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2 Self-Respect at Home and Commercial and Political Reputation Abroad Suffer Tremendously Because of Lawless Liquor-Selling. W. B. Stubbs, Leader of Law and Order League, Tells of Shameful Conditions—Judge and Juries to Blame. S a basis of the widespread declaration that Savannah’s political and commercial repu tation will suffer more and more if she does not clean up and drive out her lawless liq- ra uor shops I7r Golden Age is reproducing by special request the recent letter of Hon. W. B. Stubbs on “The Liquor Situation in Savannah.” It ought to be read and studied by every patriotic Georgian and, indeed, every patriotic American who is anx ious to help conquer that spirit of lawlessness which liquor-selling, loyal or illegal, always produces: The Liquor Situation In Savannah. An appeal to the law-abiding citizens of Geor gia: In order that you may know the facts, I am ask ing that the following statement be published by the papers who are in favor of law and order in Geor gia: In November, 1913, Hon. Seaborn Wright spoke in Savannah at the request of the Women’s Chris tian Temperance Union, and at the eoncluslion of this address, I announced that I would join anv ten men who would agree to make an effort to enforce the law. Several volunteered and on December 18th, about eighteen men met in the hall of Trinity church and agreed that they would secure the evidence on which to base prosecutions. To the credit of the laymen, be it said there were enough to relieve the preachers from going out to buy liquor. There were ten who went in pairs. Three of them, W. B. Stur devant, P. M. Doogan and F. W. Stradman, are mem bers of the Independent Presbyterian church; E. G. Cabiniss and C. W. McCall are deacons of the First Baptist church; A. J. Owens is a member of the Christian church; E. W. Strozier, B. B. Mingledorff and F. H. Williams are members of Grace Methodist church, and the writer, of Asbury Methodist church. Two of us are Sunday school superintendents. All are men whose word is their bond. We went to about twenty-five places and purchasel liquor in bot tle and paid for it and marked it so there could be no mistake. It was so near Christmas that we decided to at once seek injunctions against the whole salers, and if possible stop the flood of liquor that was being sent into the country for the holidays. Major George H. Richter, a Middle Georgia boy of German extraction, represented us at much sacrifice of time and in the face of overwhelming odds, Judge Charlton granted a restraining order and on the hearing, a temporary injunction. This was appeal ed to the Supreme Court, where it now awaits de cision. We thought it but right, in order to avoid over crowding Judge Charlton’s docket, to press matters on the criminal side of the court and indictments were prepared and set before the grand jury. The men above named swore that they bought the whis key and exhibited it to the grand jury who promptly returned “no bills” on each of the indictments. Believing that a majority of this first grand jury were interested in or dominated by the liquor inter ests, we requested the solicitor general to present the indictments to the succeeding grand jury em paneled for the March term of our superior court. He did offer to do so. but told the grand jury that if they did not-wish to consider them he would not insist, but would be guided by their pleasure. They “THE DEVIL TO PAY” IN SAVANNAH The same is true in Bibb county. It was Chat ham county alone that was openly defiant. Bar rooms remained open. Judges refused to instruct grand juries to return bills. Grand jurors re fused to consider violations of law and to hear evi dence. It remained for a Chatham county judge to speak disparagingly of those who attempted to enforce the law. We need law enforcement in Georgia. Not en forcement of prohibition laws alone, but enforce ment of all laws. The highest official in the state is the one with greatest influence and he should speak out for law enforcement. And we will plain ly say that no governor chosen from Chatham county could lead a movement for law enforce- Savannah Law-Breakers Hurt The City THE GOLDEN AGE FOR WEEK OF JUNE 11, 1914 evidently desired to shun the responsibility and voted to postpone the matter. A second time we asked that they be considered, but received no satisfaction. The third time, after a conference w>ith the solicitor general, I wrote him a letter and asked that the indictments be placed before the grand jury and the witnesses were present and ready to testify, but they were refused a hearing. We then decided to ask the court to issue a man damus. On application he issued a rule nisi calling on the grand jury to appear and show cause why they should not consider the indictments. The solicitor general appeared for the grand jury and took the position that they were a law within themselves, and that the court had no right to re- qudre them to consider the cases. Judge Charlton sustained Mr. Richter’s contention, and suspended judgment to give the grand jury time to act in ac cordance with his opinion. Grand Jurymen Break Their Oath. The jury was reconvened and went through the form of hearing the evidence and did what the for mer grand jury had done, returned “no bills” in every