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THE ATLANTA^ GEORGIAN.
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The Atlanta Georgian.
JOHN TEMPLE GRAVES, Editor.
F. L. SEELY, Preiident.
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V
matter April 28,
r art of coorrcai
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FnfcrM aa ttcood-claaa
Atlanta, Ga.. nod*
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of March 1 1179.
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THE GEORGIAN COMES TO
GEORGIA AS THE SUNSHINE
%
God's goodness hath been great to thea;
Let never day nor night unhallowed pass.
But still remsmber what the Lord hath done.
—Shakespeare,
Saturday Evening.
The apples of Istakhar were “all sweetness on one
si lt’, and all bitterness on the other."
This real or fabulous fruit bos been employed on many
occasions and In many ways to point a moral or adorn a
tale, and yet Its adaptability remains fresh and new. The
world It full pf men—and even gallantry cannot deny, of
women, too—whose dispositions are like the apples of Is*
tukhar. In the politer circles of the ontslde world, where
they stand In the public gate, they are as sweet as tho
)»>ney beos of Hybla. The veneer of courtesy, the shadow
of urbanity mark every word and gesture. They stand
before the world as Admirable Crichtons.
They are “all sweetness on one side."
But It Is the other side of this fruit of Istakhar
that reveals Itself as soon as they cross the threshold
where, In reality, their very soul should unfold "like a
Illy with a heart of flame.” That hypocrisy which vice
rendors to virtue Is thrown oft as a garment and the
Alclblades of courtliness becomes a very Caliban. All
tho pettiness and meanness In his nature rises to the
top, and we discover that the exemplary cltlxen Is after
nil a deception and a fraud.
The apple of Istakhar Is "all bitterness" on the oth
er side.
And the experiences of human life—they, too, are
like the apples of Istakhar, "all sweetness on one side and
nil bitterness on the other." We pity from our hearts the
pessimist who feels that all his days are spent In the
valley of the shadow, and yet who would deny that
"There's not a string attuned to mirth
tlut has its cord In melancholy.”
We know that every highway Is Indifferently strewn
with thorns and roses, and yet on the other hand we are
compelled to realise that tears endure for a night, but
joy cometh with the morning. To no human heart Is sticA
security assured that the sunniest dreams may not be
overcast, nor yet has the Slough of Despond over been so
wide and deep but beyond It stretched a smiling valley
of peace and sweet content.
It Is after all In the Horatlan “golden mean" that men
must look for the greatest happiness Is this varied and
particolored world.
The prayer of Amir rises spontaneously to the lips
of every man who has sat at the feet of wisdom:
"Give me neither poverty nor riches." Was It not
Socrates who gave us a variant on the Impressive theme
when he asked that the gods would give him "that which
wua best for him, though tn his Ignorance he should not
ask for It; and withhold from him that which was not
licst for him. though In his folly he should ask for It?"
Fagan philosophy, at least, cannot offer us a nobler senti
ment.
He must be a sophist Indeed who can argue success
fully that In civilised society men and women can attain
to the hlgheat degree of usefulness through abject pov
erty. In a thousand Instances It Is but the result of condi
tions which he has brought upon himself when In this
busy world, with all Its teeming possibilities, the man of
Intelligence cannot graap the hem of fortune's garment
and wrest a competency from the list of fortune. He
who has suceeded In acquiring at least this competency
finds himself obviously better able to contribute to the
amelioration of the hard conditions he finds around him
and to scatter sunshine In substantial form along the
highway of the deserving.
It would be a foolish Agur who prayed for poverty.
And yet wealth Is not the ultimate goal of human
life. The dinner of herbs, and contentment therewith la,
we are told, preferable to the stalled ox and dissension.
Diogenes ssked nothing of the world's great conqueror
hut to stand out of his sunshlno and leave him to his all-
sufficient tub. while the gourmet, Aplclus, slew himself
lest the remnant of his fortune, still colossal, should not
suffice to gratify his luxurious tastes tor the remainder
of his days.
Better Indeed might he have uttered the prayer of
Agur that riches be not vouchsafed to him. They cannot
buy buoyancy of spirit or tranquillity of mind or length
of days.
Happiest of all Is he who has neither poverty nor
riches—neither the gripe of moneyless vfexatlon In which
"Though six days smoothly run.
The seventh will bring blue devils or a dun."
