Georgia Historic Newspapers

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VOL. IX.
“ROME METHODISTS
SHE»PERNICIOUS.
PROSELTTING SECT"
—Archbishop Ireland
Prelate Scores Denomination
in Rome in Explaining Pope’s
Refusal to See Fairbanks,
Because of Methodists
ARE THERE TO PERVERT
CATHOLIC FOLLOWERS
CHICAGO. Feb. B.—The following state
ment was offered the Associated Press by
Archbishop Ireland today:
"People in America may easily misap
prehend the circumstances in Rome which
led the Vatican to refuse an audience
with the holy father to Mr. Charles W.
Fairbanks after the vice president of the
United States said he would make a
public address before the Methodist as
sociation of that city. Most likely Mr.
Fairbanks himself did not fully realise
the meaning which Romans would attri
bute to bls address.
•'lt was not a question of Mr. Fair
banks being a Methodist or going to a
Methodist church In Rome for Sunday de
votions. It was a question of appearing
to give the fullest approval to the work
of the Methodist association in Romer
American Methodists in Rome are active,
and I may readily say pernicious prosely
ters.
"The Methodist association is not in
Rome to serve and meet American Meth
odists, but to pervert from the Cath
olic faith all those upon whom they can
bring influence to bear.
“I was in Rome last winter, and I
made a very particular study of this
Methodist propaganda. It has gone so far
that Catholics have organised a society
for the preservation of the faith to fight
against it-
OPENLY CONFESSED
"The purpose of the work of the Meth
odist association in Rome is confessed
openly. The means employed are by no
means honorable. They take every ad
vantage of the poverty of the poor in
Rome The books circulated and displayed
tn the windows of their book stores are
slanders against the Catholic faith, the
holy pontiff at Rome and a misreoresenta
tion of the whole Catholic system. The
success of the movement is far from
adequate to the efforts put forth and the
money expended. They don’t make per
manent converts of Italian Catholics.
They may possibly detach pupils from the
Catholic church, and this means from
all things for Italians.
"Now a public address by a former
vice president of the United States be
fore the Methodist association can have
no other meaning In the eyes of the Ro
man public than the approval of Ameri
ca on the propaganda of the Methodist
association Had the holy father, guar
dian of the spiritual Interests of • the
Catholic church of the world, smilingly
welcomed Mr. Fairbanks to an audience
■on the following day in what other
position would he appear to be than giv
ing hte approval to the propaganda of
the Methodist association before which
the address had been given?
"ft was simply impossible for the holy
father, in his official position as a sov
ereign pontiff of the Catholic church, to
do aught elee than to say pohtlely to Mr.
Fairbanks:
" 'I cannot receive you and accord you
the honors due you in all other circum
stances as an American and a distin
guished representative of a great re
public.’ ”
"I repeat that I am most willing to
believe Mr. Fairbanks did not catch up
the full meaning, in the eyes of the Ro
man people, of the address he was to
make to the Methodist association.
‘One arm of combat which those
Methodists employ in Rome, as I know
from personal observation, is to create
the impression that Methodism is the
great faith of the peojwe and that the
Catholic church is merely an Italian In
stitution.
."There are in Rome Protestant Ameri
can churches for the benefit of Ameri
cans that put forth legitimate efforts to
mind their own business and make no war
on the Catholic church. What I have
said of the Methodists in Rome does not
apply to the other churches there. I
hsve tn mind the Protestant Episcopal
chapel on the Via Nazionale and its for
mer rector. Dr. Nevins, a man whom
1 was pleased to call a friend and whom
I was always glad to meet.
"I cannot make it too plain that I am
not attacking the entire Mehtodist
ehurch." .
Bishop Cranston Answers
Prelate’s Rap at Methodism
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10.—Replying to
the statement issued by Archbishop Ire
land tn which that prelate attacked the
work of the Methodist Episcopal church
in Rome and defended the action of
the vatiean in not receiving former Vice
President Fairbanks because he ad
dressed a Methodist congregation in the
central city. Bishop Cranston, of the
Methodist Episcopal church, declared
that the Methodist ehurch is working
openly and honestly in Rome, that it
does not take advantage of the poor, as
Archbishop Ireland alleged, and that
Mr. Fairbanks by his action "both
taught and exemplified true Catholic
ity.”
