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CEDARTOWN STANDARD
Devoted to the Best Interests of Cedartown and Polk County.
Volume 36.
Cedartown, Georgia, Thursday, October 5th, 1922.
Number 37.
HON. GORDON LEE
Who was unanimously chosen for Congress in the recent primary and
formally re-no minated Saturday.
HON. GORDON LEE IS RE NOMINATED
-
FOR CONGRESS AT A MOST ENJOYABLE CON
VENTION HELD SATURDAY IN CEDARTOWN.
A Congressional convention in the
Seventh District of Georgia is not the
formal and perfunctory affair that
It is in many districts, but is always
full of human interest. This is due
to the persona) and political populari
ty of the distinguished Representative
from this district, Hon. Gordon Lee,
who has always taken delight in try
ing to serve his constituents efficient
ly from the humblest to the highest,
and who worthily wears the title of
‘‘The Working Congressman.”
And of all the pleasant conven
tions held in the district, none was
over more enjoyable than that held
in Cedartown last Saturday, when Mr.
Lee was re-nominated for u tenth
term to the high position which he
has filled so wisely and faithfully.
Hon. Paul B. Trammell of Dalton,
an able member of the State Railroad
Commission, is chairman of the Dis
trict Executive Committee, and pre
sided at the meeting. Mr. T. S. Mc-
Camy, also of Dalton, is the secretary.
The meeting was opened with
prayer by Rev. C. A. DeVane, of the
First Baptist church.
Mayor Homer Watkins gave a most
happy address of welcome, in which
as himself an cx-Service man, he
spoke feelingly of the fact that two
statesmen from the Seventh District
—Congressman Lee and Senator
Harris—went themselves at their own
expense to France to look after the
welfare of “our boys over there.” It
is not generally known, but is a fact,
that Mr. Lee personally employed
secretaries to handle correspondence
about the boys from the Seventh who
were in the army, and that he wrote
over 50,000 letters in looking after
their welfare.
Judge F. A. Irwin also voiced
cordial welcome to the visitors.
Resolutions of regret and sympa
thy were unanimously adopted as to
the deaths of Hon. John W. Maddox,
a former beloved Congressman from
this district, and Senator Thos. E.
Watson.
As the women are now voters, >
resolution was also unanimously
passed that the membership of the
Executive Committee be doubled, an
equal number of women be added.
A resolution of thanks was unani
mously adopted thanking the Mayor
and Council, the Kiwanis Club and
the Chamber of Commerce for the in
vitation to come to Cedartown, and to
the Woman’s Club and U. D. C. for
looking after their entertainment.
The Committee on Resolutions re
ported the following platform, which
was enthusiastically adopted:—
The Platform.
We, the Democratic Party of the
Seventh Congressional District of
Georgia, in convention assembled,
trend of national sentiment toward a
return to power and a re-acceptance
of the principles of the Democratic
party as the best and surest moans of
securing good government, domestic
tranquility and business prosperity.
The history of the past two years,
with the Republican party in full con
trol of all branches of the govern
ment, has been disappointing. Our
economic condition has been made
distressing, and our rank as a moral
force in the affairs of the world has
been reduced. Campaign pledges
have been forgotten or purposely vi
olated. Taxes have not been reduced
but shifted to the shoulders of those
least able to bear the burden, while
governmental favors have been gran
ted to the favored few. Under
leadership which preferred power to
principle, constructive legislation has
been abandoned for expediency.
The aim and greatest mission of
the Democratic party is to maintain
the liberties of the people, the sover
eignty of the State and the perpetuity
of the Union; to insist that there must
be an impartial administration of
public affairs, wihout sectional or
class discrimination; to an observance
of the principles of human rights and
strict justice, and to manifest an ever
present interest in the brotherhood of
man. We re-affirm our allegiance o
and our faith in these principles, and
re-assert our determination to pre
serve them for the people and their
posterity. Upon these the Demo
cratic party rests its cause, wishing no
safer guide, knowing no higher law.
We call attention of all citizens,
however differing with us in other re
spects to the merits, record and a-
chievements of our Representative in
Congress, Hon. Gordon Lee 1 . As the
nominee of this convention, itself rat
ifying the unanimous verdict of the
people expressed in the recent pri
mary election, we confidently com
mend him as worthy of continued con
fidence nd support upon a record
which has been honorable, practical
and energetic. By reason of his
splendid labors on the Agricultural
Committee, he was given a place on
the powerful Appropriations Commit
tee, where he could serve the needs of
the agricultural and other interests of
his district and country to better ad
vantage. His service in this respect
has been fruitful of great good
when measured by results accomplish
ed, to which concrete reference can
be made.
