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THE ATLANTIAN
Lee was, and is, undoubtedly sincere in his position, because he has
always been loyal to the great order which he represents; but as
the matter came under the fire of public discussion he began to see
the other side. Like a fair-minded man he released the organization,
as an oganization, from any obligation to support the measure, though,
having obligated himself to the support from the beginning, he has
not felt at liberty to withdraw that personal support. We do not
believe that Mr. Lee would violate any of the proprieties even if he
did withdraw that support, because the analysis of this bill, as made
by Senator Smith, shows that it will leave the railroad employee in
much worse position than he is in today under the remedies available
at the law.
The bill bears the ear-marks of railroad attorneys very plainly,
and is evidently a shrewdly designed plan to reduce the railroad
liability and extend the tim'e of payment of the reduced liability
over a term of years, and in such small sums as will make it of little
practical value to a dead man’s family.
Under the present system, whatever the family of a dead or
injured employee gets is in a lump sum, and that lump sum is availa
ble, either for the procuring of a little home, or for the establishment
of a little business. Under the proposed system the little monthly
pension would come along and help to pay the grocery bill for a few
years and then would be all over. It is undertaking to establish a
guardianship over the family of dead or injured employees, which is
not justifiable, either in morals or in law, and the purpose of which
is to redound to the benefit of the guardian and not to the ward.
The Legislature
The Legislature is again in session for a fifty-day term. It is
always hazardous to guess what a legislative body will do. At the
present moment, the work of the Legislature is so over-shadowed by
the presidential campaign that it behooves the members to be especially
on their guard against the predatory interests, which never sleep, and
which will put some slick scheme across on them before they think of
it, if they should fail to be watchful.
The only fight, at this moment in sight, hinges upon the Tippens
Bill, the purpose of which is the elimination of beer saloons from the
State. The contest over this measure will probably hinge upon the
question of whether it shall be submitted to a vote of the people before
taking effect. The probabilities seem to be that if they can agree on
submission to the popular vote there will be no serious fight made
against the bill, but if those favoring the measure are unwilling to
submit it to popular vote, there will likely be a sharp conflict. The
bill is in line with the present Prohibition Law of the State, and is
merely intended to strengthen that law and to put out the beer saloons
which, under the pretense of near beer, are selling the real article.
As a matter of fact, real beer is probably less harmful than near beer,
but neither one adds anything to either the material or moral welfare
of the community.
The usual grist of local bills will come up, and some bills of
general interest, but at this moment there is nothing in sight to indi
cate other than a dull routine session.
The two candidates for governor are both members of the Legis
lature—one in the Senate and one in the House—and they will
naturally take advantage of this opportunity to jockey for position.
Georgia Gubernatorial Contest
The contest over the governor’s office seems to have narrowed
down to Messrs. John M. Slaton and J. Hill Hall. Both are thor
oughly well known, both are and have been for a long time members
of the Legislature, Mr. Slaton being President of the Senate and Mr.
Hall a conspicuous member of the lower House. Both may be classed
as conservatives, but here the parallel ceases, for Mr. Slaton is a
smooth, suave, plausible politician, who prefers to follow the line of
least resistance, while Mr. Hall, who is as rugged as Stone Mountain,
and presents as many cutting edges as an eighty-saw gin, usually
pursues his ends with a broad-axe. The two men are as tempera
mentally opposite as it is possible for men to be. Mr. Slaton has de
clared himself as believing that the governor is nothing more than
a respectable figure-head, but those who count on Mr. Slaton being a
figure-head governor have another guess coming. Mr. Slaton as
governor would come as near getting what he or his friends might
want as the next man, and he would do it without much noise.
Mr. Hall would make a lot of noise, probably raise a few thunder
storms, make a few more enemies than he now has, and succeed
generally in stirring up the animals.
Mr. Slaton seems to have the inside of the track, but as between
the two the Atlantian does not feel called upon to make a choice, for
whichever one gets it we shall probably be sorry that the other did not.
The Mayoralty Contest
The contest for mayor is beginning to get interesting. The
present incumbent, Mr. Courtland Winn, is an open candidate for
re-election. Dr. George Brown, one of the present members of the
Legislature, and Mr. Steve Johnson are announced candidates, each
expressing a determination to remain in the contest until the primary
is closed. Former Mayor, Jim Woodward, is, what is known in
political parlance as, a receptive candidate. Mr. Aldine Chambers,
who for several years has been a very notable figure in civic govern
ment, has been suggested as the proposed business men’s candidate.
It is quite evident that a very interesting contest for this important
office is going to enliven the late summer and early fall months.
It is not our purpose to express any preference between these
actual or prospective candidates. All of these men are thoroughly well
known in the city, and it is for the people to judge as to which of
them they consider qualified to head the city government—for the
health and the general welfare of 175,000 people are at stake. The
city owes nothing to any man in the matter of presenting him with
an office, but every citizen owes to the city a civic duty, and that duty
calls for the casting of a vote based upon the common welfare, and
not upon any personal prejudice or predilection. It is not enough
that a man is “a good fellow,” to make him eligible for this great
position calls for strong qualities, and it is not material how genial
or kindly he may be in personal life if he lacks the strong qualities
of constructive leadership.
A very common mistake is made by men who seek the honor of
some official position, and trouble themselves very little about the
responsibilities. If the candidate forgets this the citizen should not;
and it is vital to the welfare of the community that every citizen
should remember that the greater the honor the greater the responsi
bility and, therefore, the honor should be conferred only upon the man
whose shoulders are broad enough to carry the responsibilities.
Woodrow Wilson Wins
After one of the hardest fights ever seen in an American political
convention Governor Wilson has been nominated as the Democratic
candidate for the presidency. For one solid week Mr. Bryan as
the leader of the Progressives has fought stubbornly, courageously,
and with unprecedented ability against the full power of the “pre
datory interests ’ ’ represented, aided, and abetted by all the machine
politicians in the country. It is the most brilliant victory ever won
by an American political leader against overwhelming odds and
fairly entitles Mr. Bryan to be called “the matchless” leader.
Under similar circumstances, Mr. Roosevelt as the leader of the
Republican Progressives, was compelled in order to vindicate his
principles to come out from the enemy and lead a new movement.
The Democratic reactionaries were no less .determined than their
Republican allies, but Mr. Roosevelt’s courageous stand had
strengthened the Democratic progressives, and this coupled with
the determination of Mr. Wilson’s 324 unterrified delegates backed
up by Mr. Bryans splendid leadership led to the final victory which
means the placing of the Democratic party in line with the progres
sive thought of the country.
The bunch of small bore politicians who cast the vote of Georgia
so persistently for Mr. Underwood are entitled to no credit for the
result and The Atlantian is glad of it, as it has no desire to be in