Nor yet that abundance of wealth which breeds de
generacy and insolence and a disregard of the cardinal
virtues of human Ufe which blinds and hardens us to the
delicate amenities and the liner joys which no man knows
unless he lives dose to the great throbbing heart of the
world.
Few, Indeed, there are who feel disposed to temper
i their wishes to their welfare and restrain their ambition
within the bounds of reason, but to Dives and Laxarus
alike wisdom and experience commend this world old
prayer of Agur: "Oive me neither poverty nor riches,
lest 1 be full and deny thee, ... or lest I be poor
and Meal.”
The Birmingham Age-Herald says It would be "cruel
to fussy Atlanta" to Intimate that the population of the
Alabama city would be 100,040 tn ten years, but calculates
that It will be true. Just the same. Yea. and Alnaator.
the barber's fifth brother, calculated that he would sell
his basket of glassware, and multiply the profits and
aaarry the vlsler’s daughter. But Just then he kicked
thi basket and waked up.
Bryan Against Roosevelt! What Then?
It would be a strange contest between William
Bryan and Theodore Roosevelt If the fortunes of politics
should fling these two to the front of the political parties
which must grapple for supremacy In 1908.
Theodore Roosevelt represents all that Is democratic
and popular In the Republican party. He was projected
by Providence Into tho destinies of this country through
the medium of a tragedy that shocked and startled the
world. He was the heir and tho successor of the mlldeBt
and most pscific president who has occupied the White
House during the present quarter of a century. The
man to whose station and politics he was tho legateo
was, conservative In temper, orthodox In bis Republican
creeds, keenly devoted to the business Interests of the
country after the theories of Mark Hanna and tho capital
lats. and was orthodox to a degree In the advocacy and
maintenance of all Republican doctrine, saving only bis
independent expression of fraternity and fellowship which
so powerfully Impressed the republic.
As the heir to this man, Theodore Roosevelt pledged
upon the coffin of Ills predecessor his fixed Intention to
carry Into execution both tho spirit and the policy of
William McKinley. As a fraternlzer of the sections, ho
has done fully as much as tho great peacemaker him
self, and re-established good will and good fellowship
between the sections of the country. Saving only his
Invitation to Booker Washington to dinner, and his In
sistence upon the appointment of certain negroes to
office In the South, no man can deny that the trend of
his administration has been broad, generous and fraternal
toward the South.
Rut he has been a very “bull In the china shop" of
the Republican policies.
Before the close of his first administration, and from
the very day of his second Inauguration, he has been tho
aggressive reformer within tho lines of capitalistic prlvl
lege and corporate selfishness which the Republican party
has so carefully and fully enthroned. There Ib not a Demo
crat living today, with tho exception of William Randolph
Hearst, who has done so much to unsettle tho tonure of
the trusts and the grasp of the corporations as the
Republican president of the United States.
He has failed In the completeness of many of his
plans and has seemed to surrender for policy’s sake at
some points of the battle In which his opponents believed
that his consistent obstinacy would have won a com
pleter victory. This was notable, say. In the railway rate
regulation bill, and In the beef trust. But with all this
said. It cannot be dented that the Republican president
has shaken the foundations of the trusts and the cor
porations so distinctly and so definitely that he will be
recognized and written In history as the redoubtable
opponent and a redoubtablo reformer of his times,
To run'such a man as the Republican candidate for
the presidency would undoubtedly antsgonlxe In large
part the spirit and the traditions of the great organiza
tion which elevated him to power, and It Js a serious
question how fsr this opposition, whether expressed In
fatal apathy or In direct antagonism, would cripple his
candidacy and destroy his chances of success.
H But It Is also true that beyond the lines of partisan*
ship, the attitude of the president upon these economic
and corporate questions, as well as the sheer dash and
courage of the man, has won to him thousands of Demo
cratic votes who might be tempted by his presttgo from
their loyalty to the organization which they have fol
lowed so faithfully through so many disappointing years.
Ten years ago William J. Bryan waB looked upon as
the Incarnation of radicalism that stretched almost to
anarchy. The mention of his name lifted hands of hor
ror all over the conservative East. In the realms of
flnsnee mothers frightened their children to obedience
by the mention of the name of this Democratic ogre, and
there were Democrats of the sound-money school who
held him In as holly horror as did the stalwart partisans
of the Republican camp. Even In the South, tho alleged
wildness of his financial views established an antagonism
profounder than any which bad ever been chronicled
before In Democratic ranks since the civil war. And one
strong and prominent Democratic editor In the state of
Georgia denounced him In editorial prominence as the
sum and Incarnation of civic and political heresy and
villainy.
