Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-04-29
CHAPTER xxx

In a letter Which L addressed IC
he president on September 7, 1918
strongly urged a veto Of the agri
culture appropriation bill containing
wartime prohibition:
The White House,
Washington, Sept. Z, 1918.
My dear Governor:
In the discussion we had a few
days ago with reference to the
pending dry" legislation, tried
to emphasize the fact that under
the food control law you had the
power to do what congress is
now seeking to do in way that
will cause great irritation. Your
action of yesterday fixing De-
cember 1 as the day on which
the prohibition of the manufac-
ture of beer is to take place, be-
lieve, strengthens what l said.
Your action and the action of the
senate day or two ago in Civ
ing you the right to establish
zones about shipyards and NUM-
lions plants again shows the un-
necessary character of this legis-
lation. You are, therefore, now
in a trong position to veto this
legislation as unnecessary and
unWarranted. ....
In view of all of this, I wish
to emphasize the dangers, both
of a political and industrial char
acter, that confront us should we
agree to go forward with those
who favor legislation Of this
oh OF
Even the most ardent prohibit
tionists fear the reactionary eff
feet of this legislation upon the
pending constitutional amend
ment. I am afraid of it's eff
fects upon the voters of our
party in the large centers Of
population throughout the coun-
try, and Of the deep resentment
from all classes that is bound to
follow.
In matters of legislation that
seek to regulate the morals and
habits of the people, the average
American feels the only safe
course to follow is the method
set forth in the constitution for
the regulation Of these vital mat
lSES. IlS VI IiAAo
measure agree that it is not a
conservation measure, but that it
is an out and out attempt to de-
clare the country dry" In my
opinion, it is mob legislation
pure and simple.
The danger Of submitting
quietly to any class legislation
that has it's basis in intolerance,
especially at a time like this
where the emotions of people
can be whipped into a fury, is
obvious. Your strength N the
country comes from the feeling
on the part of the people that
under no circumstances can you
be "hazed" by any class. If you
yield in this instance, similar
demands from other sources will
rise to harass and embarrass
you.
The viewpoint of the gentle
men on the hill in charge of this
bill is provincial. They have no
idea of the readjustments that
will have to come in the f1nan-
ces of our largest cities and mu-
inequalities through the country.
Tax rates are bound to go up.
Increased taxation in large cities,
coming at a time when federal
taxes are growing more burden
some, is bound to play a large
part in the opinion of the people
and we cannot escape our re-
sponSibility if we seem to be
afraid to oppose legislation of
this kind. Our policy in every
matter at this time should be one
based upon magnanimity and
tolerance toward every class and
interest in the country.
Under date of May 8, 1919, l SCI
the following cable to the presider
who was then in Paris:
I sincerely hope you will con-
slider the ACCESSIBILITY of raising
the embargo on beer. The most
violent reaction has taken place
throughout the country since
the enactment of this law, es-
pecially in the larger cities. 1t
is not, I assure you, the result
of brewery propaganda. 1t
comes from many of the hum
bier sort who resent this kind
of federal interference with
their rights. We are being
blamed for all this restrictive
legislation because you insist
upon closing down all breweries
and thus making prohibition eff
fective July 1. The country
would be more ready to accept
prohibition brought about by
constitutional amendment than
have it made effective by presi-
Dental ukase. The psychological
effect of raising this embargo
would be of incalculable benefit
to America in every way at this
time. The Springfield Repub-
can says: 1.-THE establishment Of
national prohibition by federal
statute, through the mere act
of congress, does not appeal to
one as so desirable as the es-
adjustment of national prohibi-
ton by the direct action of
three-fourths' of the states" The
wartime prohibition law, accord
ing to the text of the act, was