Newspaper Page Text
THE BANNMA, FRIDAY MORNING. JANUARY 27, 1911.
THE ATHENS BANNER
H. J. ROWE.
Editor and Proprlator.
THE ATHENS DAILY BANNER la
Mlvarad by oarriera In ths city, or
nailed, poataga free, to any addreaa
at tha following ratea: J5.00 per year;
|MQ for alx montha; S1.2S for tnrea
Mentha, or 10 canta a waak.
Ramlttancaa may be made by ex-
praaa, poatofflce money order or regie
jered latter.
Have you kept your New Year re
solution?
The farmerms j»re (o have Itinerant
"ajo-irultnral train ing."
0
Clark la to be speaker but I be
houee through Its oommitlrea is to be
"boas."
0
It Is to be hoi>ed that the United
States will not be "stung" for seizing
the 'Hornet.”
0
THE PROPOSED EXTRA SESSION OF CONGRESS.
The power to call the congress of the United States into eitra session
rests with the president. Whether or not there will be called an extra session
to revise the tariff bill remains to be seen. It depends entirely on what
President Taft thinks about it.
I T nder the law of the country that provides for a session of congress one
year after it is chosen by the people, it is necessary to hold an extra session
of that body if the will of the people is to be put into immediate effect. It
would be better if the law were so changed as to cause the congress to come
Into session shortly after it is chosen, so that the will of the people as ex
pressed at the ballot box could be put into effect at once, but as this is not
the law, then the only way to carry out the will of the people speedily is to
hold an extra session.
The peop : e have passed on the tariff question and have decided by an
overwhelming majority that the tariff should be revised downward in the in
terest of the consumer. No relief, however, can come until the next session
of congress, which will not be held until next December unless an extra ses
sion is called. If tbt president really wishes to bow to the will of the people
he will give the democratic house a chance to do what it desires to do with
the tariff and a republican senate a chance to do what it wishes to do with
out delay. An.1 we see no reason why the republicans should desire to delay
the enactment of new tariff legislation or why the democrats should seek Co
delay the assumption or the responsibility that rests upon them under the
decision of the people at the polls last November.
There is ro reason to suppose that the democrats will upset business
by any tariff legislation that may be proposed and whatever alarm there
MR. LONGWORTH S NERVE.
Congressman Nicholas Longwortb, son-in-law of President Roosevelt, and
one of the few republican congressmen who will represent the state of Ohio
In the next congress, has given the country the exhibition of a man who can
display politic! nerve when the occasion demands. The pension bill waa
up a few days since In the house, calling for an expenditure of forty-five mil
lion dollars In addition to the one hundred and sixty million dollars already
provided tor the annua! pension budget. Mr. Longworth knew full well what
an adverse rote upon a pension bill means, but he had the nerve to vote
against It and lo give his reason tor so voting. If a few more of the leading
men of the country would face the question In a business-like and patriotic
,manner, there would be less pension grabbing and less burden upon the
taxpayers. Some may say that I.ongworth was playing to the grandstand
and trying to make It appear that the republicans are anxious to cut down
expenses. Be that as It may, It took some nerve for him to go counter to the
established policy of his party and to the wishes of the pension grabbing ele
ment. Here Is what he said In explaining his vote:
“Mr. Speaker, in two mlnutea It Is of course manifestly Impossi
ble to make any argument for or against the merits of this bill, and
I have only asked for that time In order to explain my vote.
“Two courses appear open to me In this matter—one the easy
course, the other the difficult course. The gentleman from Massa
chusetts (Mr. GUlett) has well described the easy one, but that Is
not the course which In this Instance I feel that I can follow. The
only Information with regard to the amount of expense that will be
Incurred in the passage of this bill Is contained In the report of the
DEMOCRATS CAST THE DfE.
The democratic speaker of the next house of representatives will not
name the members of the house committees, as hois been (he custom in the
house tor many years. The caucus of the democratic members of the house,
with almost uuanimity, decided to place that power in tbf hands of the ways
and means committee of the house, and then proceeded to name the membera
of the ways and means committee.
