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e
Official Organ of Ben Hill County and City of Fitzgerald
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e i
Our Leader subscribers have been rendered a statement of their
subscription account, and we wish to urge upon you the importance
of a prompt settlement, We must make a report to the Post Office
Department of our subscription list and unless you pay promptly will
have to discontinue your paper. If you are short of ready cash come
in and fix it the next best way. We don’t see why Uncle Sam takes
such a paternal interest in a newspaper’s business, but he insists that
we get paid for our papers if we use the Post Office. |
Le e e gl e e L S R AI e e
Kindergartens Wanted For Public Schools.
Georgia Educators are deeply interested in the passage of th
permissive Kindergarten bill which was presented at this session of
the legislature by Representative J. B. McCarty of Chatham county
and which will have the hearty support of Chatham’s other Represent
atives, the Hon. Randolph Anderson aud the Hon. A. A, Lawrence.
The clubwomen of the entire State are behind the movement, giving
it strong endorsemeut.
The bill would have the effect not only of permitting puklic school
boards to intrcduce Kindergarten as an organic part of their system
but of legalizing those public school Kindergartens already establish
ed in several (Georgia cities. Athens comparatively recently took over
into its public school system the free Kindergartens started by the
Women’s Clubs, the value of the work as a foundation for education
and as essential to the varied needs of the little child having been
clearly demonstrated. So convinced have the Athens educational au
thorities become of the value of the Kindergarten that the University
of Georgia Summer School lsst summer introduced a Kindergarten
Department under the supervision of Miss Hoitense M. Orcutt, Su
pervisor of the Kate Baldwin Free Kindergarten Association of
Savannah, and is contipuing 1t this season with Miss Carol P. Op
penheimer acd Miss Nora Edmonston, both of the Kate Baldwin As
sociation, as directors, under Miss Orcutt. Columbus has had public
school Kindergartens for a number of vears, and Augusta has a Kin
dergarten in every public school in the city, Supt. Lawton B, Evaps
being a firm believer io Kindergarten as an economic and indispensa
ble factor in elementary education.
(Georgia’s constitution, antedating as it does educational knowl
edge of the Kindergarten, does not allow for punlic education before
the age of six, as it does not allow for High School Education manual
and vocational training, languages, and other branches that have
been incorporated in its educational system of latter years and legal
ized by special legislation. The new Kindergarten bill will obviate
this difficulty, and will at least make it possible for enlightened boards
of education in the Siate to take account of those formative and im
portant years in child development, from 4 to 6, recognizing society’s
responsibility to give to its little citizens at that time opportunities
tor the fullest growth in body, mipd and spirit, and making, through
proper directivn, the energies and interests of that period of life serve
the whole cause of education.
Stop, Look, Listen, Think and Say No.
Four words have played great parts with plans on three occasions.
The first notable quartette was that political utterance: Rum, Ro
manism and Rebellion.”
Then along came that eruption of Vanderbilt when he uttered his fa
‘mous declaration, “The public be damned.”
But the man who made a fortune was the one who coined the ex
pression you see at every danger point on the railroads: “Stop, Look and
Listen.”
Today the demand of the age is for additional warning to the trav
eler along the highway of life. There are danger pcints hidden and
curves indiscernable that may plunge you into the aßyss of moral or
financial ruin.
Stop, look, listen, think and say no. Just adopt this as a motto you
will have ample opportunity to thank yourself for the action before you
are many moons older. There are countless schemes being promulgated
to get you entrapped and take from you something that is worth while.
Remember the motto.
There are fakirs parading in every community. Generally they are
travelers with a slick tongue and oily ways, but don’t get inveigled in
their ways. Just think of the sentence above. if you will turn them
away it will be a glad day with you. Think about the reason why they
are not doing just the things they want you to do and the answer should
be convincing enough. ;
These pilferers of your wealth, ‘health and happicess are nothingi
more or less than respectabie thieves, made so by custom. Do not respect
a thief, no mhtter in what guise. Say no every time. They will come
to you with éetty stock propositions with life insurance propaganda not
sanctioned by standard old-time companies. They will come in the guise
of the benefactar, of presenting something for the benefit of humanity,
from some lecture course, on up or down the line. It may benefit hu
manity, but you will .have to pay the price. Sometimes these lecture
organizers and other promoters entangle you by getting two or thres
other prominent men to go in with you, sometimes they send a business
woman along and again a talented man who sells his intellect and often
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his principle for dollars. 'Do not be deceived. -~~~ 1
Inquire about things, think about them. But. above all say no. If ‘
you want something for your town get up some local enterprise do not
feed and clothe some 3ang of boodlers who care nothing for you or the
town after the sum of dollars they bind you to pay is gathered. This
comes straight from the shoulder; it is advice of the right kind. There is
nobody in your home town to lose in this case—certainly not yourself; if
you follow the course mapped out. If you want to donate something in
the way of large sums give it to your church, your school or something
else. Do not provide for somebody whom you have never seen, some
travelers who will never pass your way but once.
