Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-03-17
WEBB LAW WILL
MAKE GEORGIA
RY--WRIGHT
Prohibition Leader Sure Meas
ure Will Close All Bars and
Clubs in the State.

Hon. Seaborn Wright. former legi--
latol. noted orator and lecturer tho
father Of prohibition in Georgia aud
the one ever vigiIant arch enemy of
the Demon Rum everywhere. talked
most interestingly and significantly TO-
day Of the probable effect Of the Webb
law in Georgia. when it goes into e.
feet on July /.
According TO the Floyd county man.
who is on his way home from filing a
lecture date in Athens, the Webb bill
has teeth in it. so far as Georgia is
concerned, anyway, and that those teeth
are exceedingly sharp and hard as steel
He predicts that the Webb law will
werve to put every near beer saloon and
social club operating a locker system
within the state completely and alto
wother out Of business. He says that
only the election or the appointment OF
utterly unwilling and Incompetent state
snd Federal officials can prevent this
sure climax OF prohibition hopes In
Georgia.
Il do not know 20 much about what
said Mr.. Wright to Georgian reporter
today, but 1 will go on record right
nov az saying that the Webb bin IS
going to make violations OF the prohi-
bation law in Georgia exceedingly pei
ilous undertaking..
1.-THE webb law which seeks TO pre-
vent the shipment Of liquors from wet
into dry states for Illegal purposes,
has long sharp and decidedly hard
touth in II. and | can tell you why.
THE laws OF Georgia make the pos
session Of a Federal liquor license
ur4ma facic evidence of an intent to
break tho state prohibition statutes
Hence every shipment Of liquor made
TO the holder Of a Federal liquor license
presumably is made to a person in
tending to violate the prohibition laws
Of the state.
License Denotes Guilt
1.-The very minute the Federal gov
eminent Issues liquor license in
Georgia, II provides the person, firm or
club accepting 1t the very evidence the
state requires to set up a case 10
which the Webb law applies directly.
In these circumstances we will be
able TO get at every near-beer saloon,
locker club. drug store, person, firm or
corporation holding Federal licenses
and receiving shipments of liquor in
Georgia
II do not know the exact figures to-
day. but year ago there were 1,S2O
holders OF Federal licenses in Georgia
IS rectifers, 1,427 retail liquor dealers
los wholesale liquor dealers. brewers
2o7 malt liquor retail dealers, and 81
wholesale malt liquor dealers. Quite
some total OF liquor dealers-now hid
ing behind the Federal laws. eh?
"A good deal depends. Of course, in
getting the full benefits of the Webb
law. upon the quality OF Federal Off
Gals we draw undor the new arrange
ment OF things in Washington. II our
Federal district attorneys are men who
wink and blink at the Webb law, the
returns from the same win be linn
ited. II. on the other hand, those OH
GERS are appointed from the ranks OF
those mo win go right after the men
who propose and viii undertake 10
evade on ignore the provisions Of that
law. there win Doe mighty rattling OF
bones in Georgia soon.
1T has been said, in an effort TO dis
credit the present state wide prohlpt-
ton laws. that 1noonshiniug' is on the
Increase in Georgia Is that So II
would be interesting to know the exact
truth OF the assertion. As that Is a
vitally important collateral proposition,
a real, active. I-wunt-to-k know district
attorney might help some in getting at
the facts in the case.
you see / am merely emphasizing
the desirability. if not the positive ne
cessity. OF having Federal officials in
charge of the revenue laws who will
wish to enforce the Webb law, espe-
cially provided for their benefit and as
sis,ancc.
Coneressmen Laughing.
4 understand that some of our con-
Eressmen a.-e laughing in their sleeves
and actually Dragging that they voted
for the Webb law knowing there is
nothing in it-that ii is without teeth
one congressman has gone So tau az TO
say il does not affect neaT-beer sa-
looms and rocker clubs i'm Georgia at all
MAYBE these near statesmen are
right. but ] will promise them this-I
viii undertake 70 guarantee, with the
help OF the webb bill that no near
beer saloons or illegal locker clubs shall
exist in my county. And if ]. a private
citizen. can guarantee that, ana make
good on my guarantee. the sworn OH >
GERS OF the law, state and Federal. can
do as well in their respective fields OF
endeavor.
y will promise that the Webb bill
will bite, and bite hard. in Georgia
and after july | those who think other
wise shall see how sadly they are mis-