Much discussion has been Indulged in over the prpposition to thua
change the method in which the committees trenampd, and it was thought
that the democrats would steer clear of this dangerous precedent, but the
democratic members of the next house, led by Champ Clark, who is to be*the
next speaker, thought the best thing to be done would be to adopt this new
method and so it was adopted by a vote of 166 to 29.
While this, in our judgment Is an unwfse step, one that will cause the
party much trouble In the future, the personnel of the ways and means com
mittee as selected by the caucus. Is good. The South has seven membera of
that committee, the North has six. The chairmanship goes to Oscar W. Un
derwood, of Alabama. Mr. Brantley, of Georgia, Is a member of the com
mittee. ,
Mr. Underwood, as chairman of this committee, will naturally have di
rection of the tariff bill, and It Is encouraging to note how be views that
question. In an address to the caucus, among other things he said: “We
have promised to reform the tariff by lowering it to a revenue basis. We
must and will endeavor to keep that promise. Let us declare as democrats
and forever maintain that the government has no right to exact even so
much as one dollar from the citizen under the guise of a tariff law except for
The farmers of the state are await
ing with much Interest the coming of
the educational train.
The Baltimore gathering of demo
crats did not prove a repetition of a
former caucus In that city. Harmon y
prevailed.
Atlanta has a new University Club
This organization will do splendid
work, in addition to its enjoyable so
cial features.
0
South Carolina Is to have a law
requiring the Issuance of marriage
licenses—for the first time In the his
tory of the state.
The wagon receipts of cotton have
advanced for Athens In the past year
while the total receipts have not been
quite up to last year’s.
The strenuous life is calling many
a man and woman to an early grave
and yet there seems to be no relaxa
tion and no change in the methods of
life.
0
Athens will be glad to greet the
Brinson railway and the Atlanta and
Carolina electric line. The more
railroads the better the city can
grow.
, g
Alabama Is to have a law abolishing
the justice of the peace offic e In some
of Its larger towns. An Inferior court
Is to be established In the place of
the magistrates.
Already the fans are looking for
ward to the coming of Hal Chase
and his bunch of New York Ameri
cans, who will train here during the
mouth of March.
The American government has ten
dered Its services In the ofTlee of
peace-maker to settle the troubles
between Haytl and San Domingo.
It's a sort of supplement to the Mon
roe doctrine method.
West Virginia has been having a
time with Its "fifteen runaway aena-
tors.” But then If they're like many
we've heard of they are just as ser
viceable to the country in a runaway
state aa any other of the union.
— 0
Tammany will be making a big
mistake to keep up the fight for
Sheehan. He la hardly the man for
a crucial time In Democratic history
as repreaentative of the great state
of New York in the greatest body of
lnw-makera In any nation In the
world.
0—
Those "fifteen fellow-senators”
West Virginia who traveled In
“weateraly direction," will have to
"recant" or the state may “visit upon
them the penalty of having their
salaries cut off and I heir credential!
cast Into the midst” of the Alleghany
river.
may be In manufacturing circles over any proposed change exists as much
today as It will when an extra session is called.
The people of the country have called for relief and (lie sooner It Is given
them the better.
4 <
CONSERVATION IN THE COURTS.
The question of the conservation of the government forests and public
lands has reached the supreme court of the United States and will he passed
on by that tribunal. It has been discussed In various ways for years
and now the courts are to take a hand In Us settlement.
The Florida Tlmes-Union has the following to say on this subject;
Heretofore volumes of pleading have been exhausted to show
that the Pinehot policy of conservation Is nn effort on the part of the
federal government to protect the farmer against the corporations or
the future of the country against the waste of the present; those who
denied thfe proposition as advanced were answered by charges that
they were the enemies of the people, the slaves of the corporations
nnd the opponents of the law. The fight now takes on a different
phase and the constitution will be Invoked to decide between the new
and old theories. Under the old theory our pioneers conquered the
wilderness, capital followed them and the development today was the
result; under the new law we have, as yet, only the conclusion! of
doctrlnarles grounded on supposed experiments of like nature in
Germany and India, where very different theories of government
are maintained.
