Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-01-30


), iasm and interest over the United
States because of the decision made a
few days ago by the Supreme Court in
reference to Webb-Kenyon-Law, This
legislation was held by the court to be
valid and gives the state government
the right to forbid shipments of liz
uors, etc, into the territory over which
they deal in their legislative powers.
The recent decision has been the para
mount reason for the agitation now on
in Georgia over the proposed bone
dry" law Since the two quart law"
which became effective in Georgia on
May 1st, of last year, the people have
been able to judge its effect, and
coupled with the publication in almost
every Georgia paper of extraordinary
amounts of liquor shipped into the
state under the law which Georgia now
has, the people have been aroused to e
propaganda in an effort to persuade
! Governor Nat e. Harris to call an
extra session of the general assembly
in order to enact dry bone" law
under the powers and rights of the
state as outlined in the Webb-Kenyon
decision.
The time from Georgia's first prohi-
bition law of 1907 to the act made eff
fective on May LIST, 1916. gave a wond-
erful opportunity to view Georgia S
condition. A wholesome effect was i'm
mediately observed after the 1907 law
went into effect, although in certain
sections liquor was openly sold in vi
olation of that law and "loop-holes"
were utilized for the sale of beer. The
two quart" law came into effect
and within years time Georgia will
pass stringent prohibition law affect
ing the shipments into the state, or
condition will be created which will
force the people to directly vote on
the issue of prohibition in some form
Every prohibition law which Georgia
has ever had bettered condition. Each
law has been a success in that it limit
ed to some extent the former sales of
liquor. From the early days when liq-
uor was sold at every cross-road store,
came the local option plan, followed
by local dispensary legislation on the
Tillman-South Carolina plan Then
came statewide prohibition under the
1907 act; now the present law-and for
the future total dry bone" prohibition.
The day of the open saloon has pass
ed. By forever and eternally consign-
/ ing this horrible institution to the
Oblivion of history, Georgia recon-
Iaends to every state a prohibition law
just as stringent and as strong as
the constitutions of the state and the
framework of the federal government
will permit.
Reported statements of bankrupt
conditions in Georgia among her city
governments and financial resources
because of prohibition, are unfounded
and maliciously untrue
Certain liquor propogandists have
made an effort to use the lynching
record of Georgia as an argument
against prohibition Such statements
are incoherent; foreign in their as
sumptions and conclusions-merc
twists of two conditions without re-
gard to any relation whatsoever.
This false conception of Georgia and
the actual truth almost takes its place
alongside a statement from farmer
Georgia governor who said that nc
lYnchings occurred in Georgia within
a few months after the newly elected
! governor was nominated in the prim-
airy. 1t was untrue to begin with, ant
had the statement of facts been accur-
ate, there could have been no relation
in the mind of a reasonable man. In.
| der Georgia's laws the governor ex
ercises no power in the matter o.