Great credit is due him as a mem
ber of the special committee which
brought forth and secured the pas
sage of the Federal Farm Loan Act,
for the beneficent work under this
law by means of which millions of
dollars have been loaned to farmers
to their great relief upon the easies
view with satisfaction the evident terms of payment, at the lowest rates
of interest, and upon security not be
fore recognized.
As a pioneer in the successful ef
fort to engage the government in the
good roads movement, he has render-
eel distinguished service to every man,
woman and child in America by mak
ing the building of highways and their
maintenance a charge upon the fed
eral government as well as the state
and county governments.
To him goes credit for the im
provement of the rural mail and pos
tal service in this district; the im
provements of navigation of the riv
ers which flow through the district;
and as a member of the Forestry
Commission, for acquiring large re
servations in Georgia for the conser
vation of timber and better flood con
trol.
Realizing the sacrifices made by the
soldiers and sailors of the great
World Wnr in their defense of the
nation, he has devoted his best ener
gies to the veterans who went from
this district, as well as to the bene
ficiaries and dependents of those who
were wounded, or gave their lives
for their country, and has accom
plished for these substantial benefits,
and there are many who bear willing
testimony-of his untiring activities a-
long this line of service.
These are a few of the outstanding
achievements of his more recent pub
lic service, but there is yet to be no
ted a service in which ho stands pre
eminent, not recorded in public doc
uments, but as well and universally
known as he is known by his consti
tuents, namely his prompt, earnest
and devoted attention to the inter
ests and wants of the individual, the
average man, no matter how small the
detail. It is for this and all these
things that his colleagues in Congress,
and his constituents as well, have
termed him “The Working Congress
man,” a distinction which ho has
richly earned, a title which he most
appreciates.
We express the firm belief that the
future holds in store for him many
more years of honorable and useful
public service.
Nomination Accepted.
A committee of ex-Serviee men,
headed by Maj. Homer Watkins, was
appointed to notify Mr. Lee of his
nomination.
In accepting the nomination, Mr.
Lee said in part:—
MR. LEE’S ADDRESS.
I confess that I appear before you
with some embarrassment because it
is hard for me to express the deep
emotion which I feel, and hard to
command adequate language in which
to convey to you my sincere appre
ciation of the honor you have so gen
erously conferred upon me, and
through you to that great body of
Georgians who on the 13th day of
September left farms, factories,
stores and homes to again choose me
to represent them in the greatest
law-making body in the world. I
would be ungrateful, indeed, if I did
not cheriosh for you an abiding grat
itude for the trust and confidence you
have reposed in me. You have hon
ored me in the past by electing me as
your Representative in contests with
men of sterling character and highest
ability, and if I did not most sincere
ly appreciate these honors I would be
unworthy to serve you. It is con
clusive evidence that you feel that my
services as your Representative have
been faithful and loyal. You have
honored me for ten terms—twenty
years,—and when I enter Congress
on the 4th day of next March there
will be but four Democrats and ten
Republicans, out of a membership of
435, who have had the honor to serve
longer than myself. After this long
service, I am justly proud of the fact
that you have again expressed your
confidence in me by giving me the lar
gest vote ever cast for any candidate
for any office in the 7th Congressional
District. This indicates to me, my
friends, dating from the first day I
entered Congress, unknown to the
political game, an obscure farmer and
business man, down to this good hour,
that my service to my district and
state have met with the approval of
my people, for whom I shall ever
cherish the warmest appreciation and
deepest affectiion.
My business training and the ex
perience thus acquired has given me a
wider and deeper grasp of the duties
and responsibilities that honor you
have conferred upon me carries with
it. This experience, gained through
my long service in Congress, and the
grave responsibilities confronting our
country and the unsettled condition
of the business and economic world
during the last few years especially,
impress me with the obligation I am
to assume, and better qualify mu’to
discharge of the position. It is n
great honor to be chosen by such a
splendid vote to continue for the
tenth term to represent them in the
halls of Congress by a constituency
of a quarter of a million people, who
are unsurpassed in intelligence and
enterprise—a district so varied in its
resources and products that it is ad
mitted to be the banner district of the
Empire State of the South. Your
message gives renewel approval of
my record, and bids me ami inspires
me to do the very utmost within my
power for the best interests of my
people in the district and our beloved
state and country.
I entered Congress new and un
tried and with but little legislative
experience. I, however, know that
this great government of ours was but
a huge corporation, and every man
under the Stans and Stripes an equal
stockholder. I felt that my business
training might qualify me to give
your business proper attention, and
with this thought in mind I entered
upon the duties with the belief I could
make good. In my long service I
have never found a proposition too
small to attend to nor too large to
undertake.
Committee AsiignmenU.