Without any apology to the American republic, and
without a slnglo confession of error In his previous
views, without an apparent change In his political creeds,
and with no open recantation of his political faith, the
country haa simply progressed toward an appreciation of
Bryan's character, of hfk motives and of the justice of
his views, which Is little short of a miracle.
It may be truthful to aay that Bryan himself Is not
more responsible for this growth or alteration of public
opinion than other great forces which have moved along,
side of and collateral with the great Nebraskan.
eight great newspapers of William Randolph
Hearst and the enormous personality of that great execu
tive In public affairs have been the mightiest of educators
along the lines of tho popular Interest and the popular
demands. And these forces have educated so rapidly and
so powerfully the mass of American sentiment that they
have swept public opinion almost In a tidal wave against
the entrenchments of prejudice and ultra-conservatism,
under whose cover the trusts and the corporations have
grown fat with tha-fullnesa of spoils and of special legls-
i
^|Tho triumph of Hearst In New York, the triumph of
Dunne In Chicago and the triumph of La Foltette In
Wisconsin have struck terror to the entrenched castles
of privilege all over tho country, and In the thunder of
the people's ballots they have come to look with appre
hension upon any definite and popular champion who
might be chosen to lead the people tn the tremendous
and fateful campaign of 1448. ,
It Is the very terror of the unknown. It Is the very
apprehension of the vast popular upheaval. It Is the shad
ow of Hearst and Dunne and La Follette which has
frightened the utra conservatives, and even some of the
moderate conservatives. Into the eager search for a
moderate champion of the Inevitable reform.
H^They recognise fully that the people are In the sad-
die In this fateful period, and that the people are going
beyond doubt or question to win some sort of victory
In the coming presidential campaign. And so the su
preme concern of these vast organised forces of privi
lege and of power Is to break the force of the Im
pending blow by giving of thetr vast resources and ener
gies In both parties toward the choice of the Iwwt ob
jectionable and the most acceptable of the various pop
ular evangels out of whom the next president must
come.
It Is at once the strength and the weakness of Mr.
Bryan that, with one accord, this element seems to
have been drawn to him. It Is his strength because these
men are mighty to save In political elections, and while
they might not be strong enough to carry their own
creeds and their own champions to success, they would
be almost omnipotent It they joined their strength with
the conservative element of the popular revolution. It
may be set down as true that It these men should throw
the weight of their money and their Influence upon
the Issue of Bryan's nomination, that the result would
be almost Inevitable, and that his final success would
depend only upon the question of a choice between him
self and some more radical man.
Upon the other hnnd. there Is a very grave and se
rious danger that tho almost unanimous Indorsement
which this element of American politics Is giving to the
Nebraska statesman may create In the minds of the
people a suspicion that he is not so definite In his alle
giance to themselves.
One thing may bo understood In this campaign, that
the people are awake, that they are Intelligent, and
that they are resolved, and If the Impression Is widely
disseminated throughout their ranks that the syndi
cates, the corporations and the ultra conservatives are
too eager for Bryan's nomination, then It Is not yet too
late for the people to rise In rebellion and to crown
with their leadership tho leader who stands definite
and clear and beyond even the suspicion of the favor
of the syndicates and the fat of the trusts.
Nothing less than definite democracy and a definite
leader will satisfy the great mass of the Democratic peo
ple of this decade.
The Battleship Georgia.
It Is ontlrely fitting that the finest and fleetest battle
ship In the United States navy should bear the name of
the Empire State of the South.
Testa recently made on this’ new fighting machine
reveal the fact that this Is the case. She has already
developed a speed on her trial runs which more than
meets the requirement of tho guarantee under which
she was built, and there can be no doubt that when she
Is ultimately launched she will be the queen of the seas.
This launching of the new battleship will be made
an occasion of considerable ceremony and great rejoic
ing, and will take place within tho near future. The
presentation of tho customary Bllver service, which, of
course, will not be ovurlooked, will be another notable
event, and our people must bold themselves In readiness
to rise to tbo occasion as tho country expects.
We are proud of the Georgia down this way and we
are ready to bear substantial testimony to tbe fact.
time a man who embodies the qualifications for the direc
tion of the State University. If not. then, of course, It Is
the duty and the obligation of the trustees to find some
where that man who In their best Judgment combines
the qualities both didactic and executive who will min
Ister most largely to the growth and the prosperity
of this great school.
