Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-05

Wright Willingham, Of Rome, pres
idcnt Of the local Chamber OF Com
merce. and for several years Record
er Of the Police Court OF the Hill
City. is an open and avowed advo-
cate Of the repeal Of the Statewide
prohibition law, which was placed on
the statute books Of Georgia largely
through the instrumentality Of his
Uncle, Seaborn Wright.
Mr. Willingham, originally q
staunciL upholder of this law, has now
sWeepingly reversed his former atti-
tude and says his present position
has been brought about SOLELY be-
cause the law I'm practice falls far
short Of what it promised to be in
theory"
IN an Interview, based largely upon
recent happenings in Atlanta, in The
Rome Tribune Herald. Mr. willing
ham INDUCED in some extremely in
teresting and picturesque language, a
part Of which is quoted here.
Mr. Willingham said;
THE Fulton County Grand Jury is
composed Of typical Atlanta citizens.
typical Georgia citizens. but they
happen to live in a cosmopolitan city
where we have sickened OF the senti-
mental slogan Of legislating religion
down the throats Of the community.
SO the Grand Jury refuses to indict.
"This is argument enough 10 justi-
fy the repeal Of the wide pro-
hibition law. and a return to the local
option system.
THE only recourse left commu
nifty like Atlanta is the injunction,
and majority will not always sub
NIT TO the tyranny Of a minority, eX-
ercised through the injunction.
THE object of the injunction Is to
accomplish by this means what a
jury will refuse to give. II juries
will not indiCt, and will not convict
then enjoin a man from selling liz
uor; and II he refuses to obey the in
junction, put him in Jail for contempt
Of court; and there, by indirect means.
you witness a man deprived Of the
right Of a jury trial. and sent to Jail
without the privilege of having his
case heard by a jury composed Of his
fellow countrymen!
American people will not perma
nently submit to these methods. I'm
less we repeal the State wide prohi
bition law, Georgia will soon be In the
fix tempest tossed Tennessee is in.
Each Of the counties In Georgia
should settle for themselves this liz
uor question.
Il hope men may take this position
all over Georgia Let the candidates
speak out, and let us settle this ques-
ton by a proper bill leaving the mat
ter to the people of Georgia, whether
they really want State wide prohibit
tion or local option.
Il am not going to vote for a man
who is unwilling to fix this thing
where the people can have a chance
to vote
"They were denied this opportunity
when the present Statewide bill was
put over
The friends of j Randolph Ander-
son, President of the Georgia Senate
are booming him loud and long as a
particularly fit and proper man to
stand for Governor as South Geor-
gia's choice in the event Governor
Slaton is sent to the United States
Senate.
Mr., Anderson will, under the oper-
alton Of law, become acting Governor
for short term, following Governor
Slaton's resignation (if the Governor
I Sis ti0 anu tSdlult anu u llldl tA-
tent he viii be in line for promotion
to the full term to follow. He has
made, moreover, an able and popu-
lar presiding officer In the Senate.
and has a record therein that will
stand him in good stead in a race for
the Governorship.
Mr.. Anderson has represented Chat
ham County in the House several
times, and will be returned to the
Senate without opposition If he makes
that race again In addition thereto.
If he Is returned to the Senate, he
most probably will be re- elected
President of the same, without oppo-
sition
So it may be seen that In running
for Governor he viii give up a good
Zeal in another direction.
Mr. Anderson is very loyal in his
friendship, both personal and polit-
zeal, TO Governor Slaton--and his cam
didacy for the Governorship is predi-
Gated entirely and altogether upon the
idea that the Governor is to go to the