I do not think it would be out of
place, and certainly pardonable in
me, to refer briefly to some of my ac
tivities in the passuge of legislation
since I have been a member of the
House of Representatives. I believe
you arc familiar with the fact that n
mew member rarely receives appoint
ment on desirable .committees, and as
rule has little influence with the
men in Washington who cacomplish
things. I received, I think, on enter
ing Congress what was regarded as
about the poorest committee assign
ment possible—Wnr Claims. How
ever, while a member of that com
mittee, I was ablo to inject into it
new life, and through my efforts se
cured from Congress appropriations
to pay damages to eleven churches
destroyed by Sherman's army; also,
for the payment of sixty-seven indi
vidual war claims growing out of
damages and lossos to citizens of the
7th District, and this fifty years after
the Civil War wns over. After serv
ing four years on this committee I
was transferred to the Committee on
Agriculture, and served there a num
ber of years, finally reaching the po
sition of ranking Democrat on that
committee. As a member of this im
portant committee I participated ac
tively in all the legislation that has
been enacted for the benefit of the
farmers of the country.
Last year Congress decided to take
from the various committees the ap
propriating power and vest it in one
great Appropriation Committee. I
was requested to accept an assign
ment on this committee—probably
the most powerful in Congress,—and
have seen about a year of service
there. With the rest of the commit
tee I have shared the responsibility
of appropriating four billion dollars
for the various departments of the
government. This, I am sure, you will
recognize as a great responsibility,
and I think, n recognition of the long
service, nnd qualifications of your
Representative. I am a member of
the sub-committee which handles ag
ricultural appropriations, nnd thus in
better position than ever before to
take care of this great branch of A-
merican industry.
Good Roads Legislation.
During my service in the House I
have been especially honored by
Presidents from Taft to Wilson with
appointments on special committees
that were designated by Congress.
After many years of effort to secure
adequate legislation for good roads it
was found necessary to appoint a
Special Committee on Good Roads to
harmonize the differences that existed
among members of the committee
formerly handling this character of
legislation. I was named one of this
Special Committee of twelve to ac
complish this work. How well we
succeeded I have only to point to re
sults:
Total amount appropriated for
Good Roads in the United States,
$409,000,000.
Total amount apportioned to Geor
gia (including 1923) $10,737,508.
Forestry.
During the year 1911 Congress
passed a bill appropriating eleven
million dollars to purchase lands in
the White Mountains and Appalach
ian Ranges, these lands lying n the
mountains from Maine to Georgia.
The bill created a Commission, known
POLK’S COUNTY FAIR OPENS TODAY
For Three Days of Sigh t Seeing and Enjoyment
Fine Baby Show to Draw Crowds at 10 O’clock
Saturday.
Everything is shaping up nicely for
Polk’s County Fair, which opens i.'
Cedartown today.
Exhibits commenced coming in
Tuesday, nnd this morning sees an at
tractive display in all lines.
The management has been fortu-
nnte in securing better accommoda
tions than heretofore, nnd this wi’l
add to the enjoyment of the occnsion.
It is to be hoped thnt by the time
the Fair comes back to us in 1924, it
will come to permanent buildings
fitted for the purpose. In the mean
time, however, everyone will be pleas
ed with the arrangements for the Fair
this week.
The Woman’s Department nnd the
Girls' Clubs will have their exhibit in
the Roberts Chapel on Ware street.
The Farm nnd Poultry displays will
be found in the Duke Warehouse on
Wnre street.
The live stock will be housed in the
Young Stnbles on Main street.
This gives plenty of room for the
xhibits and for visitors to see them
to advantage, nnd is as good an ar
rangement as could possibly be ex
pected without permanent Fair build
ings.
Business men and farmers alike are
contributing liberally to the prize
list.. If you jiave not done your part,
see President Graves or County Ag
ent Gnrner nt once. Every public-
spirited citizen .should be anxious to
have a share in this work.
And new, folks, come to the Fair.
Come and see what your neighbors
have brought to exhibit, and see how
it compares with yours. And if
neithor of you have brought anything
for display, come nnd sec how well
other folks are doing. It may wake
you up a little, and will do you good.
Country and town folks —father,
mother and all the children— will do.
well to come and have a good time
together.
A cordial invitation is extended to
all.
Baby Contest.
And everybody will want to attend
the Baby Show at 10 o’clock Satur
day morning.
Every mother has the best baby in
the county—of course.
But come and see what the judge*
think about it.
Talk about your good times—this
will enp the climax.
as the National Forest Reservation
Commission, composed of the Secre
tary of War, Secretary of Agricul
ture, Secretary of the. Interior, and
two members eneh from the Senate
nnd House of Representatives. I was
named a member of this Commission
from the House, and am still serving.
