The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1917-04-10
PUBLIC SENTIMENT
TO PLAY BIG PART
ON 1T WILL LARGELY DEPEND
ENFORCEMENT OF NEW PRO
HIBITION LAW.
MATTER SOLELY In The
HANDS OF PEACE OFFICERS
Much Sentiment Against 1t Through
out State, and Many Violations
Are Expected. Church Arranges
For Sacramental Wine.

Are Expected. Church Arranges
For Sacramento Wine.
ATLANTA, March Enforce
ment of the new 'bone-dry" law is
going to depend on the tempera-
ment and inclination of the sheriffs
of the various counties of Georgia
and of the police departments in the
leading cities.
It is conceded that sentiment is go
ing to play the usual part. Gov. Har-
ris went this far when he made the
statement that he had rather have
the section creating the prohibition
commissioner for enforcement of the
law than all the rest of the bill.
1t wasn't that this law against
what the state makes a crime is so
much more important than any other
law-that, for instance, against lar
ceny or assault-but that, taking the
people collectively over the state,
there is less sentiment in favor of it,
less inclination to obey it, and more
determination to violate it.
Much Depends on Officers.
But there is no prohibition COM
missioner, and now every sheriff,
every deputy, every police chief.
every city detective and every pa
trolman, is his own prohibition COM
| missioner. 1t is a case of ''to see or
not to see," for the law is going to
be violated in many instances, and
the number of prosecutions and con-
victions viii depend upon the ferret
ing and the seeing qualities of these
officersof the law.
There is no way of knowing
whether the majority of the people
of Georgia favor or are opposed to
the drastic law which has Just been
| passed at the extra session, because
the Legislature declined to give them
an opportunity to pass upon it. But
that knowledge will come with time;
it viii develop as it is seen in various
communities to what extent the law
! is enforced.
Even the opponents of the bone
! dry bill say they would like to see
severe enforcement of it. They be-
lieve then that sentiment viii de-
mand little loosening of the reins.
But history has taught that enforce
ment will depend upon the sentiment
| about it in a particular community.
Liquor Sold Under Old Law
Will any automobile in which IL
quor is found, or any boat, be seized
and sold at public cutlery? There is
a pretty problem in connection with
the new law which remains to be
solved. Will any moonshiner be sent
to the state penitentiary? There's
| another interesting question.
The moonshiners have materially
modified their ways since it has been
the custom of the United States
courts to give them short sentences
and let them serve at such times as
their crops and their families did
not need their attention. But sup
pose the state courts yank up a
moonshiner and send him to the state
penitentiary for five years. There's
another thing to be thought about
The facts of the situation are to-
day that nobody knows. In those
counties and cities where the MAORI
ty sentiment demands the enforce
ment of the law the probabilities are
ii will be pretty well enforced Where
the people are Indifferent or feel the
other way about it, the chances are
there viii be some way to get liquor,
Old Law Violated.
though just how remains yet to be
developed.
Under the laws passed at the ex-
ira session of 1915, and which went
into effect May /, 1916, there isn't
a question but that liquors were sold
in several cities Of the state, and as
for Atlanta, there were plenty of