"Even had they been a disreputable
lot to whom Mr. Fairbanks spoke." said
Bishop Craneton, "the precedents of the
Vatican do not indicate that high moral
tests are Invariably applied to persons
who are granted audience at the Vati
can."
He said that if the archbishop’s rea
soning that It would have* meant an in
dorsement of the pernicious propaganda
of the Methodist association, is correct,
"diplomacy must at once exclude many
people who have been frequently callers
at the White House, lest offense be
given to friendly nations.”
As to the charge that the Methodist
church in Rome is taking advantage of
the poor. Bishop Cranston said:
"Italy is full of poor people for some
reason, but not all who come to us are
poor We do not use confessional, nor
charge for baptism or the other sacra
ment recognised by us. nor do we have
any stated fees or costly chunrh build
ings. If the poor find our service help
ful and attractive they are free to
Fairbanks Congratulated
On Attitude to the Vatican
ROME. Feb. i®.—Ex-Vice President
Fairbanks has received many cable
grams from tiie United States congratu
lating him on his attitude towards the
Vatican. One of the cablegrams says:
Continued on page Three
KENTUCKY SENATE
TO PROBE CHARGES
OF WHISKY BRIBE
Bitter Fight Is Expected to Re
sult in Investigation of Alle
gations of “Dry” Leader
Watkins, of Upper House
MAY LOSE SENATE SEAT
IF CHARGE IS UNTRUE
♦ Statewide Prohibition *
Is Up in Kentucky i
♦ FRANKFORT. Ky.. Feb. 10.—The ♦
♦ fight on the "drys” in the Kentuc- ♦
♦ ky legislature was given a new turn ♦
today when Representative George
♦ C. Waggoner, of Henry county, of- ♦
♦ sered two bills, one of them to se- ♦
cure statewide prohibition. The lat- ♦
♦ ter bill is to prevent manufacture ♦
e- or sale of liquor in Kentucky, and ♦
♦ to amend the .constitution to give ♦
♦ the people the right to vote on -o
♦ statewide prohibition. The compan- ♦
♦ lon bill is to prevent the sale of -o
liquor within 400 yards of any -a
♦ school or church. ♦
FRANKFORT, Ky., Feb. W.—The sen
ate committee chosen yesterday to in
vestigate the rumor given voice here be
fore the State .Anti-Saloon league by J.
J. Watkins, of Union county, "dry” lead
er of the senate, that certain members
of the upper branch of the Kentucky as
sembly had been bribed by the liquor in
terests of the state, will begin work this
morning.
The Investigation Is expected to pro
voke much bitterness and it is openly
declared among the legislators that If
Watkins falls to produce proof sufficient
to substantiate the charges alleged to
have been made, his seat in the senate
will be declared vacant.
Senators Watkins, asked yesterday to
repeat the chargee attributed to him. de
clared he was misquoted, adding:
“I charged that it was rumored that
four members had been purchased for
820.000. and that I was surprised to hear
It was so much."
Every newspaper at the capitol. togeth
er with members of the senate and house
and a number of outsiders have been
summoned to appear before the com
mittee.
WATKINS IS CALLED.
Senator J. J. Watkins was the first wit
ness. and his examination consumed over
an hour. During his questioning all other
witnesses were excluded from the room.
At the conclusion of the senator s exam
ination. the committee took a recees un
til later in the day. _ > ♦ ’■
MOE OWES CONGER:
TESTIMONY FWIOBS M.LOS
Tells of Secret Visit to Assem
bly for Layout of Cor
ridors
(By Associated Frets.)
ALBANY, N. Y„ Feb. 10.—Hiram G.
Moe’s testimony was not over when the
senate bribery Investigation was contin
ued today. Moe is the man Who says he
carried tS.'X'O from Frank Conger, vice
president of the American Bridge com
pany. and distributed it among three leg
islators here, including J. P. Allds. Mys
tery as to the identity of the other two
legislators is a feature of the investiga
tion.
When Moe took the stand Tuesday af
ternoon and related his story, agents of
Allds were requested to investigate Moe's
record, and it is to await their reports
that Allds' lawyers wished to keep Moe
as their witness until today.
Senator Ben Conger was expected to
take the stand when Moe finished.
MOE OWES ALLDS.
Hiram G. Moe admitted today that he
at present owes Benn Conger 83,600. In
addition, two Groton banks, which the
Conger family controls, hold Moe’s note
for 83.000. For the first time since the
investigation began the testimony today
showed decidedly In Allds' favor. Moe
was forced to tell of a secret expedition
to the asembly at the capitol to study
the layout of the corridors and committee
rooms where he said he paid Allds the
*I,OO.
