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THE ROME TRIBUNE.
W. A. KNOWIXS. - Editor.
•rrccE-NO. wn broad street, to
STAIRS. TKLEMONK 78.
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THE BOMB TRIBUNE,
Romb, Ga.
The Rome Tribune
The Official Organ of
The City «f IRome,
The Sheriff.
The Ordinary.
The County Commissioners,
and publishes regularly all legal
advertisemeote emanating from
these officials.
The Sunday Tribune will be a
hummer _
Leasing .convicts again. And that
will be the end o’t.
Boston gets the flag. ’Twas not
“Casey at the bat.”
“I want to be an island and with
the islands stand’’ —solo of any old
scheme.
It the “Mighty Caseys'” of the Bos
ton club had sturck out there would
be no joy there.
It looks as if Mr. Luetgert were being
weinerwursted by his own defense,
says an exchange.
Langtry, according to the Augusta
Herald. has at last sinned her way
into the nobility.
The Atlanta Constitution seems to
relish the free advertising the Macon
Telegraph is giving ifr.
“The season of electric fans and
baseball fans is about ended,” says
the Columbus Enquirer-Sun.
Says the Augusta Herald “Borne no
longer for health certificates
and an inconvenient feature has been
removed- ”
We do not fear any jobbery in
this convict question. Only a lobyist
With the wealth of Croesus could buy
up all the members of the legislature
and all the newspapers in the state.
The Macon News has switched off
from the “poor convicts” and now
pleads for the “poor motormen.” It
wants the motormen enclosed in a
glass front to protect them from the
cold.
After roasting Rome for some days
the state papers are beginning to cor
rect a false story. The Thomasville
Time says: “Rome has abolished her
sl.oo'charge for health certificates.
She should never haye made it.”
Editor Frank Reynold, of the Dal
ton Citizen, is writing a romantic
novel entitled the “Last of the Water
melons.” It will have an appendix
(not vermiform) entitled “Colicky
Charlie.” Editor Reynolds is a bright
young man.
Because the legislative sub-commit
tee goes on pleasant “junketing” trip,
is no reason to suspect that they will
recommend the state paying $581,000
for the Dade coal mines. We will
sooner expect to see the state buy a
crater in the moon so many are the
improbabilities and the impossibilities
in the way of this scheme.
The Savannah News has the follow
ing: Atlanta is and has been a hotbed
of the microbes of the diseased cor
respondence to the porthern papers,
and we have no doubt that the infec
tion from Atlanta is larely responsi
ble for the ravings of certain yellow
journals. We hope the Journal will
not quit scattering chlorides and
wielding the spiked paddle until the
bad germs ha ve been destroyed, or at
least made innocuous.
A traveling medium, says the New
York Tribune, who recently gave a
seance in a Georgia town, began by
saying: “I have been requested by
some of the men present to recall the
spirits of their wives who have gone
before. Keep perfectly quiet, friends
—in one moment they will be with
you.” “John,” whispered an old
wan in the audience, “gimme my
hat —quick! 1 don’t mind meetin’
Molly in heaven, but I’ll be durned
es I want her to resume business on
earth!”
Cannot Issue Bonds.
The convict problem grows larger
and more complicated as the Advo
cates of various plans for its solution
come forward.
Thb Tribujse is not discussing this
subject from a blind man’s standpoint.
We have investigated the problem
from every standpoint, read -every
thing we could and talked to most of
the state officials from Gov. Atkinson
down aind all the members of the sub
committee. We are satisfied that the
legislature will pot make any very
large expenditure for dispuetag of
the convict problem.
Attorney General Terrell informed
us last week that a constitutional pro
vision prohibited the state legislature
from issuing bonds. If in settling the
convict proble®uauy land, or property
is to bq bought the money to payifor
it must be raised by direct levy. This
being the case the legislators are not
going toexpend aipy very large amount.
Several plans submitted to the legis
lature on Thursday provided for toe
taking oi bonds in payment.
Gov. Atkinson, Principal Keeper
Turner and the administration have
after careful investigation outlined
their plan for the settlement of the
•convict problem. The Hall bill has.
been submitted. While it may be
amended we do not believe any radi
cal change will be wade in it unless;
the legislature votes to perpetuate
the present lease system somewhat
modified. After the furor of discus
sion goes on for some time The Trib
une will not be greatly surprised to
see the latter done for the sake of
economy, and despite the alleged
threat of the governor’s veto.
The legislature will, when it meets,
be so hopelessly divided with each
member having his pet plan that it
will keep everything in great confu
sion until the time for adjournment
arrives when it will adopt the adminis
tration’s idea, or provide for a modified
lease (not hire) system, the state re
taining control of the guards and per
haps feeding and clothing the pris
oners.
A Protest,
We wish to enter an emphatic pro
test against this nonsensical, foolish
and reprehensible style of southern
journalism, and especially Georgia
journalism, of bestowing the title of
“colonel” promiscuously upon every
man in the state.