case. This is in face of the evidence of men whom, they knew, had bought the liquor, and ex hibited it then and there wiith no motive but to en force the law. Our information is that a respecta ble minority desired to regard the oath they had taken and find according to the evidence. Two re turns of “no bills” under the law of Georgia amount to an acquittal, and it comes to pass that the grand jury who swore to “diligently inquire and true pre sentment make” have turned loose, without a trial these men who were openly and shamefully defying the law, and three of them had been found guilty of contempt for defying the court’s order not to sell intoxicants. The license issued by the city authorizes the deal er to sell “nontintoxicating beer made from cereals.” The license issued by the ordinary for the state reads: “Received of dollars for license fee for near beer, etc., which authorizes said business ment. He would be laughed at should he mention such a thing. We care not what Mr. Anderson’s ability may be, or how charming his personality, the fact remains that he hails from a community where lawlessness has run riot, where a people have said they will not be governed by laws made by the legislature of their state, and living there, ha h s raised no voice of protest against the vio lation of law. He is discredited by his environ ments. He can’t shake off from his candidacy the reputation his county be#rs. If ho did promise law enforcement, his promise would have no weight. What he has failed to do as an influential citizen of Chatham coun’y speaks so loudly that what he might promise to do as governor could not be hoard.” *'l||r ■ ■ r HON. W. B. STUBBS. from date of this certificate to December 31, 1914.” A Liquorized Boycott. As soon as our identity is disclosed, it is passed down the line and all the saloons refuse to sell to us. If we had money to hire detectives, the cry would probably be that the evidence could not be believed. So far no prominent citizen has raised his voice publicly to give encouragement to our effort, al though many we believe are in sympathy with the object. Our daily papers will not express any sym pathy with the effort and the officers of the law seem afraid of the political influence. One of our witnesses was discharged because he testified and he found employment in Atlanta. An other good man was notified that his firm would be boycotted by one of its largest patrons. An abject fear and lack of faith in the ability of the authorities to enforce the law seems to per meate the rank and file of our ditizens. Men prom inent in the church seem afraid to speak out their convictions. By chance a copy of the constitution and by-laws of the Savannah Protective Association fell into the hands of the writer, and the following was sent to be printed in paid space in the papers and both re fused to publish it after receiving it and in one case having the proof ready: Constitution and By-Laws of the Savannah Protec tive Association of Savannah, Ga. Officers —John Sullivan, president; H. F. Kuck, vice-president; George F. Harms, secretary-treasur er; Osborne & Lawrence, attorneys. Board of Governors —George Peters, R. F. O’Con nor, H. H. Geffken, Harry Garfunkle, John Cot tingham. Adopted December 3, 1913. The objects of this association are the co operation of its members. The advancement and ele vation of the near beer business in the city of Savan nah; to encourage a spirit of fellowship among its members and to aid in the repeal of the “prohibi tion act” and re-establishment of local option in the state of Georgia. Article 3. —Each member who is in good standing shall be entitled to be represented by the attorneys No member of this association, however, shall be rep resented by the attorneys thereof for violation of the Sunday selling ordinances or ordinances passed for regulating the hours of the opening and closing of “near beer saloons.” Mr. W. W. Osborne, head of the firm mentioned, is Mr. J. Randolph Anderson’s campaign manager for governor. Is there any wonder that the liquor dealers defy the judge’s orders? One of the aidermen of the city, and chairman of the police committee, was present and behind the bar when a purchase was made at one of the places, and the internal revenue record shows that a license was issued to him, and another to retail liquor. M e have not given up the fight, but we wish the law-abiding citizens and praying men and women of Georgia to know what we are fighting and we request that the papers and business men of Georgia let our busmess men of Savannah know that such an at titude is injuring the Forest City and losing friends whom she needs in her business. 28 Drayton St., Savannah, Ga. W .B. STUBBS. One thing is clear—very, very clear: If The Savannah News had spent more time in lead ing a crusade against lawless liquor-selling she would not now need to spend so much time explaining her attitude and defending one of her honored sons. But in this special article the position of The Golden Age is not political —we simply declare in definite desperation against the criminal neglect on the part of the grand juries that break their oath by re fusing to indict in face of evidence; of petit juries that refuse to convict on evidence; of newspapers and officers that allow, without (Continued on Pago 4.)