Moe said he is a deacon and trustee of
the Baptist church. In Groton.
REPUTATIONS AT STAKE.
The reputations of two senators were
the stakes for which two of the foremost
cross-examiners in the country battled
yesterday In the senate. Before them
sat Hiram G. Moe, the bank cashier from
Goton, whose assertion that he gave Sen
ator Jotham P. Allds *I,BOO to suppress a
bill hostile to the bridge-building combi
nation. has made him the foremost figure
in the senate s Investigation of the brib
ery charges against Allds. Moe was un
der cross-examination for three hours,
but did not retract his assertion.
Allds* corps of lawyers deftly framed
their questions to undermine Moe's com
petency and reliability, and at the same
time tried to show that, as the giver of
a bribe, Allds' accuser, Conger, might be
equally guilty.
SENATOR, NOT BROTHER.
Their questions indicated that it was
Senator Conger and not his dead brother.
Frank, the vice president of the Ameri
can Bridge company, who engineered the
alleged transaction in the ways and
means committee room of the assembly
upon which the whole investigation is
based. Moe. however, insisted that he
took his orders from Frank Conger and
that Ben Conger’s part began and end
ed with taking him to the capitol and
pointing out the men to whom he deliv
ered the money.
Several times during the examination
the witness or the attorneys, seemed
upon the brink of.fresh revelations, in
volving other names, but the session end
ed with the identity of the other legis
lators. who, if the story of Conger and
Moe is true, were quite as guilty as
Allds. still unrevealed.
Counsel for both sides declared today
that former United States Senator
Thomas C. Platt had not been subpenaed
as a witness and that his deposition
would not be taken.
Guernsey H. Williams, of Syracuse, wax
tn a first witness.
COTTON PRODUCTS
ASSN FORMED IN
ATLANTA THURSDAY
New Organization Will Con
duct Campaign for Scientific
Education of Agriculturists of
the South in General
DISTINGUISHED MEN
DELIVER ADDRESSES
Sphere of Influence of Associ
ation Will Be Broad--Hoke
Smith Delivers Address Upon
Reason for Gathering
♦♦♦♦♦♦ ♦♦»♦♦♦♦»♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
Speakers and Subjects ♦
In Afternoon Session ;
♦ The afternoon session, which met ♦
♦ at 2 o’clock Thursday, presented ♦
♦ the following program: ♦
"The Empire of the South”—F. ♦
♦ S. White, agricultural and horti- ♦
♦ cultural commissioner, St. Louis ♦
♦ and San Francisco railway. ♦
♦ “Gems That Blush Unseen; Un- ♦
♦ developed Opportunities of the ♦
♦ South"—W. R. C. Smith, publisher ♦
♦ of Cotton. ♦
♦ "What the Agricultural Depart- ♦
♦ ment is Doing for the South’’— ♦
♦ T. G. Hudson, commissioner of ag- ♦
♦ riculture of Georgia. ♦
-♦ “What We Are Here For”—Hon. ♦
Hoke Smith, ex-governor of Geor-
♦ gia. , +
+ “What the National ♦
♦ elation Has Done”—J. L. Godfrey, ♦
♦ Omaha, Neb. ♦
♦ Organization, election of officers ♦
♦ and report of committees. ♦
Adjournment. >
A movement that will have a lasting
and widespread effect upon the produc
tion, marketing and manufacture of cot
ton and cotton products throughout the
world, was that inaugurated tn Atlanta
on Thursday by a number of gentlemen
representing greatly diversified Interests
Present were some 55 prominent educa
tors, railroad men, manufacturers, edi
tors and other Interested men.
As a result of the gathering there was
formed a permanent organization known
aa the National Cotton and Cotton Pro
ducts’ association. The purposes pf the
new association, briefly, are to further
i the allied interests of all to whom cotton
and its products are of benefit. The
sphere of influence of the new organiza
tion will be elastic and of almost unlim
ited expansive possibilities.
AIMS OF ORGANIZATION.
As set forth in the constitution, the
aims of the association are as follows:
First. The dissemination of informa
tion regarding better cultural methods
along the lines of diversification, rota
tion and fertilization, seed selection, crop
adaptation, good roads, etc.
