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WEATHER:
THP ATHPMQRAMMPD
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13 Cents
ESTABLISHED 1SSI. ATHENS, GA„ SATURDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 20, 1913.
DOES PROPOSED CHANGE GUARANTEE
BETTER ADMINISTRATION OF AFFAIRS?
Query: Who would swap nine men
for three men selected from the earns
citizenry, and pay 04,700 per annum
to boot?
Mr. Editor; 1 do not know that my
views would influence any voter In
the Issue soon to come before the
people relative to the change in form
ot the city government To my mind
It is purely a business proposition,
and the question is: "Can we have
the city government more economi
cally or wisely run?" This would
naturally brifife in review the past acts
. cf the mayor and council:
1. Has there been any misconduct
or careless management?
2. Has there been any negligence
and willful waste?
3. Have there been any mistakes
made?
1 have not heard of any charges of
a serious nature made, nor have there
been any public criticism of mistakes
even.
The fact that the city is overdrawn
a: the bank is no argument against
the present form of government. We
have improvements to account for the
money spent. If the above is true,
then the question resolves itself into
the sole one of efficiency. The proposi
tion expressed in plain language is
Under the autocratic measure as
proposed for the so-called commission
form ot government the voters are, of
course, interested to know who the
commissioners are to be, whom they
are to vote for.
—If the beat-business mon-are to be
come candidates for these offices, the
voters would like to know in advance
before committing themselves to a
new proposition. Under the recall
provision in the bill it would be prao-
tically impossible to gain relief from
undesirable commissioners.
The recall clause in the bill is so
formulated as to make it practicably
Impossible to recall a commissioner,
no matter how objectionable he might
become in abusing the privileges giv
en to him under this system of gov
ernment. Certainly every avenue for
abuse Is left open In the proposed
measure. It centralizes the power in
the hands of three men, and, besides,
It centralizes the power of each de
partment of the government so di
vlded in the hands of one man.
In order to secure an election for
the purpose of recalling a commis
sioner fifty per cent of the registered
Voters would be required to bring this
condition about, and in addition to
the signatures required by this pro
hibitive feature, general grounds of
the charges must be incorporated in
the petition, the charges, of course,
being sufficient to bring about im
peachment proceedings. How many
citizens engaged in their own busi
ness affairs would have the time to
.follow the administration closely
enough to be in a position to intelli
gently and truthfully sign such an in
strument?
Here lies great danger. Before
such a measure is saddled on a com
munity every citizen should read and
study the hill carefully.* Once fixed
on the community, it will be no easy
matter to break down.
Should a petition be secured suffi
cient to meet the requirements of the
measure, no election could be held
within six months thereby giving to
the office-holder twelve months In
which to ply his management, or.
In other words, after being notified
that an election will be called for
the purpose of recalling him. he Is al
lowed six months In which to make
his campaign against the recall.
Another important matter the peo
ple would like to know, and that is.
what assurance have the people of
securing better government under a
system which they are practically
eliminated than they receivo under
the present system.
Where would be the saving? Where
are the commissioners going to cut
expenses? Where are they going to
increase the revenue of the city? Are
they going to increase the tax rate in
order to meet the additional expenses
which would be brought about by the
additional expenses in salaries?
These and other questions are in
th» minds of the voters and before
this, "Whereas, the city in its past
history has been run by the com
bined wisdom of nine men, selected
by ithe vote of this people, that wo
rew propose to select three men from
this same people (citizenry) who will
have far more ability, energy and
foresight than the nine have had dur
ing the entire history of the munici
pality, and further that we are .to pay
these three citizens 34,700 per annum
more than we have been paying the
nine. Xow 1 am 6une if I owned a
business and had nine of my fellow-
citizens to run it for me, I would not
discharge them and go out among the
seme class of fellow-citizens and se
lect three men and pay them $4,700
more per annum to run this self-samo
business. It we have commissioners
ttev must be citizens of Athens, and
w ill have to be such men as the
voters will elect, and I do not know
of any three citizens of Athens that
ere so far superior and of pre-emi
nent ability to the rest of their fel
lows, and even if there were such in
our midst, wo could not elect them,
ror could they afford to give up their
tusiness and give all their time to
the city’s interest, nor would such
men enter Into the contemplated
race.
