Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-03-13
PROFiI LEADERS WILL
DECLINE LEADERSHIP
OF THOS. B. FIELDER
Ogden Persons Declares Out
side Interference Would Be
Grass fmpertinanCei" Would
Have Harris Lead


house and senate.
Several days ago an offer was made
to Governor Harris by Speaker w. VI.
Burwell, of the house, and President
ogden Persons, of the senate, to CO.
operate with and support him in expedit-
ing the passage of the bone-dry legisla-
ton.
To this end they suggested that Gov
ernor Harris call caucus of the men,
bers of the house and senate on Mon
day, March 49, which will be the day
previous to the converting of the extra
session; that the governor submit to
this caucus the draft Of the bill which
he would like for the legislature to pass;
and that the caucus accept the bill
and pass it as strictly an "administra-
ton" measure
1t looked as if this sort of a plan
would go through without any hitch,
but Friday afternoon Mr.. Fielder, general
council for the Atlanta Law Enforce
ment committee, sent out letters 20
members of the general assembly call
ing a caucus on his account to meet at
the Hotel Ansley ION the evening of
M.rch 10.
This action on the part Of Mr.. Fielder
resulted in several of the influential
members Of the legislature, including
some who were members of the prohibit
ton steering committee when the pres
en- laws were passed, coming to At
la1ta Saturday to urge the governor to
&C ahead with the plan of calling his
own conference and caucus They in
formed the governor, it is said, that if
h, wished an expeditions and harmoni-
oIs session he had better ignore any out
SIDE interference.
In view of the situation The Journal.
sseking to ascertain the true facts con-
corning what appeared to be the pos
sibility of a division in the ranks of the
Crohibitionists. wired the following in
quiry to President Persons, of the SEN
ate who was one of the first to sug-
gest an extraordinary session and who
has consistently advocated one:
will the caucus to be arranged for
by you, Speaker Burwell, Governor Har
ris and others to draft a bone-dry bill
be merged with that called by Thomas
B. Fielder, or will you proceed indie
pendently of the Atlanta Law Enforce
ment committee?"
To this inquiry Mr.. Persons, tele-
graphing The Journal from his home
at Forsyth, replied:
I'm answer l will state that 1
have made no arrangement with Mr.. ,
Burwell Or Governor Harris for the
holding of a caucus to consider a
bone-dry BILL
when l suggested to Governor
Harris that he convoke the legisla-
ture into extra session for the pur-
pose of enacting a bone-dry bill,
I did so upon reading the decision
of the supreme court of the United
States, upholding the constitution
ality of the Webb-Kenyon act, be-
lieving that the people of the state
need and desire a bone-dry bill and
knowing that a great majority of
the legislature is for dry prohibit
ton.
II believe that now is the time for
the desired legislation to be enacted.
When the governor decided to issue
the call ] suggested to him that he
call a caucus of members of the
legislature to consider such bill as
he might urge them to enact, be-
lieving that the prohibition members
would follow his suggestion. and
futher suggested that he invite all
the members to sign the bill agreed
upon which should be known as the
administration bill.
"Inasmuch as this act of the gov
ernor is to result in the most con-
spicuous service ever yet rendered
by governor TO the state. I think
it but just that he alone get the full
credit of the dry law, when it is
enacted.
with this idea in mind l have
rendered unto him my services sub
iect to his command. A short, de-
cisive session of the legislature in
extra session is greatly to be de-
sired, and, of course, this depends
. upon the unity and harmony of the
prohibition majority.
81 believe that such session can
be realized by the action of the gov
ernor in Gsyailing himself of this ma
jority and that the prohibition men,
bers Will be glad to hold a caucus
under his direction. l do not think
that the members will brook any
outside person or set of persons ar
rogating unto themselves the right
10 prescribe the character of the
legislation TO be enacted. They do
not need this assistance. To my
mind it is Grass impertinence.
Therefore, l cannot speak for either
Governor Harris or Mr.. Burwell, but
/ can say for myself that l shall
take no part whatever in any eau
Gus of members of the legislature
to be held at the call of either Mr..
Fielder or the Atlanta Law Enforce
ment league.
Il did not caucus with them when
I suggested to the governor that he
issue the call for the extra session,
and I know of no reason why l
should do so now"
There seems to be some difference or
opinion between Mr.. Persons and Mr.
Fielder as to who was really influential
in causing Governor Harris to issue the
call for the extra session. The govern
or is not admitting that either deserves
the credit.
Mr. Fielder stated saturday that "all
this talk about friction was pure moon
shine" He said THE legislature will
meet and promptly pass the bone dry
prohibition bills"
There is a possibility that the present
situation will develop a division among
the prohibitionists in both the house and
senate. with the further possibility of
two distinct and separate bone dry bills,
fathered and sponsored by two oppos-
Ing factions. being introduced The re-
suit of such a situation cannot be fore
cast now, but in all probability will
lengthen the session considerably more
than would be necessary If all interests
were united on the same measure.
Following the report which was gen.
eral in statehouse circles Friday that the
position of commissioner of prohibitionI
to direct the enforcement of the law will
be rendered. if created, to Mr.. Fielder. |
Mr.. Fielder issued a statement declaring |
that he will not accept any office elective
or appointive, state or federal.
this statement and 20 his let