2. The unifying of the work of vari
ous organizations now engaged in help
ing the cause of agriculture.
8. The establishing of closer relations
between the grower, the crusher, the
manufacturer, the press, the railroads,
the educational institutions and commer
cial bodies that they may harmoniously
work, each for the other and all for
Dixie.
4. The opening up of home and for
eign markets through education as to the
uses and possibilities of cotton and cot
ton products and by-products.
5. To encourage the holding of fairs,
institutes, summer schools and meetings
of every character calculated to promote
the betterment of agriculture.
6. To aid in the distribution of educa
tional literature in the Interests of agri
culture.
7. To give expression of the work done
each year by the association by holding
in some large city an exposition devoted
to southern products, where suitable pre
miums shall be offered to exhibitors as an
inducement for them to enter their best
products in competition, thus stimulating
and encouraging the farmer to greater
efforts.
MORNING SESSION.
The morning session was called to or
der at 10 o’clock at the Piedmont hotel
by Prof. K. G. Matheson, president of
the Georgia School of Technology, act
ing as temporary chairman, who re
quested Rev. C. B. Wilmer, rector of St.
Luke’s church, to open the session with
prayer.
After a brief but eloquent invocation
by Dr. Wilmer, Professor Matheson
spoke briefly of the reasons for the gath
ering. and then introduced Hon. R. F
Maddox, mayor of Atlanta, who delivered
the address of welcome.
MAYOR MADDOX TALKS.
The address of Mayor Maddox was
brief, but it made up in power and force
what it lacked in length. He spoke of
the need for wide-awake progressiveness
in the south. He told of what other
cities and sections of the country are
doing in the way of progress and urged
that the south take a lesson therefrom.
“I thank you railroad men,” he said,
"for your interest in us and all you gen
tlemen for this gathering. Atlanta needs
you and welcomes you. This is a great
movement and one that is bound to suc
ceed.”
MR. WEEVER’S ADDRESS
The major s address was received with
enthusiastic applause. Next introduced
was G. S. Weever, chairman of the pub
licity bureau of the Inter-States Cotton
association, who outlined briefly the ex
act purposes of the new association.
Mr. Weever was applauded to the echo
at the close of his able summing up of
the widespread aims of the movement.
BETTER SCHOOLS.
"A Platform of Rural Progress for the
South,” was the subject of an address
delivered by C. H. Poe. editor of the
Progressive Farmer. He declared the
fundamental need to bf better schools.
“We can never realize our opportuni
ties,” he declared, "so long as the south
ern boy or girl has only half as many
days schooling as the northern and west
ern boy or girl.”
Mr. Poe declared that we must seek to
farming and encourage the agencies that
farming and entourage theagencies that
are promoting a finer rural civilization.
Continued on Page Three
ATLANTA. GEORGIA. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1910.
OH, WON’T THE MAILS BE BUSY
f MURKY BACK' I*LL V
HAVE ANOTHER? LOAD N.
Foss THOM MALE FAC votes I K
IO I Sx! TO
jo the 1// ,
rannftgy, \\\
Sis* wWxn 1 '?
■ ♦ ,
A (iwcsrs i MORc t
I DWAY LOAD® OUT I C* ■- ■■ ' .WJejy, ■ ..111, .mi
- IIH H?ONT WHAT ■
\ SHALL Wf DO I A. •—--7
I WITH ’E z
THE C-P• WfLL*»eci£vrA L.OT
OF ATTENTION -MUjj
XL A*" To C-Annon and Aldqich
\ ■^7 — ~
and T»g. will NODougT regikye many let-tbqb in ketubn w <y
BeprsssntatiTS Hamilton Fish, of New York, has introduced the following bill tc congress: “That all mail mat
ter sent by Theodore Roosevelt under his written autograph signature be conveyed free 'of postage during hie
natural life.”
TRUST SCAPEGOAT.
SPITZER CALLS SELF.
IN SM OF JAIL
After Long Service He Is “De
serted and Ruined”--With
Others Shielded Men Higher
Up in Sugar Frauds
TOOK ALL HIS SAVINGS
FOR HIS DEFENSE
rRv A-soeiated Prw»>
NEW YORK. Feb. 10.—Oliver Spitzer,
former dock superintendent of the sugar
trust, who leaves here today to begin
"his sentence at Atlanta in connection
with the underweighing frauds, com
plained bitterly today against the trust.
