The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1911-10-10
JOE BROWN IS
OUT IN A CARD
TO THE VOTERS
STILL DoDeEs THE LOCAL oP-
| TIoN ISSUE AND SAYS SHOULD
r NOT BE IN THE CAMPAIGN.
Tries to Inject Some Of the Old Bit
/ ter Feeling Into the Present Cam
paisn by Bringing Up Old Scores
/ Settled When Smith Was Elected.

+
Atlanta, Ca, Oct. 9.-Former Gov
ernor Joseph M. Brown gave out his
first expression on the present guber-
material campaign, excepting the
brief announcement that he will be in
the race, today. The address is as
follows:
To the People of Georgia:
1t has been my purpose to con-
tribute my mite toward avoiding the
useless and injurious agitation of a
long campaign. Since l gave out my
simple statement that l would be a
candidate certain developments have
transpired which not only reassure me
that l acted properly, but which
force me to forego my inclination to
keep silent until an actual vacancy
occurs. Before issuing my platform
I desire to call attention to certain
interests that, having flagrantly vio-
lated the peoples confidence, are now
intent upon fastening their clutch
upon the political affairs of Georgia,
and endeavoring to mislead the voters
into the belief that this campaign
must be decided upon a single and
false issue, injected first by outsid-
ers, and fomented by those who wish
to distract public attention from their
own misdoings. With these interests
and certain newspapers attempting to
blind the voters to the real issues by
agitating both sides of an extraneous
state unless l come out and speak
clearly and emphatically.
Shall the people weld about them
selves the iron bands of the most sell
fish political ring ever formed in
Georgia? At the prompting of certain
newspapers will they make a useless
fight over false issue? I do not be-
1ieve it.
The liquor question has no place in
this campaign, just as it had none
in the campaign of 1905 The legis-
1ature has been chosen; it is COM
mitted. Regardless of who is elected
governor it will not change the pres
ent status. 1t is known to every citi-
zen that the legislature, not the gov
ernor, is the aw-making power
Hence, no substitute for,or any change
in any OF the statutes of Georgia can
be enacted, save by the legislature
Under these conditions, therefore, ii
is manifest that local option will not
be substituted for state wide prohibi-
tory regulations during the term of
the incoming governor, unless the will
of the people can be directly ascer-
tanned, as hereinafter set forth. From
every quarters of the state has come
the inquiry: Why has the sale of liq-
uor been thrust forward as a PEI
sonal issue? Under no condition
should it be made the vehicle upon
which candidates would ride into Of
fee A principle is always higher
than a means.
In my platform wherewith l an
nounced my candidacy for the COVER
norshiF, March IS, 1903, used the
foil wing words:
''Eieh h. The strict enforcem ent ct
the present prohibition law. If the
people in the coming cla :tion ch))ti
members of the general assembly
who. in accordance with the will OF
their constituents, make any change
in the present law, l will sign the
bill thus ordered by the people"
1t developed during that campaign
that almost one half of the members
of the legislature had been nominated
in the county primaries wherein the
liquor question had not been made an
issue. In conjunction with the other
candidate it was agreed to veto any
changes in that law if made by tn
legislature during that term.
The experience OF other states ha
shown that agitation over the sup
preston of the traffic in intoxicating
liquors will continue with recurrii!
intensity until the people ha re ex-
pressed ther will on this subject a
the ballot box directly and without the
confusion of other issues and persona
candidates.. Hence, while the condi.
tions already stated will not admit o.
applying this year the procedure
named in my platform in 1908, yet 1
is possible in the coming primary II
settle the principle in manner ever
more direct. In other words, If the
Atate executive committee of the