This statement is true, that the
they are led into this so-called com
mission form of government they will
have to be answered.
In order that the people may be
come posted on the so-called recall
clause in the bill, the Banner repro
duces It in full:
The Recall.
Sec. 11. Any member of the Board
of Mayor and Council shall be sub
ject to removal during his term of of
fice In the following manner: An
election shall be called as hereinafter
provided when ever there shall be
filed in the ofTlce of the Clerk of
Council a petition signed by electors
entitled to vote for a successor to the
Incumbent sought to be removed,
equal in number to at least 50 per
cent of the registered voters of said
city as disclosed by the registration
or voters list used in the most recent
preceding general election for city
officers. Such petition shall show in
general terms the grounds upon which
the removal Is sought, and each sign
er shall state bis residence, giving
the street and number. One of the
signers ot such paper shall make oath
before an officer competent to admin
ister oaths, that each signature ap
pended to the paper is the genuine
signature of the person whose name
it purports to be. Should the officer
sought to be removed resign, no elec
tion shall be bad and the vacancy
shall be filled as provided in section
12 of this Act. Such petition shall be
examined by the Clerk, and the names
thereon checked against the regis
tered electors in said City entitled to
vote at such election, within ten days
from the filing of said petition. A
representative of the petitioners shall
cave the right to be present at the
checking of the list. If the requisite
number of electors as above provided
have so petitioned, the clerk shall
thereupon be ordered by the Board of
Mayor and Council to call an election
to be held not loss than thirty days
nor more than forty days thereafter;
provided, however, that no petition
for removal of any officer shall be
circulated within six months, nor
shall there he an election for the re
moval of any officer within twelve
months from the date of his election
to office, nor shall any officer bo
subject to more than one such elec
ticn for removal during any period of
twelve months. Such elections shall
be had and conducted under the rules
and regulations then existing in ref
erence to regular city elections, ex
cept as otherwise provided herein.
The member of the Board of Mayot
and Council whose office shall be
thus involved may be a candidate to
succeed himself, nnd unless he re
quests otherwise in writing the Clerk
shall place his name on the official
ballot. All opposing candidates shall
he duly entered, and their names
shall be placed upon the tickets to be
submitted to the voters. The person
receiving a majority of votes cast at
men comprising the mayor and council
i.i ages past were the best that could
be elected. They were the choice of
the people, and it doesn’t matter as
to a man's fitness for office under
either form of government, he cannot
be elected unless he can get the pop
ular vote. There is not a very great
Incentive for any one to offer for of'
fice under the present form, but .there
would be an inducement in the way of
a salary under the new form, and it
looks as if this was the real motive
behind the proposed reform, and It
would be really and truly a case of
man seeking office, instead, of office
m eking the man.
1 make this prediction, that if we
t-ave commissioners they all, or most
of them, would be men who are moro
or less familiar with politics, and
have had politicol aspirations before,
and that all three of the commission
ers will not have had the experience
of the present mayor and council in
managing the city’s business.
I take this opportunity of express
ing to the present and past mayors
and councilmen my appreciation of
their services rendered to the city.
They were the choice of their fellows,
and I give to each one credit for hav
ing done his best. Angsts can do n«
more. CITIZEN.
NEW TEACHER
BOARD OF ELUCATION AUTHOR
IZED THE EMPLOYMENT OF
ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTOR.
The regular monthly meeting of the
board of education was held yesterday
afternoon in the office of the superin
tendent.
The superintendent was authorized
to employ an additional teacher for
the Nantahale avenue school.
Superintendent Bond reported the
moving of the night school and kind
ergarten from the old building on Oak
street to the Oconee street school
building.
A resolution of thanks to the ladies
owning this building was passed and
a request made that the property be
sold and t£*e amount received for .the
same be donated for school purposes.
Miss Ruby Anderson was elected
teacher for the seventh grade at the
Baxter street school.
Routine matters were disposed aft
er which the board adjourned.
CANT BE BEAT
THE INA-LEHR DRAMATIC STOCK
COMPANY IS A CERTAIN AND
DELIGHTFUL WINNER.
