Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-01-30
GOVERNOR DEFERS
HIS DECISION ON
AN EXTRA SESSION
He viii Wait Ten Days. Giving
the ProhibitioniStS a Chance
to Show Reason for Extra
ordinary Occasion"

a aAdNeInSuN III " NilS
extra session of the legislature for &C
tfon on bone dry" liquor bills.
In this statement he announces, as
previously published that he will post
pone his decision in the matter for some
ten days, and sets forth the arguments
which have been presented to him on
both sides.
He makes it plain that he is not in
clined at the present time to call an
extra session, but as a concession to
his prohibition friends has agreed to
postpone his final decision for ten days
to give them time to make a showing
of reasons why he should change mis-
mind.
However, they must show him that
there is an extraordinary occasion" and
that the injury resulting from his re-
fusal to call an extra session would be
''irreparable."
THE STATEMENT.
The governors statement reads as
follows:
at was my intention to announce
my final decision this afternoon, but
at the request of a large and influen-
tial delegation of prohibitionists who
came to my office on Friday, L conclud-
ed to postpone the announcement for
some ten days.
81 said to the delegation, as we'll as
TO those friends who have been kind
enough to speak to me, that among
others there was one consideration which
inclined me to grant the request so ur-
gently insisted upon by the prohibit
tionists, viz:
The legislature of 1915 brought about
what may appropriately be called "a
civil revolution" To prevent the sue
cess of an obstructive minority, a ma
jority of the lower house toward the
close of the constitutional session, ad-
journed the body without making the
appropriations required to run the state
government thereby putting upon the
governor the necessity for an extraordi-
nary session. This action was taken in
the face of what is ordinarily called
the constitutions obligations, and was
without warrant or precedent in the
history of the commonwealth.
"EXTRENE NEEDS"
"ThA course of the legislature was
thought to be justified by the sugges-
ton that extreme needs demand ex-
IRENE measures. No other way seemed
open to the legislature to secure for the
state what that body believed the state
demanded.
"Ninety-seven members of the house
which adopted this revolutionary pro-
ceeding were banded together in a solid
organisation to use every means within
their power required to bring about the
desired result They secured the ac-
ton from the executive which their
earnest efforts made possible
when they met in extraordinary ses-
sion, under the mistaken advice of some
of their leaders, their work stopped
short of the object for which they had
planned, and 1 may say, conspired in
the hottest spirit that ever actuated the
lawgivers of a nation.
They left their work incomplete. 1t
would seem to be reasonable, almost
justihable, now to give these men the
privilege of finishing the work which
they began.
DOESN'T FAVOR CALL.
But an extraordinary session even for
the purpose indicated would be very
anomalous proceeding and would be JUS
titled only by some overpowering need
at the present time.
"A new legislature has been elected
which meets in June and will be fully
competent to understand the situation,
and under the stress OF circumstances
will undoubtedly provided some remedy
for existing evils.
"a new governor was elected and he
himself will be called on to lay out work
for the new session.
'"The present executive would have the
right, in his final message, to call at
attention to any defect in the former leg
:slation and to give in full the results
of the same with such statistics or sug-
gestions as may be deemed appropri-
ate.
AT most the legislature would be
called together only for the purpose of
repeating a portion of the law which was
| enacted at the previous session.
| WEBB-KENYON LAW.
while the supreme court of the
| United States has upheld the WebbKen-
yon law since the former action of the
legislature, yet the law has never been
changed in any respect, and it was not
a surprise to the governor or his ad-
visers when this law was sustained He
| earnestly pressed upon the legislature to
| proceed in behalf of the state as if the
\ law had been sustained to the fullest
| extent
ITO justify an extraordinary session
of the legislature whose successors have
already been elected there ought to ex-
| list a very great emergency in the af-
| fairs of the state If this could be
shown, if the right to buy intoxicating
| liquors is subjecting our business to
strains which were never contemplated,
| If there is threatened Generalization to
the farming interests on account Of the
large shipments made to the colored peo-
| pie, IL there is a marked and decided
increase of liquor drinking and con-
sequent multiplication of criminals, If
the law is constantly violated and there
| is no remedy to be found in its en-
,forcement-then, indeed, the executive
would be brought face to face with an
\ extraordinary OCCASION and would be
justified in using all the power in his
hands to secure immediate relief to the
people of the state. But the injury ought
to be irreparable. 1t ought to be beyond
| the reach, it seems to me, of the next
legislature, and it will not be presumed
| by me that that legislature will not do
| its duty. I am persuaded that the
representatives Of the people will do
what the state most needs
ct shall make no final decision on the
matter, for some ten days, however, in
accordance with the promise herein re-
| ferred to-"