Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1915-08-16
IN
LEGISLATION Is
STRONGLY URGED
Especial to Times-Recorder.l

Especial to Times-Recorder.l
ATLANTA, Ca, Aug. 16.-Tne atti-
tude of conservative people in Fulton
county on the prohibition question is
believed to be accurately reflected in A
statement issued today by Colonel
Walter P. Andrews, of the Fulton
legislative delegation.
i am not opposed" says Colonel
Andrews, to any temperate brand of
temperance, or to a rigid execution of
our prohibition laws, which are al
ready strongly worded and statewide
In their operation, but am unaltera-
bly, opposed to the ideas and policies
of little coterie of well known fanat-
les in Atlanta.
For instance, one of these fanatics
said to me that there was nothing that
could possibly come before he Georgia
legislature as important as strength
ening the prohibition laws. Another
one of them declared to the temperance
committee of the house that he would
rather see an open bar room on every
road crossing in Georgia and upon ey.
cry street corner in Atlanta than to
see the locker clubs of Atlanta con-
tinue to exist.
And still another one declared that
he would rather see the w e. A rail.
road burned up from one end to the
other than to witness the failure of the
prohibition legislation
These are the men that are LEADING
the fight for rabid prohibition, drastic
and, l believe. unconstitutional laws
now pending before the Georgia legis-
iature So far as am concerned.
am not opposed to our prohibition
laws. am not opposed to strength.
ening them, nor am / in any manner
opposed to real temperance, but |
cannot and will not follow such lead
ership as that to which I have re-
ferred.
There is a reasonable and right
course in all things, and there ought
TO be temperance in dealing with tha
temperance question. 1t certainly was
not the wise leadership of the tenn
perance cause that forced the adjourn
ment OF the Georgia legislature before
enacting into law the appropriations
Dill, which is absolutely necessary to
the existence of the states institu-
tons, and which bill was practically
ready to be passed when the lower
house of the legislature forced the ad-
journment.
i have studied the w. & A. situation
very carefully and the commission hill
looking to the releasing of the road
should certainly have been passed he
fore the adjournment of the leeisla.
ture' for If it is postponed until mex.
summer it is very doubtful in nv mind
whether Or not there will be time for
the commissioners to give the subjecr
the study and consideration that will
be required before intelligent and wise
action can be taken looking 10 proper
handling oftnose great properties
which undoubtedly constitute the
states most precious possession.
i do not wish to criticise anw one.
but the adjournment of the Legislature
before attending to this mater was a
mistake that will probably cost the
people of Georgia many thousands OF
dollars, and possibly millions.
i cannot believe that the people of
Georgia are so one-sided as to sink
every business consideration, great and
small, for the sake of prohibition leg.
islation of the most drastic kind"
throat. 1t is thought that Richards had
been brooding over the condition of his
health and this led to the rash act.