The management of the Majestic
theater was certainly very fortunate
in securing such a strong company
as the lna Lehr Dramatic Stock Co.
for this city, and if you have not visit
ed this popular little Play house this
week, you have no idea what you
have missed as their hills so far have
averaged up to the dollar and dollar
and a half show.
“The Great Diamond Robbery” was
played yesterday at matine e and last
night, and it was fully up to the high
standard that this excellent company
have fixed in their former produc
tions. This bill will be presented at
the matinee today aqd again tonight
at 8 and 9:45, so if you wish to bs
highly entertained, be certain and pay
the Majestic a visit.
Miss Lehr has very kindly consent
ed to stay over for an indefinite en
gagement and the patrons of the Ma
jestic may rest assured that she will
give such shows as are usually pre
sented at high prices, and although
it entails quite a good deal of ex
pense to retain such high class artists,
the price of admission will remain
in and 20 cents.
Corn! Com!! Corn!!!
We have plenty of youDg, tender
corn.
Arnold & Abney.
Green Deans 25c the gallon.
As young and tender as they are in
the spring, 25c the gallon.
Arnold & Abney.
such election shall he declared elect
ed for the unexpired term and author
Ized to assume the duties of said of
fice after duly qualifying.
Case in Banks Supe
rior Court Will Go
to the Record of
Strange Ones.
(Special to the Banner.)
Homer, Ua., Sept. 19.—The most
sensational and the most interesting
case that has ever come before the
superior court of this county was thac
which occurred all tills week, break
ing out in different aspects at differ
ent times along through the week,
and keeping the court which adjourn
ed this afternoon on tip toe of inter
est.
A Notorious Defendant.
Pink Hegwood was up for a new
trial in a murder case. He is no
torious—even to his parentage. His
lather was a one-legged begger. One
brother was hanged for murder. An
other is serving a life term for par
ticipation in the killing he is to be
tried for a second time. Other mem
bers of the immediate family have
been convicted and sentenced and
had things happen to them. Pink
was convicted some time ago for
killing an old man under specially
aggravating circumstances. He ob
tained a new trial—the supreme court
declaring that there wos nothing of
‘ manslaughter'’ in the act and that
ho should have been found guilty of
murder, if for anything at all.
Suddenly Went Crazy.
Getting a new trial he read this
opinion of his case and immediately
went crazy in the jail. He had been
working on the gang while awaiting
the decision of the court—just be
cause he wanted to. But he worked
no more. In the jail he reared and
swore, butted his head against the
walls and preached and cried and
tore his clothing off. He was once a
professed holiness preacher and he
alternately swore and cursed and
then preached and sang and prayed
in the jail.
Pleas of Insanity.
After disturbing the town of Homer
for weeks he waB brought in for a
new trial this week at superior court.
So wild was he that the officers could
not manage him in the court room.
Ho shouted and fought and foamed,
ho tore his clothes and made fierce
faces at the crowd. His presence
was waived and he was locked up in
the jury room while his trial went on
in the main court room. A trial of
his sanity was demanded and a jury
decided after full investigation that
he was sane—and faking. This
brought the new trial for murder on
to an issue.
New Difficulties.
But the main witness in the murder
case was found to have died and the
next best one was out of reach tem
porarily. The new trial could not be
had—but the defendant. it was
thought best, should he kept close by.
The grand jury indicted ljim for us
ing profane and obscene language in
the presence of females—cursing and
swearing in the jail while feigning
madness.
He went to trial on this issue,
fudge Brand appointing three of the
ablest lawyers in the section to rep
resent him. He entered a plea of in
sanity again and the jury for the sec
ond time in two days declared that
he was sane—by convicting him of
the misdemeanor with which he was
charged. The judge sentenced him to
six months and he went back to the
gang to serve six months—and he tn
easy reach when the state’s witnesses
are available and the murder case
may come come up again.
The case furnished spectacular ex
citing scenes; created no end of sen
sational comment: furnished the law
yers with a most interesting study:
and the alienists with an open and
shut case.
Tokav Grapes.
Soft Peaches.
Pink Meat Cantaloupes.
Arnold & Abney.
Bed Ripe Tomatoes.
Celery and Lettuce.
Arnold & Abney.
Seckel Pears 50c the basket.
Mountain Apples 35c the peck.
Arnold & Abney.