The supreme court will be asked to decide whether the consti
tution permits the federal government to hold or acquire reserva
tion! of millions of acres without the consent of the states within
whose territory these properties are held and whether the govern
ment ha« authority to deny cattle the right to graze on such lands
or to lease such privileges of use for profit. In case the court decides
adversely the appeal of the owner of such cattle, then the status of
the general government must he defined by the court—the anti-
conservatlonlata arguing that the government becomes only a great
land owner whoae holdings are subject to taxation by the atate aa
would be the holdings of other corporations or monopolists. The case
has been advanced for oral argument on January 23.
In this the supreme court win decide whether the change of at
titude means a violation of the dbnitltutlon by the executive act
ing under an effort at legislation by congress and will be far-reach
ing In Its effects. President Taft was given the work of placing the
policies of his predecessor on a foundation of law—It seems the su
preme court must devote the greater portion, of Its time tor some
' years to passing upon the legality of the Roosevelt Innovations.
. 'Never was the oupreme court stronger; never could the Invocation of
Iti powers be more timely or mean more,
♦ —
committee, which shows that at the lowest estimate It will amount
to more than 315,000,000 a year. This bill comes up under a suspen
sion of the rules, where no amendment is possible. We must either
vote it up hr vote It down. I should be glad to vote for a reasonable
Increase of the pensions now In force, but not for one which will in
volve as much as 145,000,000 a year at this particular time. The
complaint of the people of this country today Is that their necessary
cost of living already presses heavily upon them. If we pass this
Mil It may result in an increase In their taxes by an amount equival
ent to nearly J50.000.000 a year. I do not believe we can afford to
take that risk.
"It is with great regret that I take this course, "because I would
be very loath to have It said that I was opposed to any recognition
of the claims of the old soldiers of this country; but Inasmuch as It
would he adding an Increased burden to the revenues of this country
to do this at a time when the condition of the treasury can 111 afford
It to the extent of more than f45.000.0C3 a year, I shall east my voto
fn opposition to this motion to suspend the rules.”
Spartanbnrg and Augusta and even
Macon are preparing to open elegant,
delightful play-grounds tor the chil
dren of those cities. The play
grounds will be opened In the early
spring. Cannot Athens get together
on a movement for a children's
park?
The Socialists of Milwaukee are en
deavoring to remedy the public
dance hall evil In that city by estab
lishing a number of dance halls un
der the supervision of the municipal
government. That In a novel way la
which to handle this question and the
outcome of the experiment will be
awaited with Interest.
Senator Terrell has made a remark
able record tor a new member of the
United States senate—his ability was
recognised while he was governor of
Georgia and hts reputation as the
"educational governor' has preceded
him to Washington. He has been at
leant two years ahead of almost
another man that could have been
appointed In the position be had been
accorded among the older senators.
Atlanta, Macon, Augusta, and some
other citlee have been bragging shout
ths glorious weather they have been
enjoying. They hare even called It
"Atlanta wathed," “Macon weather,'
and "Augusta weather.” We’d like
to tell those places that this weath
er has not been the exclusive proper
ty of " any of 'em. Athena has had
Just as good If not a smidgin better
than any of ’em.
PANAMA CANAL FORTIFICATIONS.
There can be no doubt about a big fight being waged over any propo
sition that may be made In Congress to provide for the fortification of the
Panama Canal, It seems to bo the Intention of President Taft to Insist upon
steps being taken to properly fortify the canal and they are busy setting
forth their reasons for not wishing the canal fortified.
They claim that the canal would be safer In time of war If It should be
without fortification, tor under the International agreements signed nt the
Hague an unfortified seacoast position cannot be bombarded. They also con
tend that the original intention of the government when the canal subject
wsr first acted on was not to fortHy It. The Suez canal which has no forti
fications Is pointed out as a reason tor not fortifying the Panama canal. The
feasibility of submitting all questions to arbitration nnd the trend of the
times in that direction, Is Instanced. The cost of fortifications is placed at
fifty million dollars and the coat of keeping them up at five million dollars
per annum, in addition to large numbers of battleships at each entrance In
time of war.
-It cannot be denied that there !• much In what the opponents of fortlfl
cation have to say, but at the same time, In spite of these objeclons there
are weighty reasons why this government should properly protect this canal
which Is being constructed at an enormous cost and which In time of war
should be In position to render the greatest possible service to the nation
that haa built It.