The newspapers that do this are
guilty of bringing into disrepute a
title that once was dignified and hon
ored by heroes who deserved it. The
term “Mr.” is also nearly as badly
misused.. We noticed some ago in an
Augusta paper that “Mr.” so and so
had been tried in the police court for
his third commission of some misde
meanor. The fellow, it could be read,
between the lines was a criminal.
Let the newpapers of Georgia re
form these abuses and misuses of
titles. Let them print a man’s plain
name without “mistering” or “colo
neling.”
To dub a young man as “colonel”
is almost equivalent in our opinion to
calling him a “jay.”
Returning From Liberia,
More of the negroes who went from
Savannah to Liberia are returning
home. They do not seem to have the
courage and hardihood to go to work
to develop a new country. All this
goes to prove that the negroes in the
south make their living easier, and
fare better and are treated better than
in any other part of the world.
In commenting on the return Os
these negroes the Savannah News
says:
Two more families of negroes who
went to Liberia from this port on the
Laurada are coming back to this
country, thoroughly disheartened
and disgusted. The truth probably
is that they expected too much. They
had an idea that they would find con
ditions in Liberia something like they
are here, except that the country
might not be quite so much advanced.
What they found was an altogether
undeveloped country, with no market
for wage labor. They found rich and
cheap lands and great forests, [but
they did not care to stay and develop
them, meantime suffering privation
and danger of fevers and death. The
emigrants to Liberia, however, were
confronted with no such obt taeles as
were met with by the white people
who first came to settle and build up
this counti y. Savages, wild animals,
fevers and the like did not drive the
white men from the new country.
They persevered, and built the great
est free nation under the sun.
We seriously fear that the Ameri
can negro is not a good colonist and
nation builder. He lacks the pluck
and stamina necessary to the pioneer.
The Meanest Man,
The “meanest man in America” is
probably Ray Stowe of Atlantic, la.
There have been other men to whom,
from time to time, this invidious
distinction has attached, but Stowe
has broken all records and comes
'under the wire seven laps ahead of
any old thing.
It appears that Stowe invited Miss
THE BOMK TRIBUNE, SJLTTUBDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1897.
Blanch Kraemer to accompany him
to a theater where a bicycle was to be
awarded to the young lady holding
the wiuuwi®-ciupon. Mies Kraemer
gladly aecepted the invitation and
was the bmapiest girl in town when
the man at the lottery wheel drew
forth her number and pronouoeed
her winner of the coveted prize,
which was .delivered to her after toe
show, and carried home the same
■ight.
A few days later Stowe borrowed
the wheel and refused to return it. The
machine, toe -said, had been won with
a ticket purchased with bis money,
and therefore was rightfully his. The 1
press dispatches fail to state what toe
price of admission was. but Stowe’s
picayune conduct leads to the con
clusion that it was a popular price
affair to which he took the young
lady; that the tickets were of the ten
cent variety.
When the case came to trial the
young lady’s lawyers argued that the
management specifically proposed to
give the wheel to a young lady; that
when the young man invited Miss
Kraemer he did so with the under
standing that the invitation included
participation in the chance for draw
ing the prize, and that for the young
man to claim it would be to violate
the terms on which the tickets were
given out The jury took this view,
and rendered a verdict in favor of the
girl.
It will be noted that the lawyers
were of the lowa persuasion. A Ten
nessean would have argued that the
hooor and pleasure of Miss Kraemer’s
company was cheap at any price, and
that a whole wheel factory could not
compensate.. her for being seen in
company of such a thing as Stowe
proved himself to be.
Stowe ought to go on the road
with a side show. There’s a fortune
in it. There are thousands of people
who would cheerfully pay 10 cents
to see him in the congenial society
of the Circassian lady, the human
ostrich and the educated hog. Mem
phis Commercial Appeal.
GEORGIAS GREAT PROBLEM,
What the Editors of the Newspapers
are Saying About it,
(Covington, Ga., Star)
The present convict lease contract ex
pires in April, 1899.
Let us not renew it.
It has caused more trouble and dis
satisfaction than any other one thing in
Georgia.
The convicts should never be hired
out to private parties.
It is human nature that the lessees
should want to make all they can out
of their labor.
We do not blame them for that.
But it is the inhumanity of their treat
ment, whicn results from this desire to
make gain off their labor, that makes
the lease system unpopular and objec
tionable:
, Another serious objection to the lease
system is that the profits arising from
the labor of the convicts goes into the
pockets of private parties, when they
should go into the state treasury—to the
entire people.
This can only be done by putting the
convicts to work on the public high a ays
of the state, or to building railroads.
One of the greatest needs of the state
is a better system of public roads, and
the speediest and cheapest way to get
good roads is to have the convicts build
them.
The question is not so much one of
profit on the labor of the convicts, how
ever, as it is one of humanity and
general public interest, and we trust
our legislators will consider the matter
from this higher standpoint before they
make a final disposition of the convicts.