The one plea which we enter before the judgment
and the conscience of the trustees Is that, tn the decision
of this great matter, no possible temptation will permit
the spirit of politics or tbe spirit of personal trading to
enter upon the deliberations of the university’s friends,
We may Invoke for that spirit which' has been the curso
of the university for so many years, a long period of
suppression and repose. No reward of friends, no pun
ishment of enemies, no “strengthening of fences," and
no purchase of Influence ought to enter for one moment
Into the selection of one who stands In the highest and
the most sacred office of the state.
May tbe spirit of wisdom and unselfish patriotism
guide the university trustees In their serious and mo
mentous work.
* The University Chancellorship.
The time Is now close at band when tho trustees of
the University of Georgia must select an executive head
for that great Institution to succeed tbe lamented Walter
B. Hill.
Tho canvass of names knd of personalities for this
great and responsible ststlon has been wide and com
prehensive. The editor of The Georgian has contributed
Irom various sources suggestions which filled his mind
with regard to tho place, and we have had hearty things
to aay of many eminent gentlemen whole names have
been mentioned In tbii connection.
We desire here and now to enter a warning against
any apathy or indifference In thla great matter. It will
not do to defer final action until the last moment and
then hurriedly and Impulsively-select aome man for the
place who may be abundantly fitted or who may Juit aa
likely be lacking In the elements of success.
It requires brains, Judgment and tact In no small
degree to choose a proper head for the University of
Georgia, and we earnestly trust that the trustees even
now are sitting up at nights taking thought of this Im
portant duty which devolves upon them.
We have no particular name to offer for the con
sideration of our fellow alumni boyond those whoso
claims and qualities we have already exploited In these
columns.
Wo do feel like repeating once more the proposition
that. It a teacher can bo found In the teaching rank of
Georgia, strong, able, tactful, sufficiently equipped, and
with executive ability for tho work, that this teacher
should be promoted from a lower station to this exalted
place.
Wo do not feel that anjrihlng short of extraordinary
emergencies should justify the planting In tho chancel
lor's chair of a man unfit for tbo position by tempera
ment, by training, by tact, or by record. We feel that
It would be Just aa proper to put a teacher at the bead
of a great mercantile establishment ns a great merchant
or a great banker In the chair of the university. Great
callings require special training, and no science Is moro
carefully, and rigidly developed In this day than tho
practical aclence of teaching.
We have In our minds no particular teacher In
Georgia whom we desire to suggest In connection with
tbla high'position, and wo are simply debating a general
proposition, to which the trustees may or may not give
their consideration and regard.
It may be possible, although It should not bo so, that
the teaching rank of Georgia does not furnish at this
The State of Oklahoma.
Only the stroke of a pen remains In order to create
a new state and add a new star to the constellation of
American commonwealths.
On Thursday the house adopted the conference re
port admitting Oklahoma and Indian Territory Into the
union as one state, and at the same time permitting
Arizona and New Mexico to vote separately, at the
next general election, on tbe proposition to come Into
tbe union as one state.
Tho delegates from tbe two last named territories
feel very bitterly on the subject, and In the course of
the debate Speaker Cannon was severely attacked by
Delegate Smith, of Arizona, for having, as the delegate
alleged, “log-rolled" to keep the territories out of the
union as separate states.
In the meantime the people of Oklahoma and the
Indian Territory are lighting bonfires and holding public
meetings, marked by great rejoicing, over tbe fact
that at last they are to enter Into'the sisterhood of
federal states.
The public In general will share In this rejoicing.
The two territories together have a population of two
millions and a half. They are a thrifty and Industrious
people. It seems only a few days since Oklahoma was
opened up for settlement and places which are today
magnificent cities were a. tented field. The soli and
cllmato are well adapted to the highest development and
the now state will be one of the most magnificent in
the union.
The Indications are that tbe two senators from
the new state will be Democrat* and that the alx repre
sentatives' who will enter congress nnder tbe reappor-
tlonment will also be of the same political persuasion.
If the people generally approve of the admission of
tbe new state we believe that, aside from ajl passion
and bitterness, they will confirm the wisdom of not ad
mitting Arizona and New Mexico as separate states. It
Is doubtful If much more thap half the people In the
latter territory can yet speak the English language,
while In both territories together there are not more
than 300,000 Inhabitants. Such, at least, are the figures
given out by Speaker Cannon In his defense on Thurs
day, and It this bo true It Is quite sufficient to allow
the two territories to vote on the question of admission
in Joint statehood. •
Congressman Lester’s Fatal Accident.
