Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1916-02-13

II appearing IudI 6uOTIS are DeluS
made to discredit the present admin
istration of Savannah by the dissem-
ination of reports rejecting directly or
by innuendo on it's good faith and trust
worthiness as regards the announced
determination to rigidly and persist
emily enforce the new anti-liquor lays
of the state enacted at the laate special
session of the General Assembly, and
knowing that tire is no real basis
for such attacks, and feeling that all
should be properly informed as to the
facts, facts well known to all intelli-
gent citizens, and incapable of sue
cessful contradiction, we beg to re-
spectfully present them for your care
full consideration and guidance as fol-
lows:
Since the Inauguration of the ex-
listing near beer license in 1908 which
gave a cover under which the sale of
intoxicants might be conducted, there
has been a continued widespread and
open violation of the law in Savannah,
as we understand, has been true in
other cities, as regards the sale of
strong drinks. The city has issued,
together with the county and state
licenses for the sale of near beer a
non-eXisting article, under the guise
of which a regular liquor business has
been carried on for eight years. AS
an alderman, the present Mayor of
Savannah, Hon. Wallace j. iPerpont,
sought to mitigate the evils of the sys-
TEN, being powerless to prevent their
q ~ oil
men, minority of the board, stood
for an increase in the license from
$500 to $1,000 and for limiting the
number of license, hoping in this
way to materially lessen the evils OF
bar rooms. Defeated in this, he and
those associated with him, sought to
raise the license to $500, but unsuc-
cessfully. He and they also sought,
and with success to drive the bar
rooms out Of large residence section
of the city, and even If the state had
not passed the new laws they would
have continued their battle to draw
in the lines by restriction in every di-
rection, making the best fight they
could do as a minority under the old
laws and the conditions surrounding
them.
'Mr. Pierpont was elected Mayor
III October, 1915, so he has been at the
head of the city government less than
four months. His announcement that
he would enforce the new law without
fear or favor as long as he is Mayor
has already led to the closing of go bar
rooms, the proprietors going out Of
business rather than continue with an
assurance that they could not sell
after next April. The other bars were
allowed to continue until April 20,
1916, the conclusion being reached by
the City Council than inasmuch as they
had been allowed to operate for eight
years heretofore, they should be al
lowed the time limit given them by
the new state law in which to close
out their businesses and seek other
lines of activity. In this action the
sentiment of Savannahians opposed to
the liquor business and in favor of law
enforcement agreed, we believe prac-
tically unanimously and heartily, it be-
ing felt that the city government was
pursuing what was probably the best
policy under the conditions that ex-
listed here.
"The clean-cut announcement of
Mayor Pierpont's intention to enforce
the new laws honestly and impartially
has cleared the atmosphere, encour-
aged latent but extensive sentiment
il favor of law enforcement to assert