Mrs, Myrick's Explanation,
(Americus Times-Recorder)
If there is any one act we perform
more religiously than any other it is to
read with greed the brilliant and timely
editorials which emanate from the brain
and aggressive mind of Houstoun Rich
ardson Harper, editor of The Rome
Tribune. We had reason to believe
that our ardent admiration was in
a measure reciprocated, but alas? how
bitter the disappointment we must en
dure, for Houstoun Richardson Harper
has spoken words of disapproval which
go straight to our heart. He says edi
torially in the Tribune of Sunday’s
issue:
“It sounds very silly in the Americus
Times-Recorder to say that the Hall
penitentiary bill means bankruptcy to
Georgia What better plan has it to
suggest?”
But then again, at the same time
when Houstoun Richardson Harper was
supposed to be in Rome he seems to
have been somewhere else, for the
Brunswick Times in writing an account
of the visiting legislative committee’s
recent stay there says:
“The members will be entertained
for a day by Uncle Joe Mansfield on
Sapelo island, and later they will go to
Ossabaw island as the guests of Houit >un
Richardson Harper, editor of The Rome
Tribune, who represents the owners of
that piece of property.”
‘ Now after reading this we take a new
lease on life, for after all it seems to
have been some silly sub who passed
READY MADE CLOTHING
I ■ ’
Fresh from the Biggest Manufacturers in the
United States at Hard Time Prices.
Never before in ; the history of this store have goods been
bought so l ow. Our entire stock was purchased before the ad
vance in prices and we propose to sell
Clothing, Hals, Underwean Shirts and Hosiery
Cheaper than it can be bought elsewhere.
WE HIVE COME TO STAY SSKlTSSUttJfiajff
suits, therefore we prefer not to advertise rather than advertise fakes-
Our Entire • Stock Was Never in Better Shape.
Counters and shelves loaded down with new, fresh, clean desirable
goods bought right and priced right NO CUT THROAT BUSINESS
IN THIS STORE. Men’s suits in all styles, colors, qualities and
makes. Boys’ and Childrens’ school and dress suits in Double-brested
suits, Vestee suits and Junior suits.
BIGGEST STOCK OF HATS IN NORTH GEORGIA
On one side of our store the shelving is filled with nothing but
Hats and Caps from front to back. Full Tine of Knox and Stexson hats
Our stock of Furnishing goods is the biggest and best selected in the
city. Big line of Shirts Neckwear, Underwear, Hosiery, Gloves, Sus
penders, £ & W. Collars and Cuffs. Manhattan Shirts and Shaw Knit
Hosiery. Come to see us, your call will be appreciated and we will save
you money.
J. B. WATTERS <£ SON,
The Leaders of Low Prices.
242 and 244 BROAD ST. - - ROME, GA.
such hasty judgment on the opinion of
the Times-Recorder, while the chival
rous Editor Houstoun Richardson Har
per was representing the owners of the
marsh which they hope to unload upon
the state. He was a member of the leg
islative junket—of course from patri-
motives only.
And it is The Truth,
(Savannah Press)
The Rome Tribne does not believe
that the taxpayers of Georgia favor a
$1,000,000 separate-cell penitentiary.
, The Real Vampire,
Scientists affirm that only the female
mosquito is fond of human'blood. Rud
yard Kipling must have had this in
mind when he wrote the Vampire.—Co
lumbus Enquirer-Sun,
The Great I Am,
Not everyone who looks at the dial of
a clock knows that the four I’s which
are in place of the usual IV. to designate
the number 4 are there because of the
obstinacy of Charles V. of France. The
story runs as follows: When Henry
Vick carried to the Ring the first accu
rate clock the king said to him that the
IV. was wrong and should be changed
to Illi. Vick said: ‘You are wrong,
your majesty.” Whereat the king thu
dered out: “I am never wrong Take it
away and correct the mistake.” From
that time to this day the four I’s have
stood as the mark of the fourth
hour. —Syracuse Standard.
To Keep the South Solid,
(Richmond, Dispatch)
If the republican administration
wishes to make the south solider than it
ever was, it should keep right on ap
pointing negro postmasters in this sec
tion.
Penitentiary Closed,
The Mississippi penitentiary has this
notice posted upon its gate: “No one
admitted until after frost. ’ ’
Some people down there would not
care if it never frosted again. —Thomas
ville Times.
“The woman who who can look at
a hole in a newspaper without won
dering what is cut out is yet to be
born,” says Editor Triplett. Now
what does he know about women?
EAST ROME TAX PAYERS
You must pay your taxes or
executions will issue at once.
W. M, GAMMON, Clerk.
O’Neill Manufacturing Co.
MANUFACTURERS OF
SASH, DOORS AND BLINDS.
ALL KINDS OF MILL WORK.
LUMBER
Lime and Cement,
HAMMAR PAINTS
we sell everything needed in house-build
ing. Flooring, Ceiling, Moulding, Brackets,
Shingles and Laths, Glass, Builders’ Pauer
and Material.
Contractors and Builders!’
* • *
We take contracts for all kinds of build
ings, large or small.
O’Neill Manufacturing Company,
JFlome, GrEi.
Telephone 76,