Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-05-02
PROHIBITION LAWS
BECAME EFFECTIVE
At MIDNIGHT HOUR
Atlanta and Georgia Today
Are as Dry as Statute Could
Make Any Community or
State

Today Atlanta and Georgia are as dry
as drastic prohibition laws can make j
community or a state.
The new prohibition laws, as drastic
as were ever written for this or any
other state. became EFFECTIVE Sunday
night at midnight, but they were prac-
ticslly put into effect Saturday night
( by the existing Sunday closing regula-
tions.
Governor Harris has issued a special
proclamation urging the people of the
state to support its officers in their ef-
forts TO enforce the new statutes.
The good name and honor of the
state is involved in this matter" writes
the governor, ''and whatever may have
been the former views of our citizens
as to the enactment of these laws, they
are now on our statute books. 1 beg
all the people to unite in upholding the
hands of those charged with the duty
of enforcing them"
In Atlanta the police are making their
preparations to vigorously enforce the
new laws and incidentally TO wage more
actively than ever the fight against
blind tigers.
The streets were cowded Saturday
quite a big per cent of the visitors hav-
nearby towns and outlying districts 10
bid last farewell to the locker clubs
and near-beer saloons.
Saturday found a very depleted stock
in all of the saloons and clubs as the
proprietors and officials were prepared
to have no intoXicants on nand when
the closing hour arrived.
Visitors i'm automobiles and in wa
CONS took away a large part of the re-
naming stock of the beer saloons on
Saturday.
The streets were dotted all day with
men carrying suit cases, although they
neither appeared traveled-stained nor
were they hurrying to a depot.
The arrival of May l. 1916. which
saloonists have been stoically awaiting
since the extra session of the legisla-
ture last November, means that more
than 100 saloons in Atlanta have shut
their doors. Some of the saloon sites
will be occupied within a few days by
other business, but as saloons their
doors are finally locked.
A detail of policemen under the direct
orders Of Chairman A. r. King. of the
police commission, and Chief w. NJ.
Mayo saw to- that Saturday night.
When Saturday night arrived all of
the clubs.in the city, which had not gone
out of business, had completed arrange
ments for getting all intoXicants out
of the club houses before Monday.
The last wet night of the clubs was
marked with brilliant entertainments at
the more exclusive social clubs, while al
the Theatrical. the Atlanta. the Central.
and the Transportation. the members, I
who had waited for midnight to come,
drank last toast. for these clubs have
closed their doors forever.
Chief of Police Mayo announced Sat-
urday night that he had made arrange |
p1aurS n secure of comics of
the new law in order that the force |
might be familiariZed with it,
Il have instructed the men," said the |
chief, Ito enforce the law to the letter. |
1 am going to do my best to enforce it /
like all other laws"
The Woman's Christian Temperance
union I'm Georgia is evidently from
Missouri and wants to be shown that
officials of the state are going to make |
the new laws mean what they say, for |
Mrs. Mary l.. McLendon, a prominent |
official. made the following statement |
Saturday
I'VE have come to the conclusion thai !
it would he better not to have de- |
monstration. However, we are plan /
ming for "A service Of rejoicing just as |
soon as we can ascertain to what ex- /
tent tine new prohibition law will be en-
forced
The W. Z. r. L. had made plans to
bury king Alcohol" on Monday with
a ceremony and a procession fitting tae (
nigh rank of the deceased. This plan /
was abandoned Saturday, Mrs. McLen I
don making the statement quoted above !
in explanation of the abandonment Of ,
the plan.
The new laws. which have already be- I
come effective practically and will oe
effective technically at midnight, are |
detailed in the course of the proclama- |
ton by Governor Harris. which follows: /
To the People of Georgia:
On tomorrow, the first day OF
May, will go into operation the
laws enacted by the last legisla-
ture at it's extraordinary session,
to prevent the sale or manufacture
Continued on Page ,, Col. a.