“The sugar trust made a scapegoat of
me,” Spitzer said today. “It deserted
me absolutely, it pounded and ruined
me. after I- served it faithfully for 29
years.
“I started with the trust in 1880 as a
boy and by industry workd my way,
step by step, until I became superin
tendent of docks at Williamsburg.
“It has been reported that I was re
ceiving’ big pay from the trust. As a
matter of fact I got a salary of 855 a
week. The expenses of this trial have
cut into my savings and left me prac
tically a ruined man.
“In the alleged fraud prosecution the
government cried for a victim and the
sugar trust answered by sacrificing me
and four 818 a week checkers. None of
us was guilty of any breach of the law,
but somebody had to go to prison to
save those higher up.
INNOCENT OF CHARGES.
“They say I had knowledge of the
alleged manipulation of the scales at
sugar dock. I don’t think that I was
in scale houses once during the last 15
years. I had no occasion to enter them.
As to the coarse steel said to have been
discovered in a hole In a set of scales.
I knew nothing about it and seemingly
no one else except Parr, who claims to
have found it later.
"I am going to Atlanta today because
I directed my counsel not to apply for
a stay of execution. I did not want to
place myself in the same sort of a posi
tion as Mr. Morse found himself in.
Through stays and legal quibbles he add- ,
ed a year’s Imprisonment in the tombs
to his sentence.
“I am not saying this because I an
ticipate that my conviction will be up- j
held by the courts. On the contrary, on
an appeal I expect the convictions to be
reversed and a new trial ordered.”
SWALLOWED SMALITNAIL;
,T CAN BE located
A carpenter working on a downtown
building swallowed a four-penny nail late
Wednesday afternoon.
The Grady hospital ambulance was call
ed and the man carried to that institution.
The nail did not lodge in his throat and
could not be located by surgeons at the
Grady, who sent the man to a throat
specialist. The specialist could do noth
ing for him. and he was returned to the
Grady.
An x-ray examination will probably be j
necessary to locate the nail. If the man
returns to the hospital, which he left late
Wednesday night. He not apppeas to be,
suffering from the effects of bls unusual
muL
MISSISSIPPI DEADLOCK
.. SHDWSjyEIKENING
Contest Will Probably Narrow
Down to a Finish by Fri
day Night
(By Associated Press.)
JACKSON. Miss.,Feb. 10—Indications to
day are that the sensational deadlock
will not be broken by the adjournment of
the Democratic caucus tonight. The con
servative candidates have not perfected
their plans for further eliminations in
their ranks, but there is a well-defined
belief that the contest will grow down
to a finish by Thursday or Friday night.
It is expected that there will be at
least 175 members present at the roll call
tonight.
Managers of Messrs. Percy, Kyle and
Byrd say that the conservative vote will
show a substantial gain tonight, and the
same claim is made by the Vardaman
fojlowers. Some of the most enthusiastic
of the latter asserted that their favorite
will be nominated on the first ballot to
night.
U. S. COURT WILL TEST
“BLEACHING” OF FLOUR
Case, Affecting Pure Food
Law, Will Be One of Most
Important Ever Argued
NEW ORLEANS, Feb. 10.—Involving
an attack on the federal pure food and
drugs act, the case of the United States
against the Aetna Mills and Elevator
company, of Wellington, Kans., was re
sumed in the United States district court
here today.
Today’s proceedings marked the actual
opening of the trial, which will deter
mine for the first time the right of mil
lers, under the statute, to employ pro
cesses for the bleaching of flour.
It is not a criminal procedure, but is
a civil action, with the seizure of a ship
ment of flour by the Wellington com
pany to a New Orleans firm as the
basis of. action. It is alleged that the
flour was of the “bleached” variety, in
violation of the pure food act. ,
According to officials of the pure food
department in attendance, the case is '
the most Important in the history of the
bureau. They claim that a desirable
character of witnesses in flour has been
attained in many instances by an un
wholesome chemical treatment. On the
other hand, many millers contend that '
certain bleaching processes do not affect i
the product and are in -no way deleter- I
Jous to the health of the consumers.
If the government should win the case, i
it is pointed out, white flour will be- !
come a thing of the past and give way |
to a product of yellow or golden color, |
which the pure food authorities maintain ,
represents a condition of natural purity.
