Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-01-05
THE FAR-REACHING MOVES.

the selection of Savannah attorney
1t is notorious fact that Savanna
and Chatham county openly violates
the prohibition law on Georgia's stat
ute books from 1908 to 1916. Some O
the connections of the events during
those days seemingly entangle Mr.. W
W. Osborne with certain organization
i'll Savannah.
Senator Hoke Smith has denied the
existence of the Osborne-Ellis-Kelley
slate. That should close the matter so
far as the senior senator is concerned,
still it must be admitted that the tri-
umvirate and its probability was in
spired from some source.
1t is not surprising that the prohi.
bition question has found its way into
the agitation, Where Savannah is
concerned, it usually develops that pro-
hibition. figures nightly.
The original law of 1908 was signed
by Hoke Smith, then governor, no"
senator. THE happiest day Of my
life" or words to that effect were Ut
tered by the senior senator when he
affixed his signature to that bill.
A certain speech alleged to have
been made by Mr.. Osborne is the topic
of foremost discussion. a few remarks
from that memorable speech before
the Hibernian society show the extreme
distaste which Mr.. Osborne bears for
prohibition. The Savannah Press Of
March 18th, 1915, contains the Osborne
speech and here is an excerpt with
quotations marks:
1T is the Legitimate offspring of
an all-day song service held with
in the state capital at the very door
of the General Assembly and
while the lawmakers were trying
to deliberate on the bill The
General Assembly was deliberately
and boastfully coereed into pass
ing an unwise, tyrannical and
ineffective statute. No rum seller,
however evil-intentioned, has ever
perpetrated wrong Tor crime)
against the law equaling that
which prohibition fanatics perpe-
trated when in their blind zeal
they defied and trampled under
foot the constitutional methods of
law-making that our forefathers
declared necessary to safeguard
our welfare and our liberty. A
statute born of unlawful methods
p never was (has) and never will
command obedience
If Osborne holds those views-and
he must to make such a speech, then
he is unfit to occupy place on the
bench of any courtroom municipal to
the highest federal court
If the judiciary joins hands with
the bowling throngs in denunciations
of laws, then the law-abiding people of
the land have little hope.
Georgia is a prohibition state, and
south Georgia-the section where the
new federal judge will preside, gave
strong assistance in the passage of the
law. The people have a right to ask
that fair and impartial mind he seat
ed on the bench, although he may not
be as fanciful on prohibition-one
way or the other, as Mr.. Osborne.
The discussion between Mr.. Osborne
and the Protestant ministers of Savan-
nah can bring no good. If it is true
that the Chatham city has such preach.
ers as Mr.. Osborne charges, then it i:
nc wonder that she ignored a state
law for eight years, and it is amazing
that she pretends to abide by it now
And if Mr. Osborne is as bad as thu
Savannah ministers charge. then wa!
,out-rather than in, should be founC
for him.
President Wilson can find a judg.
suitable to the people of south Georgi;
without having single ray of suspic