The entire state Is unspeakably shocked and grieved
at the announcement of the fatal accident sustained by
Hon. Rufus E. Lester, member of congress from the first
district, while tbe circumstances of this melancholy
event lend to It an additional pathos.
Congressman Lester la In his sixty-ninth year, and
for eighteen years of that time he haa been a member
of tho lower house. Previous to hts election to that body
he had distinguished blmsolf at the bar, on tbe battle
field during tbo porlod of the civil war, and In state
politics.
In each and every walk of life ha had proven him
self worthy of the high trust reposed In him. He was a
man of strong convictions and devoted loyally to his
constituency. Aa a member of the rivers and harbors
committee he rendered excellent service to our common
country and enjoyed tbe respect and esteem of all hla
associates.
Thp tragic close or his long and useful life Is deeply
deplored and there will be sincere mourning throughout
the state and country.
GEORGIANS IN GOTHAM.
By Private Leased Wirt.
New York, June 18.—Here are some
of the visitors In New York today:
ATLANTA—H. Sawtell. C. a North-
en. \V. E. Borne, T. D. Thornton and
wife, W. C. Warfield.
AUGUSTA—E. G. Ferrell.
SAVANNAH—J. M. Denton, H. S.
Coldlng, Miss Wylley.
IN PARI8.
Special to Tbe (Isofgtsa.
Parle, June It.—Joseph O. Magglonl
and Mrs. N. C. Osaola, of Savannah,
and Joseph May, of Atlanta, registered
at the office of the European edition
of The New York Herald today.
The Traveling Man’s Poeitlon.
Atlanta, Ga.. June II, 1148.
To the Editor of The Georgian:
The editorials of The Oeorglan and
of the few other dally papers who
have written any In behalf of the ef
forts of the Travelers' Protective As
sociation of Georgia to secure an In
terchangeable mileage book of 8,000
miles tor 3tn, le appreciated by the
members of the association and the
traveling men generally.
There le a mistaken Idea among the
publle regarding the membership of
the Travelers' Protective Association.
The railroads themselves think that
only traveling men belong to this army
of over 81,404 In tha United States.
Hundreds of manufacturers, wholesale
and commission merchants, as well as
their buyers and salesmen, are mem-
ben from New York to Oregon and
from Canada to Mexico. These men
represent millions of dollara and are
the people who create freight and pas
senger business for tbe railroads and
steamship lines of the nation.
The writer has come to the conclu
sion that the main reason the South
ern, Central and Georgfh Southern and
Florida reads won't Join the present
Interchangeable agreement Is purely
trall-headednees on the part of the
Southern. This great system has the
opportunity of a lifetime to lead off
with a 3,040 mile book for StO, ask
ing all trunk lines in the southeastern
territory to Join, thereby bringing
about the solution of the passenger rate
fight and making frl.nd- of the men
who route the freight sad who have
been giving It to other lines when pos
sible.
The Travelers' Protective Assoc It lion
le not trying o» drive any read Into the
I-cent agreement.. It has been pa
tiently waiting for six years for a gen
eral Interchangeable book for $35, and
asks the roads to sell a 3,404 mile
book for 344, good over all trunk lines
In the southeast.
Different roads In tbe state sell trip
books at leas than 3 cents per mile,
even down to 1 cent, we have been
told by holders of these hooka Why Is
It done? It must be to Induce peocle
to ride more. It Is all right to do this,
but Isn't It asking even less of the
roade when the Travelers' Protective
Association offers to Invest 840 In ad
vance for a book at 3 cents per mile,
which will be ridden out In sixty days
by the average traveling man?
The roeds know that the traveling
men muet ride on their trains. If they
sell their goods In the territory they
work. They know they have them at
their merry and reruse to aell to the
men, who are traveling freight agent*
In a sense, books of a larger denomina
tion and at a higher rate than the trip
books referred to. Suburbanites can
many times uae a street car or have
more than one railroad on
travel—a difference. It
several thousand tra
work Oeorgla, and ea
at least 4,004 miles of
able book each year,
10,444 miles, and the
advance fer these boo
a large sum of mom
dollars of which the
for several months wli
fore the books are ride
Take the traveling i
and the freight basin.