For a number of years I wns the only
member of the commission from tho
South. How well I have looked after
tho home-folks, I have this to say: I
located the first National Forest Pre
serve in Georgia, consisting of nbout
142,000 acres.
The people of Georgia hardly real
ize the importance of locating these
great forest reserves in our state. I
think eventually we will purchase
something like 300,000 acres in the
mountains of North Georgia. This
will guarantee the future timber sup
ply for our stato, and at tho same
time furnish a recreation ground for
the people of Georgia and the Sou
thern States may desire to visit these
forests for recreation and pleasure
during the summer months. It might
be interesting nnd perhaps surprising
to know thnt in the forests of the
West, where the scenery is more
beautiful than our mountains, approx
imately six million people visit and
camp in the forests during the sum
mer months. What this will mean to
the people of Georgia when theso
forests nre opened and camps estab
lished, it is hard to estimate.
Water Power.
For twelve years Congress had
tried to enact a law under which the
water power of the country could be
developed. President Wilson asked
that a Special Committee be named
to draft a workable bill. A commit
tee of sixteen, known as the Water
Power Committee, was selected, and
I had the honor of being named on
this committee. After many months
of hearings we presented a bill which
was passed, and was the last bill Pres
ident Wilson signed before the ad
journment of Congress in June of
that year. The law is considered so
fair and liberal, and so well protects
the rights of the states and the gov
ernment, that I have not a doubt in
the years to come our great water
power will be fully developed, and
white fuel from the wasting streams
will supplant coal, which is rapidly
disappearing from our mountains.
Then a new industrial period will
dawn for our section which is so won
derfully, blessed with potential water
power. Since the water power bill
became a law, although distressing
financial conditions have existed in
the country, yet the results have been
more than satisfactory under such
conditions. Up to Aug. 31, 1922,
the Federal Power Commission, au
thorized to administer the law, had
issued permits for sixty projects in
the United States with an aggregate
horse-power capacity of 2,374,235;
and licenses on 36 projects, with an
aggregate horse-power capacity of
2,388,704; also, 23 transmission line
licenses.
Short Time Rural Credits.
The last Congress authorized
committee on Short Time Rural Cred
its and I have the honor to be n mem
ber of this committee. I refer to
these committee assignments to re
fresh your memory in regard to the
fact that your Representative in Con
gress ranks well in Washington, a*
evidenced by his selection to serve on
four great constructive special com
mittees and commissions, namely:—
Forestry Commission, Good Roads
Committee, Water Power Committee,
Short Time Rural Credits,—a record
indicating that I have the respect and
confidence of our President* from
Taft to Wilson, and of our Speaken
from Joe Cannon to Champ Clark.
Incoma Tax.
I recall many pieces of legislation
enacted during the trying days of the
war. It might not be amiss for me to
refer to tho income tax. Under a
Democratic administration a consti
tutional amendment was passed and
ratified under which an income tax
could be levied, in order to require
the great wealth of the country to
bear its just share in the expenses of
of government. A Democratic Con
gress passed the Income Tax Law,
which has brought millions of dollar*
into the Treasury in fair taxes on
the incomes of the rich, thus reliev
ing the poorer class of people from
excess burdens.
We passed the Inheritance Tax
Law, a Parcels Post Law, and a Bon
ded Warehouse Law, and I am sure
all realize the incalculable benefit for
tho two last named to our people liv
ing in small towns and the country.
I will not consume time with more
than a reference to my activity in se
curing for the district more than 2,-
500 miles of rural routes, five public
buildings,and the sites for two others.
Federal Reserve Act.
We passed a law creating a finan
cial system for the commercial and
industrial world known as the Federal
Reserve Act, "but for which when we
entered tho great war with Germany,
it would have been impossible for the
United States to finance its own .op
erations, and in a fpw months we
would have had a panic that'surpass-
cd any experienced in the financial
history of the country. Instead of
having a panic, it may be of interest
to you to state that during 1915 there
were only four bank failures; in 1916
and 1917, only three; and in 1918
and 1919, only one. Under the old
Republican system of financing the
country, statistics show there was an
average of one bank failure for every
twenty-one days for a period of nearly
forty years. I believe the Federal
Reserve Act is the greatest piece of
constructive legislation enacted by
any Congress since the foundation of
our government, and in all the at
tacks that have been made upon it,
no man in Congress to this date has
had the courage to offer a bill to re
peal it.
(Continued on 4th Page)
The Rome News publishes the fine
speech of Dr. E. H. Richardson, of
Cedartown, given in response to the
address of welcome at the meeting of
the Seventh District Medical Asso
ciation in that aity last week.