prohibition legislation, and have never
seen really effective prohibition meas.
ure escape filibustering tactics.
I say these things in order that the
sincere prohibitionists of Georgia may
clearly understand the gravity of the
to the people of Georgia that believe
/ understand the situation; that the Tip
pins bill will certainly pass next sum-
mer: that its passage will stop one of
the crimes that is now disgracing the
state and bringing about an unfortunate
condition of grave distrust in the public
mind as to the efficiency of our judi
eiary. But warn you further. that ir
either Judge Russell or Governor Brown
is elected, the bill will be vetoed. ana
that IL will be most likely impossibis
to pass it over the veto. For / give
no credit 20 the threat of the liquor
people That was made to whip the
beer people into line. and the blufr
worked. But IL don't fool me- I tell
you further that If we lose the present
opportunity. / gravely doubt If we will
be able to get another bill up to the
point of action in five years.
Now what is it that Judge Russell
proposes2
He solemnly asserts that statute
law of this old state that we all love
and honor. statute that has been writ
ten on our books in the very hearts
blood of women and children, after 40
years of travail is being violated by
lawless and mercenary men, and that
the state can not enforce it. because
anarchists. mercenary anarchists, have
otherwise decreed and stand in an at
titude of open defiance TO sovereign au-
thority.
And so declaring, this judge of her
courts, sworn to administer the law and
uphold its honor, not laying down in
the meanwhile the power that was CIV
en- him by Georgia wherewith to en-
force her laws, but holding on to the
authority he confesses himself power
less to exercise, this guardian of the
law is going up and down through the
borders of the state, rot denouncng
the criminals but reviling the law maxi
ers. not uttering his invectives lgIinst
crime but exhausting his vocabulary
in denunciation of the law itself that
was put into his hands to enforce.
To make the blister of such q sit
uation yet blacker on the honor of the
state. whose commission is held by this
reviler of her laws. every man who
hates the law and daily helps to violate
IL has rallied to his aid, and the ma
tional organization of ne liquor deal
ers maintain an emissary in our midst
to nullify our statutes and guide and
direct the motley horde who follow a
Georgia judge in his hatreds and re, il
ings of Georgia law.
Startling as is this situation. lnon-
strous and unheard of heretofore in hu.
man history, that judge 90 the courts
Of any state should find himself the
chosen hope and captain of he law
less of the land, yet more sIartling
thing exists in the counsel that he gives
to Georgians.
Think you that he calls. this judge
of ours, upon the old staunch spirit
of this people to make itself felt? Does
any blast upon his bugle horn call us
/ to the world-old battle against an