A merchant would not
often or buy by mall
now buy* from tho
who call dally. The
filled every day. The
about aa many paasen
haul comfortably, so t
the state being too
to allow thla reducU
rates won’t do. Any i
In travel would necesal
end It costs no more
train than on* half fu
Mora than two year
made the prediction
3,004 or a 1.400 mile
per mil* Interchanges!
east was placed on
would have to face a f
fiat rate In thla entire
K tla baa led off and w
next. On June 30 1
Tana Association con
ta. and no doubt thl
will be aettled on* wi
THIS DATE IN HISTORY.'
JUNE 16. *
1288—Edwanl I of England bom.
Died July 7, 1307.
18*7—Battle of Stoke; lost great bat
tie on English soil.
1520—Luther excommunicated by the
1048—Henrietta Stuart, duchess of Or
leans, bom.
1722—John Churchill, duke of Marl
borough, bom.
1802—United States treaty with Creek
Indians.
1815—Napoleon defeated Blucher at
Ligny.
1623—Sir Henry Raeburn died.
1830—Eruption of Mount Etna.
1846—Cardinal Maatal-Kerettt elected
.... P 0 ”® wl,h ,h * ,l,le Plus IX.
1868—Grant repulsed at battle of P*
tereburg, Va.
1871—Triumphal entry of victorious
Germans Into Berlin.
If*?—:Pau! RaJou, artist, died.
1*48—Attempted assassination of Pre
.eat 5}'* r ,C rl *P | - Of Italy.
1 895—Third Avenue theater, New
York, burned.
1897— Hawaiian annexation treaty
signed.
1898— Bering tea award paid.
1908—General Rohrtkoff, governor gen*
eral of llnland. assassinated.
A Reasonable Deduction.
P"You were a long while at church,"
•aid Subbubs, who had remained at
home aa usual. Til bet the minister
gave you fir* and brimstone today."
"He did. Indeed," replied Mrs. Sub-
hubs; "how did you know?"
"I just thought he would. I eaw their
girl going down to the station
with her trunk Just after you started
for church.''—Philadelphia Press.
It will either go as the Travelers’ Pro-
*- t J T *,A" oc 's<t 0 « wishes, and more
than 81,444 men In one of the best
m**"**?* onO strongest associations of
Its kind, financially and otherwise. In
the world will see their patience re
warded and this fight erase, or It will
be against the roads' best friends and
a fight to the finish. Tbe association
can w|n In tbe legislature*, aa It has
always won, but that la not what It
wants. It wants a peaceable settle
ment on June 30.
W. \Y. HYATT.
tup: right to vote.
An Open Letter to John D. Moss.
Mr. John D. Moss, Athens, Oa.-Mv
Dear Sir: During the recent eo„ve„!
tlon of manufacturers of cotton good,
held at Asheville, N. C„ y ou w, *
among those who spoke on the !„ c !
of labor in the cotton mills in tha
South, ami in evory_other Industry ,!
which our people are engaged ' °
The Associated Press reported that
among other pointed remarks pertinent
£u th .:,d Q U“ ,, ° n under con^era^
ttclnns, and It Is our fault" the P 011 *,
Your speech Impressed me deem.
Its very essence was contained In
sentence I have quoted. in
About the time your convention
engaged m the discussion tn which v™
took an active nnd highly credit. 5 **
part, the senate of the United s
had In hand a bill amendator? of th!
general Immigration law of the couj!
The fact which you emDha«(7*.i »
strongly was clearly brought m the d!?
bate In the senate. ne d# -
The moment I read the synopsis of
your speech, I determined to write v™
an open letter for the reason that thX
time Is opportune te make an effort tJ
arouse the tax-payers who have l, r «
Interests at stake, and to win the
tentlon of good citizens who are not
.ax-payers to an appreciation of their
fo r'ote. " ,, °' , " e " ed « ‘he right
Circumstances which have attended
elections In this state and In other
states were of a character that bernt
disgust In the minds of men who prU,
above gold the right to vote 1 ”
Methods .which have obtained is
quite every canvass preceding elec,
tlons. and methods alleged to have
been practiced at the polls, have had
tho effect of disgusting a large ,
steadily increasing ntTmber of m2
electorate. ln *
Tho result is that gentlemen, espe-
dally young gentlemen Just arrived at
the ago when they should not onlv
mnnlfest but take a lively Interest In
the nffalrs of the state, the county, the
municipality, the ward, declare that
they will not have anything to do with
politics. Taking this view of the riues-
tlon, they refuse In many Instances to
register, or, having registered, refrain
from voting.