MACOIiT AWARDED FAIR
FOR NEXT SIX YEARS
MACON. Gs.. Feb. 10.—At the annual meeting
of ibe executive committee of the Georgia State
Agriciilt-jra) society in Macon yesterday Macon
was again selected as the site for the state
fair for the next half docen years. The city and i
its business people were praised for the help it j
has given the state socieyt and were asked to j
continue the good work by erecting some new I
buildings on the grounds.
The public property committee of city council
will visit the fair grounds this week for the |
purpose of electing a site for additional build- i
Ings. Mayor Moore addressed the committee and <
promised to lend aid.
FIGHT ON COTTON -
EXCHANGE IS WAGED
BEFORE COMMIHEE
T. J. Brooks and D. J. Neill, of
Farmers’ Union, Who Oppose
Gambling, Urge Passage of
Effective Measure
EXCHANGE OFFICIALS
ARGUE AGAINST IT
BY RALPH SMITH.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10.—The hearing
on the bills to suppress gambling in farm
products was resumed before the agri
cultural committee of the house this
morning, with D. J. Neill, a prominent
member of the Farmers’ union,' from
Texas, on the stand. He evidenced a
familiarity with the practices of the cot
ton exchanges of the country, and gave
damaging testimony concerning their evil
influences upon the cotton crop.
President Barrett and members of the
union are much pleased with the result
of yesterday's work. They are convinced
now that the New York Cotton exchange
has been routed, and they are confident
of a favorable report on the Scott bill.
At noon today the committee took a
recess until this afternoon, when the
hearing will be resumed.
The cotton exchange Interests presented
their side of case at today’s hearing by
house committee of agriculture on the
proposed legislation to stop profit by
dealings in futures. President S. T. Hub
bard, of the>lew York exchange; George
W. Neville, one of the leading members
of that quorum, and others identified with
cotton speculation in the metropolis were
present to voice their opposition to In
hibitory bills.
Besides the members of the committee,
many other representatives in congress
from cotton-producing states are attend
ing the hearing. The committee is re
ceiving a hekvy mail from people
throughout the country Interested in the
measures and Chairman Scott says he
has received several hundred letters from
men claiming to be cotton producers,
urging the proposed legislation.
OPPONENTS TAKE STAND.
The opponents of the bills took the
stand this afternoon. Their spokesmen
included President Hubbard, of the New
York cotton exchange; George W. Nev
ille and other members of that body, and
Col. L. Cone, of Greensbord, N. C., «
spot cotton dealer.
Thomas J. Brooks, spokesman for ths
National Farmers' union, today said the
cotton producers had been preparing for
several ,/years for the prospective abol
ishment of the agencies for the dealing
in futures and that during the last three
or four years farmers had been building
their own cotton warehouse, more than
ever before. He denied that the Farmers'
unions had tried to sell cotton on the
exchanges and insisted that money could
be borrowed cheaper on cotton than on
real estate in Tennessee.
D. J. Nelli, representing the Farmers’
union of Texas, testified that the Texas
legislature blotted out bucket shops
three years ago and theonly brokers in
Texas that suffered calamity thereby
were two who left the state for New
York and were breaking lambs in the
hands of exchange. He asserted that
the farmers of the country had been
“prostrated by the exchanges.”
Free Asthma Cure
D. J. Lane, a chemist at 124 Lane Bldg.,
St. Mary's. Kansas, manufactures a remedy far
asthma In which be has so much confidence
that be sends a Si.oo bottle by express to any
one who will write for It. Hia offer la that
he la to be paid for it If It curea. and the one
taking the treatment Is to ba the judxo
BOM BUILDERS OF
GEORGIA MEET (ND
SW GOOD IDEAS
Session of Georgia Federation
of Road Authorities Shows
Big Attendance of Officers
From Many Counties
EXPERTS HEAR EXPERTS
TELL HOW TO DO WORK
A surprisingly large response to the
call for the second convention of the
Georgia Federation of Road Authorities
was shown, Wednesday morning, by the
numerous assembly attending the session « i
in the hall of representatives at the capl- = I
tol.
Judge W. P. Eve, of Augusta, elected |
president last November at the initial or- 9
ganization meeting of the federation, call
ed the hundred county road commission
ers. representing every part of Georgia,
to order at 10 o’clock. From then till the
adjournent of the meeting, shortly after
1 o’clock, the closest attention was paid
by every man in the hali.
The speakers were Governor Brown,'
Chairman Hutchens, of the prison com
mission: Judge Moore, of Savannah; Prof.
