In Their Own Words
May 12, 1933
Speech Urged Legalized Beer Sales
With the number of Georgia cities legalizing the sale of beer growing almost daily, Atlanta mayor James L. Key believed Atlanta should join the list. His motives were financial, as the nation was in the middle of the Great Depression. In a speech urging the Atlanta city council to so legalize beer he said:
“It is not a question of having beer, because it certainly can be had in Atlanta or anywhere else in Georgia. It has become a question as to whether or not the revenue from it shall go to other political subdivisions besides Georgia and the cities in our state. We feel our own local governments should be enriched instead of those of … other states.”
Source: Atlanta Constitution, May 13, 1933.