The primary-, or nominating election,
la practically the election, and Is so ac
cepted, exceedingly Jew votes being
cast at the regular election.
The primary may, therefore, be taken
as a guide In the matter of interest
shown In 'an election by the people
Regardless of Issues, hundreds refuse
or neglect to vote. Oftener than
otherwise. It Is a clear case of refusal
to vote.
Are there many who resolutely adopt
and religiously adhere to this mis
taken policy? Let us see: Take the
primary election held, not long ago, for
members of the legislature and for
county officers ln the counties of Ful
ton, Muscogee and Richmond.
In Fulton, 7,733 citizens registered
and were qualified to vote. If there
was no opposition to any countv offi
cer, there was a sharp contest for
senta In the general assembly of the
state—a contest vigorous enough to in
terest and rally voters to the polls,
and yet the highest vote cast was 4,-
305.
Nearly one-half of the qualfled vot
ers did not exercise their great fran
chise.
In Muscogee .county, the same con
ditions prevailed aa In.Fulton. Three
thousand four hundred and one cltliens
registered, snd were In 'position to
vote. The highest vote cast was 2,777,
so quite 740 electors failed or refused
to vote.
In Richmond county, 5,562 citizens
registered. The highest vote cast was
4,893, so nearly 700 qualified electors
refused or failed to vote.
It may be set down as an Incon
trovertible fact that those who remain
ed away from the polls on the occasion
referred to did not belong to the class
of voters who can be kept In "pens
over night” or whose votes can be con
trolled or purchased. They are of
those who Insist they want nothing to
do with politics.
The men who can be penned up and
on the morning of election led to the
polls, like dumb-driven cattle, are
never among those who neglect to
vote. The men who, forgetting their
manhood, will sell their votes, are
never among those who refuse to
vote.
In the three counties Instanced, 16,-
696 dtzens became qualified voters, and
4,755, or 38.4 per cent, refused or fatted
to vote.
To my mind, the foregoing facts pre
sent a very serious situation. It Is •
situation so allied to the best Inter*
est of all tbe people. It must be
promptly met and successfully com*
passed. ,
How may, this be done? By appeal
to the best people In every community
—the men who nro proud of American
cltxenshlp nnd who value above rubles
the highest privilege Inherent In Amer- ,
lean cltlzenshp, the right to vote; the I
ballot which, cast according to the dic
tates of one’s judgment and conscience,
shall be a weapon of defense or of.
finw as circumstances may demand.
Away with the suggestion that poli
tic* should be tabooed by the best
citizens—by the young men of sny
community. This Is a government oi
the people—presumably by the peo
ple. When every qualified voter, pre-
serving his manhood, shall take suffi
cient Interest at every election to vote
ln favor of the best measures and tor
the best men. It will be a government
actually "by tbe people, for the peo
P, Thl* being true a* to the character
of the government under which
live and struggle to be prosperous, use
ful and happy, politics Is an essential
pert of every citizen’* life-work
Demagogy and demagogues are
be avoided, not politics, not the gr«‘
clvc duty of duly exercising the_elecj f
tlve franchise for the prelection an
advancement of the best Interest of
,h ?r’public speakers. If ministers of
the gospel. If the presa would take up
thl* Important subject and dlspa^"
ffVS.I-d.T'SK.VSj"”"? I
Inaugurated and eetabllshed. ”
truly and respectfully, _.....
MARTIN V. UAI.\ I*
Augusta, Ga.
"Straw Hat* Day at “Pannsy "
"Straw hat" day at the University
Pennsylvania caught many dealers u
aware*, and aa a result there was
most a famine In summer headgear j
Saturday. There la an unwritten •*
at tha un 1 u " **••» atmw hats mu
be worn .
Saturday 1
lajr. Tncre is an r
university thxt strew hats mu r
for the first time on the fir ‘
ln May. and all students ah
X find their last-year hats mo
for the business center to bk
— Many of tbe hatters were
supply the demands msu«
ft!iDt>* enterprising ^'^
Inserted an advertlsemen
The Dally Pennsylranlam the studcn
newspaper, and landed • he I J'£K!|pnia
the college hoys' trade.—Phllsoeipn*-
could not
s rush ft.
new ones,
unable to _
upon them,
however, f—
The Dally
mm