McCallie, state geologist; Prof. Strahan,
of the University of Georgia; S. W. Kel
lar, formerly of the United States road
department, and C. C. Buchanan, of Ware
county.
This was really the federation’s first
meeting as the session last November
was a starter for the work that has now
begun. \
In his introductory speech. Judge Eve
said that the road building question long
since ceased to be a local or neighbor
hood problem. It grew till it took in the
counties. Then it extended to the state,
and now it has interested the national
government. A bill is pending before con
gress. he said, to create a bureau of pub
lic roads, for the co-ordination of state
rpad work and the creation of a national
system of roads.
GOVERNOR BROWN SPEAKS,
Applause greeted Governor Brown when
at 10:80 o’clock he appeared under the
escort of a committee sent to accompany
him. Judge Eve presented him to the
assembly.
GOVERNOR BROWN TALKS.
The governor congratulated the practi
cal road-builders before him uoon the
work they hawe done during the past
year. He said he could not be expected
to make an address on road-building in
the presence of men who are experts in
that work.
"The good roads movement which at
length has taken hold,” said he, "is the
Ag.-practically all the better
things which we may expect in the fu
ture. It binds the city and the county
together; or rather it makes the city and
the county one."
Governor Brown said that people are
always suspicious of each other till they
understand each other, till; they get to
gether. “That is what roads tend
to do, to bring us together, to make
us understand each other. That is one
of the greatest benefits of good roads
building."
The governor touched briefly upon the
relation of good roads to prosperity.
“In the official capacity with which you
have honored me, I feel greatly honored
to be with you. I believe the executive
of Georgia could not be thrown with
body of men who are doing greater things
for Georgia than you.”
CHAIRMAN HUTCHENS SPEAKS.
Chairman G. R. Hutchens, of the pris
on commission, was introduced as the
next speaker.
Chairman Hutchens said that the pris
on commission, as the authority in
charge of the road working forces of the '
state, does not intend to assume a part
in the direction of their local affairs by
the county officers before him.
He said that the policy of the prison
commission is to co-operate with the
county authorities, to advise with them
and frequently to get suggestions from
them as to how to best manage the af
fairs of the prison department; to aid
the county authorities wherever possible,
and to facilitate the great enterprise ot
road building which* they now have in
hand. He pictured the advantages of
good roads, the benefits that Georgia
is already realising from her highways'
improvements, the growth and future of
the state, and the elements of civic hon
or and personal Integrity in her servants
that make the state's hold on the future
certain and sure.
Chairman Eve expressed regret that
Judge George T. Cann, of Savannah,
had not been able to come to the con
vention. but .pleasure that to speak for , ,
him he had delegated Judge A. B. Moore,
also of Savannah. Judge' Moore,
with a brief extemporaneous introduction
read a powerful presentation of the good
roads subject which Judge Cann had
reduced to writing. /
GOOD ROADS AND GOOD HEALTH.
That presentation, ably made, was
termed "A Few Suggestions About Im
proved Roads.” It showed that in 1964
less than 3 per cent of improvement was . J
made on Georgia roads. The drainage
so necessary to good roads improves land
and even improves health conditions. As
Georgia continues to grow, so will traf
fic over her public roads increase. States
which have the highest percentage of
improved roads have the largest popula
tion per mile of road.
Farmers should be taught to feel that
all road taxes should be paid in cash in
order that persons having practical
knowledge may be employed and charged
to devote thrir whole time to the work.
Judge Cann’s statement also advised
employment of civil engineers and use
of modern methods and competent of
ficers In administration and operation.
ABOLISH WORKING OUT ROAD TAX
The working out of road taxes should
be abolished, because that practice is
wasteful and unscientific, and therefore
extravagant and inefficient. It would no?
be difficult to show that the best results
for public roads have been obtained
where statute labor has been abolished
and road taxes paid chiefly in cash. *• ,
Money spent for roads is not enough to
warrant bitter controversies in counties.
Any county can afford to build one mile
of good road. After that, when they see
what a good read is, all the outlying res
idents of the county will be besieging
the officers for extensions of the road
and will be perfectly willing to see some
of the tax money spent that way. I
STATE ROAD OFFICE.
Judge Cann advocated in his statement
the establishment of an office of public S
roads in the state department of agricul
ture, for the gathering and dissemination
Continued on Page Three.
No. 43.