Whatever you do, remember the injunction: Stop, look, listen, think
and say no—and say it forcibly and unmistakably.
Agitation, Education and Action. |
‘ Individually our different commercial enterprices are pushing ahead.
Merchants, bankers and manufactures are content with the percentage
business increase for the current quarter. Considering the limited ter
ritory in which they are swapping dollars, it is surprising how
well these institutions are doing. Their contentment is verging
on stagnation and this self-satisfying situation is lulling our “lead
ing lights” into an hypnotic condition. Local public improvements
have been contributing largely to the maintanance of our business aver
age which will reach the limit with the cessation of these operations. To
keep abreast of competition we must enlarge our retail trading territory.
Our retail establishments as a whole, in all lines, are equal to any in larger
cities. Mercantile stocks are large enough to supply five times the trad
ing population that we boast. It is imperative that we reach out for
new territory from which to draw new buyers. Within a radius of forty
miles 30,000 consumers of merchandise could be attracted to our city by
a campaign of publicity. Our knowledgde of the gentlemen and their
methods conducting business in Fitzgerald warrants us te believ> that if
we can bring these people here once they will become permanent custo
mers of our merchants. The prize is big enough to try for. What we
need is co-operation. A pull together will convince the most skeptical
that Fitzgerald is all we-claim it a d that our merchants are able to com
compete with the largest in the State.
Let the women practice law? Why of course—the profes:ion
needs them to raise the average in integrity, morality and reputation,
Bogus Investment Schemes.
The legislative commission which was appointed last summer to
draft and present to the general assembly a bill, or perhaps, several
bills remedying the defects of our present insurance laws is engaged
in a work of extraordinary importance to public interests. Insurance
leaders declare that in some particulars the existing statute fails to
protect either the legitimate company or the individual investor and
that it really opens wide the way for financial piracy.
Just what these defects are need not now.be pointed out, for that
is the purpose of the commission itself, but every observant business
man is aware ttat the state’s laws in this respect should be thoroughly
overhauled ana readjusted t 6 practical conditions. A writer in the
June number of Best’s Insurance News declares that citizens of Geor
gia and-of adjacent states have been induced during the last few years
to part with hundreds of thousands of dollars for neatly engraved
pieces of paper called *‘certificates.” He shows that under the pre
sent regulation, or rather lack of regulation, mushroom exploiters
may issue such certificates with no restriction whatsoever as to the
disposition of the proceeds from the sale of the paper. This is but
one of many laxities that should be corrected.
The commission it 1s understood, has already determined to recom
mend the establishment of a state insurance department, separate from
that of the comptroller general’s and provided with a force of men
sufficient to make its work thoroughgoing. The insurance commis
sioner would be empowered to examine companies including fraternal
organizations and for cause, to revoke their licenses, The creation of
this department would of itself be a stride in the right direction.
1t is to be hoped that whatever law or laws of this character may
be enacted they will take cognizance of the general field or bogus in
vestment propositions. Government authorities have calcrlated that
in the United States last year one hundred and seventy million doliars
was lost in get-rich-quick schemes. There is reason to believe that of
this amount at least seven million was wheedled from Georgia,
The swashing buccaneer of the gay old hardy days is gone but
his descendants =re still thriving and they are far subtler rogues than
any Captain Kidd who ever flew the skull and bones, They adroitly
keep just within the established law, indeed they have developed axz
art of thievery so refined that a number of states are enacting special
laws for the public’s protection, Such a statute was recently put into
effect in Kansas, The comptroller general was authorized to examine
scrupulously all concerns applying fer a license and to refuse those he
considered unstable or lacking in good faith. The result was that
within a single year only fifty out of six hundred and fifty stock and
bond companies applying for licenses werc granted them. The fifty
who were authorized to do business entered the field unhampered by
dishonest competitors and unclouded by suspicion,
The fact is such laws are demanded not only in behalf of the
general public, but also in the interest of legitimate concerns. How
unfair 1s this to honest business! The representative insurance com:
‘panies of Georgia ar d the representative investment companies are
entitled to the state’s protection against those motley adventurers of
finance whose sole purpose is to make away with booty. ‘
As matters now are 1n Georgia, an alleged company, no matter
how imrginary its capital or security may be, can secure a license to
operate simply!by filing application with the comptroller general and
obéerving a few loose requirements. As a consequence the state has
become easy prey to business picaroons. ‘‘These bogus concerns,”
says a member of the Atlanta Chamber who has investigated the
Gist of Governor Brown’s
Message to The Legislature
Pl R Lol LA ;
Draws attention to the hitherto unprecedented condition of the treas
ury and urges that ways and means to yeplenish state coffers and restrain
expenditures be devised at once.
Advocates creation of office of state auditor, better banking laws, ,
laws to protect the investor and stockholder in insurance organization
and more stringent restrictions as to qualifications necessary to practice
medicine in Georgia.
For third time urges legislature to remove some of the drastic and
burdonsome restrictions against suffrage in Georgia imposed by the present
registration law. [Estimates that 100,000 white men are barred from
voting and that in Fulton county alone only;two out of five are allowed 4
to vote this year.
