The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-04-07
FiTE's FEARLESS FIGHT
Heroic Cartersvie Jurist Makes Ringing Speech
at Francis Willard Memorial Meetins-"f
"ers w On TIC Bench n Atlanta 1 or sss sa
Run Me Out"
Bv William D. rnstnx

yet! 1t saas ono of those moments which
nobody plans. and. everybody forever retnem-
berc
The Gainesville. Ga. Chapter of the Womans
Christian Temperance Union Of which Mrs w. j.
Noel is the wide-awake resourceful president,
had planned Francis Willard Memorial meet
ing on the birthday anniversary or the great
White Ribbon" leader. The place was the Sam
Jones Memorial Methodist Church and the STIR
Ing soloist of the occasion was Mrs. Annie Jones
Cunyers. daughter of the beloved and iamented
Zoe Jones ara niece of the famous and likewise
beloved Sam Jones. Into atmosphere thurs
electrical with temperance and prohibition sug-
gestiveness, William ID. Upshaw, editor of Ihe
Golden Age and somewhat of booze hShter
himself was invited to come the speaker
spoken the best he could under the cir
cumstances ON THE diminished Work of the
w. c. =. L." sitting down with the convie-
ton that the occasion needed climax 1t got
1t. The pastor of the church. Rev. Dunlap,
who the rnasterful master of ceremonies,
ana put the necessary finishing touches
on this editors speech. Dunlap knew Just now
to do the thing
Things Caught Fire.
BY this time things catching on hre,
when suddenly burst of flame leaped forth
and huge confagration' swept the crowd
Judge w, c. Ffte. whose heroic, effective work
as Presiding Judge of the Cherokee circuit
has made him a worthy addition to Carriers
vle's "coronet Of celebrities" was the cause OF
this "confaeration." He sprang to his feet, at
the psychic moment" and made an mpas-
stoned speech for Manhood in Citizens and ON
that fairly electrified the crowd. Judge
Ffte's unexpected speech OF those I'M
promptu utterances that cannot be reproduced
because the oceason-the atmosphere cannot be
put paper.
The Judges Ought to Have Been There
But would that every hestating judge
solicitor. turyman, voter and Governor IN Pro
hibition territory could have been there. We
believe he would have quafred a spinal tonic
and judicial vision that would have wrought
wonders in cline where men and wonders are
vastly needed
Declaring every place to be nuisance that la
engaged in the fragrant violation of law, ana
indicting every 'near-bee saloon and near
beer brewery to be guilty OF known violation
Of the State prohibition law, he said 1t was the
duty of every Superior Court Judge to close up
these defiant nuisances in his circuit, on the
spot And still again, amid enthusiastic APP
piause. he declared that the Governor of IL State
should remove from office any Judge or solicitor
the law of his State. KNOCK down evidence
that Judge Ffse was not indulgng simply in
fiery philipic and empty oratory is found In
the glorious fact that there Is not IA near
beer" saloon CT brewery in all the bounds OF
the Cherokee Circuit including Rome, city
OF nearly twenty thousand people.
He Routed "Uncie Sam"
1t under Judge Fite's Jurisdiction that
the famous Cureton Distillery Case occurred.
That daredevil Institution proposed make
liquor under United States revenue license,
but the loyal, fearless Judge said 1T Is against
the law in Georgia to manufacture intoxicating
liquors. You go to jail or stop He went to
jail and stopped And Judge Fite was sus-
tanned. or COURSE II Is Just as fluci asatast
the law 10 manufacture malt liquors in brew
cries 1t is TO make rye or vinous
liquors in distineries-and we call ON every
Judge in Georgia, and all other prohibition terri
tory. to catch hope from Judge Fite's victorious
hefoism and 'go and do likewise
Come-Join tho "Rcii Of Honor"
Doubtless there are many other Judges and
Solicitors in dry territory who ought TO go
on the roll of honor" with Judge F'ite and
whose eyes fall this story to let our readers
know who you are and where you are giving
any suggestion or any experience that you count
helpful In hght-the fight of all true cit'-
zens--for the enforcement of our laws and the
consequent building Of manhood. civic Ideals and
regnant citizenship.
| We appeand here brief synopsis Of Judge
Fite's speech at Cartersville-but only synop-
sis. minus the magic of the stirring n,, hour
| Our Laws Better Than Our Officers.
Our prohibition laws are all right as far
az they go. and they about far enough
What we reed most Is an honest, faithful and
vigorous enforcement of the laws which we
now have However. there should be law
7 ine<klng the possession OF United States
liquor license prima racie evidence OF guilt. Such
| a law would greatly facilitate the enforcement,
OF present prohibition laws; and blind tigers
near beer saloons and hreweries would soon be
q thing OF the past in Georgia
when says that he is opposed TO our
prohibition laws because they don't prohibit, he
says what Is met true what he knows is not
I true ard what the people know is not true. The
truth is. If he ia opposed to them at all it IS
because they do prohibit. at least to some ex-
tent: and the they prohibit the stronger
he is opposed to them. To say that can
rot enforce these laws is reflection upon
our manhood and insult to our American
I ism, and stamps us as incapable OF self-gov-
! eminent. | admit that these laws are not en-
forced as they should be. but the fault is not
! In the laws, hut in the administration of them
| The most responsible for the non en-
forcement of the law OF State Is the Governor
and next to him the Judges, and then come
the Solicitors General. the Sheriff. and the
Jurors in the order named Every criminal Law
should be enforced, and can be II those charged
with the duty Of enforcing them honest
faithful and efficient. Every official whose duty
il IL to enforce the law, and who knows that the
law is being violated and 1t Is in his power t
enforce 1t and fails and refuses to do So violates
his oath Of office and should be impeaehe ant
removed from office, Secret crimes have always
been and will always be committed. mainly. be-
cause it Is difficult to get the proof sufficient
| to convict. to apprehend the offender however
honest faithful and efficient the officials may
be; and no blame shond attach to them or
account Of their failure to entirely prohibit such
crimes But ttis is not true of crimes that are
openly and VIGOROUSLY committed for they car
and should be promptly suppressed and the ofil.
the condition of affairs In Georgia. day ant
| the officials from Governor to Bailim
! sponsible for It, each in proportion to his Off
ciaI authority. Every brewery and every
called near beer saloon In Georgia is being rur
in open and notorious violation OF the law ane
these officials know II, and could close then
lin tvsenty-fosr. hours bat fail and refuse &c
IT: and what Is more, the men who operate
the breweries and near-beer saloons know tina
these officials know II. The only difference be.
the blind tigers do not respect the law. bu
fear It; while the brewers and near-beer sa-
i loonists neither respect nor fear the law: MOI
do they either respect or fear the officials whc
fail and refuse to enforce the law. 1t has beer
| said that