Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-01-19
HOPE FOR DRASTIC
DRY LEGISLATION
RESTS WITH HARRIS?
Governor-eIeCt Hugh M, Dor
Sey'S Platform Declaration
Causes Much Speculation
Tuesday ...-

The fact that prohibition leaders were
endeavoring to get Governor Harris to
call an extra session of the legislature
for the purpose of amending the prohi-
bition laws of Georgia so as to take ad-
vantage of the recent decision of the
United States supreme court upholding
the Webb-Kenyon law brought up an in
teresting discussion in political circles
Tuesday
Some politicians take the position
that the movement to get Governor
Harris to call an extra session of the
old legislature to enact dry bone" leg
islation had been inaugurated because
of the well known platform declaration
of. Governor-elect Hugh NJ. Dorsey that
he would not approve. as governor any
change in the present prohibition laws
except where such change had first been
Endorsed by the people.
MR.. DORSEYS PLATFORM
A reference to Mr.. Dorsey's platform,
as enunciated by him in the newspapers
on June Is, 1916, shows the following
plank on prohibitions:
Il favor, and if elected governor
shall enforce in letter and spirit, to
the full limit of the powers vested
in that office, the laws prohibiting
the manufacture and sale of intoXi-
cants in this state. 1 shall oppose
constantly any change or modifica-
ton of the present laws unless such
change or modification first has been
declared to be the expressed will or
the white voters of Georgia"
Political dopesters Jonstrue this de-
claration to mean that there will be no
ted af hn n
preaching session of the new legisla-
ture. Further the opinion is expressed
that should the 1917 legislature go so
far as to pass an amendment prohibit
ing shipments of liquorNinto the state
of Georgia Governor-elect Dorsey would
probably veto it. Arguing along this
line, it was specialized that the only hope,
therefore, for making Georgia's prohibit
ton law more drastic in the near future
lay in the possibility of Governor Harris
calling an extra session of the old leg
islature before his term as governor ex-
pires.
The suggestion that Governor
Harris call an extra session has
been submitted to him by sew
eral prohibition advocates. At first
he was not inclined to give the matter
serious thought, in view of the fact
that the regular session of the legis-
lature will convene in June, but Sen
ator Ogden Persons, president of the
state senate, called on the governor at
the mansion Monday night and pre-
scented arguments which impressed him
very much. .#
The governor said Tuesday that SEN
ator Persons had presented to him "a
very, strong array of arguments" Con-
tinuing, he said 81 was very much
impressed by the senator's arguments,
and 1 will admit that 1 am interested.
The particularly forceful thing to me
is that it would be proper to give the
1855 legislature, which enacted the
present laws, an opportunity to COM
plete their work by enacting laws in
pursuance of the United States supreme
courts decision upholding the Webb
Kenyon act"
Under this decision. a state legisla-
ture has the authority, without inter-
fering with interstate commerce, to
prohibit the importation of any whis-
key, wine or beer whatsoever into the
borders of a dry state.
The power of a state to go this far
was very much in doubt before the
United States supreme court made it's
decision, and because of this doubt the
Georgia Legislature did not attempt abb
solute prohibition of the shipment of
intoxicants into the state, but limited
shipments to two quarts of whisky, or
four quarts of wine, or forty-eight
pints of beer to one individual during
period of thirty days.
In submitting the suggestion of an
extra session to the governor, Senator
Persons made the following arguments:
That the 1915-16 legislature would
have prohibited shipments of intoxi-
cants into the state if its authority had
been clear; that it should now be given
an. opportunity, in the light of the SUI
preme courts decision, to complete its
work; that the temper of the next leg
islature is still uncertain; that the cost
of an extra session of ten days would
not be more than $4,000, while the ex-
penditures of the state for imported in
toxicants already run to $7,0o0,O0O a