Asks that assistant pure food inspector be provided for and that gas
oline be also inspected, same to be under direction of department of ag
riculture. Tax of half cent gallon on gasoline would yield state $40,000
a year. Also urges state geological survey and deplores smallness of ap- ‘
propriation for soil analysis. : :
Stresses importance of generous support of state University and urges
that ag far as finances will allow, it be furnished with money sufficient to
procure everything needed. As to agricultural schools, recommenas that
each member of trustee board of state university be exofficio member of
board of agricultural school in his : district, and that appropriations to
each school be adjusted so to pro rate by ,q;tendance increase or decrease,
Urges that Tech be given $25,000 extra, §5,000 for maintenance fund and
$50,000 for heating plant. Also recommends $5,000 extra a year for G.
N.and L C. ; R
Give all supply contfacts to lowest bidder. Have trustees of Staie
sanitarium appointed for four years, but have renewals every two years |
by having one-half of board renewed once every two years,
Office of state commissioner of public highways should be established
with engineering department to look after good roads interests and con
victs should be forced to work certain percentage of time on main roads
from one county site to another, thus preserving and building up the
state roads. Urges that legislature co-operate with railroad commission
in efforts to have principal roads in Georgia double-tracked. In this con
nection again urges that some provision be made to provide for double
tracking of W. and A.
Urges that number of members of railroad commission be reduced
to three and that office of attorney to commission be abolished and this
work handled by the attorney-general. s
Urges amendment to new gameé law so that commissioner will be
elected by the people. Stresses importance of sufficient appropriation as
will manufacture enough hog cholera serum to check disease. Asks that
state make provision to pay expenses of its governor to annual confer
ence of governors. :
Discuses legal procedure in criminal cases at length and urges that
pardon secretary be provided for, to prepare data on all applications for
pardons as too much of governor’s time is taken up with them now#
Urges legislature to enact such laws as will do away as much as possible
with the mass of technicalities in criminal trial and procedure which do
so much to clog the wheels of justice and delay the just course of the
law.
Declares that the last gubernatorial election was a mandate from the
people that any further amendment or change in the prohibition law
should be approved by them at the ballot box before being made. Pres
ent law by use of words cannot be made stronger, task of making it more
effective being purely and simply a matter of local enforcement.
Fight is Taken Up on Cotton
Caterpillars. ,
Atlanta, Ga,, June 27th.—Two
small medicine bottles containing
live army worms and cotton cater
pillars at their deadly work on
pieces of corn stalks, grassand
cotton plants, claimed the atten
tion for nearly two hours Wednes
aay of a group representing bapk
ers, seed crushers, fertilizers and
wholesale grocers, in the commit
tee room of the Chamoer of Com
merce,
State Entomologist Worsham
was present at the conference,
which was for the expiess purpose
of stopping the army worm in its
ravages and to arrive 4t means
whereby the cotton caterpillar
may be checked in its progress
eastward, It is now on its way
from Texas, and should it resch
here by July or August would
destroy fully 50 per.cent of the
cotton crop in Georgia, declares
Mr. Worsham. :
Through the co-operation of the
interests present at the meeting it
is hoped to warn the farmers by
mailing to them 100,000 circular
letters telling how to kill the worm
now present and further offer a
means to check the progress of
the caterpillar.
The state entomologist said it
wonld be a comparatively easy
matter to stop the latter pest if
course, ‘‘seldom invest the money they get for the sale of securities
and they never intend to mature the stocks and bonds they sell. In
fact they can continue the payment of interest only so long as they
%sell new securities. They run smoothly enough for a while and then-¥
suddenly disappear from the state leaving the innocent investor in the
lurch.” i .
5 A law to prevent such practices is sorely needed in Georgia. It
is to be hoped that the bill. or bills, the legislative commission pre- %
sents will cover all these problems and will be promptly enacted by
the general assembly.—Atlanta Journal, :
the farmers will take the precau- 4
tions sent them seriously and en
ter the fight to a man.
Mr. Worsham said that the army »
worm has already done serious
damage to corn, grain grasses and
in some instunces cotton in Geor
gia, The cotton caterpillar, he
says, 1s a general thing mistaken
for the army worm by the average o
layman, but it is a different insect
and as a rule attacks only cotton.
“The remedy is simple and in
expensive,” said the entomologist.
*“The most satisfactory -remedy g
paris green, or arsenate of lead,
though the latter is preferable.
One application of either poison is
sufficient for an entire season. *
First M. E. Church
Services next Sunday will be as
follows:
Sabbath School at 9:30 a. m.
Morning preaching at 10:45 a. m
Epworth League at 6:45.
Night preaching at 7:45. ¢
At both preachlng servites the
pulpit will be filled by Rev. John L
Wells, of St. George, Ga. There wikid
be special music—orchestra at night.
The general public, especially
strangers, will find a cordial welcome
at every service.
E. J. Hammonp, Pastor.
Miss Jewel Gibbens from Nash
ville, will arrive tomorrow as the
guest of Clara Brett.