Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-01-28
ROME CRUSADERS
HIT BY NEPHEW
Of WRIGHT I.
Judge WiIIingham Says "LaW
and Order League Fanatics"
Are Running Town.

ROME, GA, Jan. 27.-Hon. Wright
Willingham, former recorder Of the po-
lice court of this city, nephew of the
famous prohibition leader, Seaborn
Wright. and prominent lawyer and
Sunday school worker, has created a
genuine sensation here by denouncing
the local law and order league, or
committee Of seventy" of which his
distinguished uncle is the head. as set
of fanatical meddlers, more concerned
with sending a Niger to the chain
gang for violating the prohibition law"
than with conserving the material and
reasonable interests of the city.
Rome has gone crazy over this law
and order business" said Mr.. willing
ham in an address published, in part, in
The Rome, Tribune Herald, land so
long is they can send VIII Martin ct
al to the changing, some people are
perfectly willing to let the town go to
hell-and that is right where 1t is 60
ing, unless the people wake up to the
real condition and take more interest in
their affairs"
Continuing Mr.. Willingham said:
How many men run this town.
Some say twelve, some say two, and
think the latter number is nearer
correct than the former. But how are
they running it? We do not know, but
we see evidences of extravaganza on
hand uySt
ing tax rate. that if kept up will ruin
the owners of property.
Leaders Have Gone Crazy"
What is the trouble? | will tell you.
1t is because our leading citizens have
gone crazy on the subject of law and
order leagues. and care absolutely moth
ing about the town. That is the only
thing they take any interest in. II they
can get few poor devils in the chain
gang they are happy, and the town can
go into bankruptcy for all they care.
This law and order business is fun
ny. They have big meeting up at the
big church with two speakers. To hear
these people talk you would think there
was no crime in the world except SELL
ing liquor. They care not il you violate
all of the Ten Commandments, except
the one against liquor selling that has
been added. They damn the liquor
seller while the good old sisters shout
hallelujah. and the good brothers have
electric thrills running up and down
their spines
"All they want to do is to catch
few Of these little scavengers. Finally
it got to where the seavengers would
have mobbed that law and order bunch
if they hadn't done something else. so
they got after the big circus, the Elks
club. II they had done that first, Will
Martin and his gang would never have
been so defiant of the law.
Wants to See Awakening.
What | do want is to see our aver
age citizens, our strong, sensible com
mon people, wake up and begin to take
an interest in their own affairs. and
take the reins of government into thei1
own hands, instead of dancing to the
tune piped by few politicians. If
they do not, God pity US ALL"
Mr.. Willingham's reference to two
men running the town. presumably
means his uncle, Seaborn Wright, and
Judge John w. Maddox, for both have
been prominent in the law and order
activity, and were the two speakers
in the big church" meeting directly re-
ferred to-
The closing OF the Eiks club two
months ago was effected through bring
ing Of an injunction against it as
nuisance" by Mr.. Wright Mr.. Will
lingham is not member of that club
nor any other in the city. but the clos
ing of it evidently made a profound
impression upon him.
The utterances Of the former recorder
Of the city. very familiar with il,
status morally and otherwise, in which
he so severely lambasts his uncle and
the retiring judge of the superior court.
is the one topic OF conversation among
citizens today, and has aroused a lot OF
vehement discussion. favorable and
otherwise.
BY reason of the activity of the Law
and Order league in Rome, every locker
club in town has been closed, all near
beer saloons have been abolished Sun
day selling Of soda water and cigars
has been stopped. and playing pool on
the loser pays-for-t the game plan has
been cut out.