Celery.
I^arge stalks, well bleached.
Arnold & Abney.
THAT RECALL CLAUSE
HORACE DENTON STABBED 10 DEATH
BY KNIFE SAID TO HAVE BEEN WIELDED
BY JACK SCOGGINS, A
Shortly before midnight last night
Horace Denton, a young man em
ployed at the Soutlhem Manufacturing
Company’s Mill, was stabbed to death
at the -beine of Comer Bullock, near
the factory village—the stabbing said
to have been done by a companion,
Jack Scoggins, another employe of the
mill.
Scoggins immediately disappeared
and when officers, who were sum
moned promptly, had arrived, they
could net find ready traces of -the way
he went.
The men were drinking at Comer
Bullocks' house it is said, in all
seven ugly cuts on the face, head and
chest of the slain man.
Denton was about 20 years old. He
worked in the mill and lived with his
brother-in-law and sister, Mr. and Mrs.
Cliff Doolittle. Scoggings is also a
young man.
The two were at the place of
Coiner Bullock and a dispute arose
between them—the cause of the dif
ference nobody in the neighborhood
seeming to know when the officers
made investigation. Blows were ex
changed and in the scrap it is alleged
that Scoggins plunged his pocket-
knife into the young man. One gash
cut through the arteries in the neck
above the collar-bone, another pierced
the breast over the heart. Doctors
were summoned but the distance re
quired to go was too great for a
physician to have reached the injur
ed man in time. Indeed there was
little hope that anything could have
been done to save him if the doctors
had been on the ground. He lived
only a few minutes after the stabbing.
PULLED PISTOL OFF
:T
AT
Yesterday morning Judge Brand
had a chance to put in a good lick in
the crusade ihe began some years ago
against pistol-toting—in the court
room at Homer, in Banks county
Just before the adjournment of the
court a white man named Seay was
brought before the court on an in
dictment, found by the grand jury,
charging him with selling liquor. The
sheriff picked him up in the court
crowd and carried ihirn to the jury
room to await the action of the court
in his case. The court fixed the bond
necessary and the sheriff left his man
in the room to go out and accommo
date him by securing a bondsman.
the room, bint followed the officer out
into the courtroom. The officer or
dered ibdm back Into the room. He
refused deficiently; twice more he or
dered Seay back—to he met the last
time by a scowl that forebided no
good. The officer seized the man In
the open coutrroom by the waistband
and the prisoner flung his hand to
his hip pocket. The pheriff was too
quick—and wrenched out the hand.
And a gleaming pistol, before the
very face of the anti-pistol-toting
Judge.
In a few minutes Seay had gotten
six months straight for carrying con
cealed weapons and has the liquor
case also hanging over him for future
reference.
OFFICERS AND
Last night at the first Methodist
chureli occurred the first meeting oi
the fall ami winter season of the of
ficers and teachers of the Sunday
school. There was a full attendance
and lively enthusiasm was manifested
throughout th 0 evening. A delightful
supper was served by the ladies in
the Sunday school rooms. The busi
ness and social meeting followed and
plans for the winter were made.
Miss Susie Davidson was chosen as
superintendent of the "home depart
ment”—one of the most important
features of modern Sunday school
work.
Mr. (Maud Tuck was chosen as su
perintendent of the junior departmen’.
Mr. Guest, the new college Y. M.
C. A. secretary at the University, was
chosen superintendent of the "student
department." a new phase of the Sun
day school life which will have spe
cial references to the large contingent
of students present in the school for
nine months of the year.
A movement which attracted much
comment also was ithe wonderful
men’s class with Dr. N. G. Slaughter
as president, Mr. H. Garebold, secre
tary, and Professor Pound, lecturer.
Tnere are well over 50 men enrolled
and a hundred will be on the attend
ance list in two or three Sundays
more.
Removal Recommended by In
spectors Who Investigated Office
of Athens Postmaster Recently
It doesn't matter at all, not a little
hit, whether the Athens postmaster,
Mr. Fleming, sends in his resignation
or not.
His successor will be named, bond
ed and commissioned—and will take
charge, probably by ithe first of Oc
tober, less than two weeks henoe.
Mr. Fleming has 10 days in which
to get his resignation accepted—if he
does not resign he is automatically
removed.
