Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-12-30
DRY LEADERS OF
. SOUTH CONDEMN
SALE OF POISON

Men who sell wood alcohol II the
guise OF whisky" were condemned
as murderers and resolutions were
adopted calling on congress to pro
vide ways and means sufficient TO
prevent further ravages of the
blind DEATH at the prohibition en-
bly, hall of the Piedmont hotel Mon
cay morning.
Men and women representing six
southern states, Georgia, Florida
Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina
and Mississippi, unanimously voted
for the resolutions when they Were
introduced by Edward Young Clarke,
presiding as campaign director for
the south.
Nearly hundred deaths in a few
days from drinking wood alcohol
sold in the guise of corn liquor
sweep aside all arguments and make
the success of this prohibition EFT
forcement1 campaign an absolute
necessity in the interest of saving
life" said Mr. Clarke. in introducing
the resolutions, -.
Causing mans death by SELL
ing him wood alcohol for whisky is
nothing short of murder, and tie
man Wild takes another's life in that
manner should be convicted of muir
Ger and hanged jus@ as if he HAD
shot him down from ambush
You men and women who have
been organizing the six southern
states for this prohibition enforce
ment campaign have been met from
time to time with the argument that
the fight for prohibition has been
won; that the law has been put on
the statute books with measures to
enforce it; that the need for further
effort on the part of friends of pro-
hibition has passed and that there
fore the necessity for this campaign
is not apparent.
eff ever an argument was literail!'
shot to pieces this one has been in
the past few days. Nearly a hun
dred deaths from drinking wood al
cohol sold in defiance of law as corn
whisky, to say nothing of those who
have been blinded for life from drink
ing it, confronts us with situation
that horrifies any thinking mar,
"Yet there are those who lean back
serenely and comfortably and calm
ly tell us there is no need for q
campaign to see that these prohibit
ton laws are enforced and, if they
are not enforced, to find out why
they are not
This campaign in the last few
days has gone beyond the necessity
for extended argument in it's behalf.
The news columns. OF the newspa-
pers are carrying the arguments for
us, and none but the Wil1fully blind
and deaf can fail to heed Them '-
Text of r solutions
The resolutions were then adopted
amid applause with an amendment
to the effect that those present pledg-
ed their utmost efforts and that of
the organiza thor they represent to-
ward the campaign to stamp out the
.'blind death" The resolutions FOL
low: a
whereas the appalling death
record resulting from drinking
wood alcohol sold as corn whisky
in criminal defiance of prohibit
ton laws of the country and the
total disregard for human life
as shown by the liquor law vio-
laters demands immediate and
rigid enforcement of the>law and
swift and adequate punishment
'And, whereas the fact that
this startling condition can exist
indicates either laXity of law
enforcement by officials charged
with this duty, or failure OF ar
resting Officers to exercise prop
err vigilance in bringing these
criminals to justice, or lack 9f
sufficient funds to supply the ma
chinery with which to enforce
the prohibition laws.
Therefore, be it resolved,
That the prohibition enforcement
conference. respectfully calls the
attention of the congress of. the
United : States to the existing
conditions and most earnestly
urges that sufficient funds and
sufficient number of law enforce
nent officers be provided to in
sure proper enforcement OF the
. laws noE on the statute books
and to make impossible repeti- 4
ton of this Christmas tragedy.