Newspaper Page Text
December, 1921
THE ATLANTIAN
5
HON. JOSIAH T. ROSE
The New Collector of Internal Revenue.
Josiah T. Rose, newly appointed Collector of Internal
Revenue, has been so busy attending to his own business
that he has not had time to get acquainted with the vast
army of constituents he will have to wrestle with for the
next four years.
Let us tell you just a little bit about him: He is a prom
inent Mason and Shriner, vice president of the McCrary
Company, formerly vice president of the Atlantic Steel
Company, affiliated with the WHITE wing of the Republi
can Party, a thorough going business man with a clean
record, and personal reputation of the best. He is well
equipped for-the position to which he has been appointed,
both by natural ability and business experience. He suc
ceeds a most capable man, who has made a fine record.
That will put him on his mettle to show that he is as good
as the best.
In one thing he will do justice as his predecessor did,
the public having business with that office will find that it
is a business and not a political job, however much politics
may have to do with putting a particular man on the job.
That, by the way, is the saving grace of our political sys
tem. However much a “measly” Democrat may abuse a
“vicious” Republican at election times, if the Democrat
wins, the “measly” Democrat who is appointed does his
level best to prove himself as good a man as the “vicious”
Republican who preceded him. When the Republicans
win, it is the other way about. Funny, isn’t it? But that
is the American, way.
Mr. Rose will make a good Collector, and will win the
favor of the public. He enters upon the duties of Collector
like a soldier, and our guess is that he will make good.
CUT THE FREIGHT RATES
Bradstreets recently carried a short study of railroad
facts which showed that in 20 years railroad employees had
increased 160 per cent, passenger miles had increased 254
per cent, and freight ton miles had increased over 250 per
cent—per year.
If this be true, and Bradstreets never blunders in its
statements, then the trouble with the railroads is plainly
gross mismanagement.
With 250 per cent increase in passenger miles and
freight ton miles, plus the huge increases in both passen
ger and freight rates, the failure of the railroads to make
money is their own fault.
Those of us who have watched the game have entirely
lost confidence in any statement made or claim advanced
by railway officials.
The high cost of transportation, both for men and
things, has become one of the most potent factors in main
taining the present abnormal and unhealthy condition.
The railway owners and officials who made the
heavens resound with their shrieks at the incompetence of
government management have shown themselves even
more incompetent than government ever was.
Looking at the matter from the angle of the general
welfare, it is clearly apparent that no one thing would do
so much to stabilize trade and improve the economic situa
tion as a reduction in freight rates.
It would do more than all else to bring about peace be
tween the railway officials and the employees, who feel that
the officials are trying to make them merely beasts of bur
den for the bringing in of additional profits to the railway
treasuries.
If the executives persist in their attitude, they will in
evitably force governmental operation, and the next time
it will be permanent.
OSCAR MILLS
The New President of the Southeastern Fair.
The election of Oscar Mills to the Presidency of the
Southeastern Fair is a deserved recognition of long and
faithful public service.
The retiring president, H. G. Hastings, gave to the
fair a quality of constructive service none too common and
set a standard which few men can hope to reach.
Ift was peculiarly fortunate that Mr. Mills, who has
been identified with the fair from the beginning and has
given yeoman service in the live stock department was
available.
Widely experienced in public affairs, having proven
himself as one of our County Commissioners and as chair
man of the board, of ripened judgment, and in the fullness
of his physical strength, he will take up the work vigor
ously and carry it forward to the goal set by its originators.
The policy which has been clearly outlined from the
beginning, and continuous in its execution, will not be
broken by being entrusted to untried hands, but will stead
ily gain favor with the public because it has been handed
down to one whose heart has been in sympathy with it from
the beginning and whose brain is able to see to the proper
execution of the work.
HON. FRED D. DISMUKES
Prohibition Director for Georgia.
The new Prohibition Director for Georgia succeeds
Director Gantt, whose long public service was a record of
work well done. That Mr. Dismukes will measure up to the
duties attaching to the position, no one' who knows him
doubts for a moment.
Forty-five years of age, and therefore in the prime of his
powers, physical and mental, a lumberman of Thomasville
who has never sought public office, attached to the WHITE
wing of the Republican Party, in full sympathy with the
law, a clean citizen and a good mixer, his success is assured.
As this is being written the evening paper which has
just come in tells of the destruction of one hundred stills in
Georgia within a week. There be pessimists who declare
that the law will never be enforced, but the lawbreakers are