What Ihe will do the present post
master does not say for publication.
All he replies when asked: "Will you
take advantage of the opportunity
given to send in a formal resigna
tion?”
“It won’t make a bit of difference
so far as the change Is concerned.'
The 'tetter received by the post
mail is as follows:
Post Office Department
First Assistant Post Master General
Washington, D. C., Sept. 16, 1913.
Mr. Wm. Fleming,
Postmaster,
Athens, Ga.
Sir: —
Two inspectors who recently visit
ed your office have recommended your
removal from the service, and after a
very careful review of the report and
other evidence, indicating conditions
at your office, ,the Department has de
cided that the best interests of the
postal service demand the appoint
ment of your successor. However,
ytour resignation will be accepted It
received at the Department before ’
September 29th. ^spectfully,' : - .
Banks Connty
In All the History of That County
Forty-Five Visiting Lawyers There
Judge Brand adjourned Banks
county superior court yesterday aft
ernoon, drove to Mavsville, caught
the train for Athens and got home in
time for a late supper. Solicitor
Gamble and Court Reporter Knight
also came in—and a number of law
yers from Athens who had been in
cases at Homer this week.
The week was a record for the his
tory of Homer and Banks county.
Time after time and year after year
the court has lasted only two days
at the outside. This year there
will be an adjourned term called for
the fourth Monday in November.
The Carr, Boyd & Co., failure at
Maysvilie involved many people in
Banks county and scores of suits
have resulted and will result as a
consequence. There were forty-five
visiting lawyers present during the
week at Homer—the highest ever
known before in the hundred years
and more of the county’s history be
ing about twenty. They were pres
ent from Athens, Gainesville, Jeffer
son, Atlanta, Toccoa, Cornelia, and
other points.
The hotel was crowded and over
flowed—from four to six in a room
and two in every bed, with some hav
ing to go to Maysvilie, eight miles
away, each night to secure lodging.
The crowds were immense—larger
than Homer has ever entertained in
a court week.
There were exciting cases besides
the civil business which the Homer
correspondent to the Banner tells
about in another place.
Athens Singer Asked to Spend
Eight Months in Land of Scots
Apples 35c the peck.
They are better than the ones we
had last Saturday—but they are go
ing at 35c.
Arnold & Abney.
Rev. Charles Underwood Butler,
one of tile assistant pastors of the
Tabernacle Baptist church here, a
resident now of Athens for some
months past, and now conducting a
great revival meeting in a Middle
Mississippi town, received a cable
gram yesterday morning inviting him
to go at once to Scotland and enter
with other workers upon an eight
months' campaign of meetings. He
was once with Torry and other great
world-known revivalists and this in
vitation comes from Alexander tho
famous worker and singer. Mr. But
ler has not decided yet what will be
the course for duty for him in this
matter.
LOST
from S. A. L. Baggage Room, one small
canvas-covered trunk; has leather tag
on one end; no name. Any informa
tion given will be appreciated. S. A
I.. B. Agent.
Wanted—Boarders. I have first-
class rooms and table board. Aecom
modations for either. Nice new
baths, hot and cold water. Prices rea
sonable. Services right. Apply at
onre to Wayside Inn, 120 Hancock
Ave. tf
Nice Tender Corn, nice white cel*
ery. headed lettuce, bell peppers,
fancy tomatoes. WILLIAMSON'S.
It
Pink Meat Cantaloupes very fine,
Seckel pears, Bartlet pears, Elberta
peaches, Cooking apples. WILLIAM
SON. it
FORMER ATHENS MAN
HERE ON A VISIT
Mr. Max Jacob::, for years in tho
tobacco business in this city but now-
traveling out of New Y'ork. is here
for several days on a visit. He is
accompanied by liis wife and little
son who will be her,- for several days
more visiting relatives.
NORMAL TEACHER CALLED
TO MOTHER'S BEDSIDE.
Miss Fannie Scott, of the 'State
Normal School faculty, was called to
Milledgovilie yesterday by the news
of her mother's desperate illness. It
is feared that the mother of the
teacher cannot survive many hours.
Fresh Lot Salt Mackerel, very fine,
the best value I have ever handled
WILLIAMSON'S. lt
