Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-06-11
WILSON CIRCULARNEW PROHIBITION
ST|RS CLARK MEN.F |GHT FORESEEN
Politicians Believe "Wet'' and
"Dry" Question Will Be the
Issue This Fall.

There is a growing belief among
shrewd political observers that delib-
crate effort is under way in Georgia
to make the prohibition question an
issue in the forthcoming gubernatorial
campaigns.
Unless some visible signs are at
fault, Georgia may be facing another
Brown Russell Brown governorship
fight, with the election Of legislature
an added complication of tremendous
Importance.
Joe Hill Hall. of Bib, has taken a
stand in favor of modification OF
the present state wide prohibition law,
TO the extent, at least, of establishing.
under local option system so-called
package houses" throughout the state
John M. Slaton has not announced
his attitude with respect to the ques-
ton of prohibition. but as he heartily
supported Joseph NJ. Brown in the last
fight it is assumed that his position
will be practically the same as that oc-
cupied by the governor, in the event OF
the issue being made.
DR.. L. C. Hartman, of Jackson, whose
candidacy is practically assured, so
friends close to him say, unquestion-
ably will stand for statewide prohibi-
ton of an even more stringent variety
than that the state now has. He was
the author of the present state wide
prohibition law and one Of Judge Cow
rd I'd VII
est supporters in putting the law
through the legislature.
Anti Saloon League Active.
In addition to the foregoing signifi-
cant facts, 1t is evident that the Geor-
gia AntiSaloon league is interesting
Itself deeply in the forthcoming legisla-
tive contests throughout the state.
Numerous candidates for the legisla-
ture. from all sections, have been tell
ing Of late of various communications
received from the Anti Saloon league in
Atlanta, inquinng, specifically and in
detail, as to how those candidates
stand with respect to the present pro
hibition law and how they would vote
in the event it was sought to change
1t. either by amending it in such wise
as to provide further prohibition leeis-
lation, or by repeating 1t or weakening
| 1t.
Some prospective members of the
next legislature have answered the
| leagues inquiries without hesitation
while others have hesitated to express
themselves. 1t is fact of some sig-5
nlncance that the candidates from Joe
Hill Halls county-Bibb-are reported
to have answered the league frankly.
and to have placed it on notice that
they favor the modification of the pres
ent law.
Does Present Law Satisfy?
That there is a wide diversity Of
opinion among Georgians concerning
the present prohibition law is unoues-
tionably fact.
Many prohibitionists think it needs
amending and strengthening in va
rlous directions before it will be an eff
receive law and guaranteed to get the
desired results. There are others who
believe it answers every reasonable
| purpose as 1t now stands and that g.
should be left severely alone. There
/
modified to meet the demands of q sir
uation that would be legally tolerable
and at the same time satisfy approx
mately the whole of the people.
So long as these conditions exist
politicians generally are at loss to
know exactly where they stand and
leaders of the various lines of thought
are by no means certain which lineur
would prevail in a genuine showdown
at the ballot box.
Politicians Guessing.
That there is much hesitancy on all
sides again to precipitate the prohib-
ton question upon Georgia is true.
Legislative candidates generally
would much prefer to sidestep it and
let it severely alone. Even the euber-
material candidates believe it would
bring on red-hot and bitter 6sbt
from which they naturally shrink.
On the other hand, there appears to
be strenuous ones determined that the
prohibition question shall be fought 10
finish in this state once more-hght
ers and partisans who profess IN feel
that the last time this question was
submitted to the people. ii was sinh
mitted so indirectly and so inconch-
slVely that no verdict actually was
rendered, and that nothing short Of an
other contest will show which way the
wind really is blowing in Georgia.
It is a circumstance of considerable
importance that the very first Dill the
legislature will be called upon to take
up after it is called TO order this
summer is the famous Tippins bill-a
bill which provides for the strengthen
ing of the prohibition law by closing
all near-becr saloons in Georgia