4-
MORE PENSION GRABBERS.
The pension grabbers are determined to loot the treasury at all timet
when an opportunity to do so is presented. President Taft has been Instat
ing on cutting down the expense! of the different departments and has In a
measure succeeded In doing so, only to be met with the proposition In the
shape of a bill by Mr. Sulloway to appropriate an extra sum of forty million
dollars tor pensions. What Is saved In one direction Is to be ladled out In
another as fast as It Is saved.
It it stated that seventy-two cents in every dollar spent by the United
8tates government goes to paying for the military and naval arm of the gov
ernment, tor wars either past, present or future. That is an enormous drain
on the public, but It is now proposed to make the drain even heavier.
Forty-alx year* after the surrender of the Confederate armies we find
the United States paying out nearly one hundred and sixty million dollars In
pensions and a proposition to add forty million dollars more to that expense
bill. If this money went to those who really needed It, then there would be
lets to be said against the appropriations, but It Is well known that thous
ands upon thousands of men are drawing pensions to which they are in no
way entitled, men who never smelled the powder of battle, men who were
deserters and bounty-jumpers, men who talk big now about war records that
they never made.
The Macor Telegraph, commenting on this subject, says that If Grover
Cleveland were fn the White House he would promptly veto such a measure
as the Snllowav bill, but that a Cleveland among statesmen cannot expect to
appear more than once fn a generation. Perhaps Mr. Taft wfll take a band
against this pension crab, but It is not to be expected. It sesma as If there
era no statesmen with the nerve to oppose eucb steale.
THE PEOPLE ARE WAKINO UP.
It Is known of all men who hove taken the trouble to Investigate the
facts, that Georgia is possesed of marvelous wealth In her fertile fields.
If the people will only get It out. It le also known that there are many ways
In which this wealth can be coaxed forth, If the people will only learn them
and put them 'nto practice.
Within the past few years there has been an awakening on this line In
Georgia that haa already brought forth millions of extra dollars and that will
In the end make the old state far richer than her fondest children have
dreamed.
The chief agent in this awakening has been the State College of Agri
culture and the chief credit with the men who are behind that Inetltutlon,
with those friends of agricultural education In the state and especially In
the legislature, who have worked tor the success of the Institution and for
providing It with sufficient funds with which to carry on Its work, and with Pres.
Ident Soule and his splendid co-workers who are in active charge of the In
stitution Itself.
The result of the energy and ability that has been put Into this Institu
tion is now be'ng seen in the great Interest that Is being tnken In a number
of lines of Improvement. The attendance of hundreds of the leading farm-
era of the state upon the various meetings that have been held during the
past three weeks at the State College of Agriculture attests this growing In
terest on the oart of those who are Interested in the development of the ag
ricultural Intelcsts of the atate.
Cotton culture-is not the only thing the farmers are thinking about,
though they are learning better ways In which to raise cotton and ways In
which to lncreaee the yield and the quality of the staple. They are taking
more Interest In corn crops, more Interest In dairying, more Interest In stock
raising, more Interest in forage cops, and a hundred other lines of work that
will bring wealth from the Georia farm lands.
The meetings held at the State College of Agriculture this month hare
been of Inestimable value to the farmers who attended them and also to
those with whom these farmers will talk when they go home. And when the
educational train make Its trip through Georgia next month, the best of In
formation concerning the agricultural methods that should be used will be
given to the hundreds of thousands of farmers who will gather at the point*
where the train stops.
It Is a great work that the State College of Agriculture ii carrying on
and the state should readily and eagerly provide every dollar that is nec
essary to make perfect the great work of this institution of learning that Is-
doing so much tor the benefit of the fanners and of the state.
♦ ■■■ ♦
HENRY CABOT L0D0E HAS NARROW ESCAPE.
Massachusetts hat sent HeLry Cabot Lodge back to the United 8tates
senate for another term, but In doing ao she gave him just a bare majority
of legislative votes and made him feel that his political days In that state are
almost over.
After the hardest political battle in h|s life, he won by the narrow mar
gin of six votei. Every conceivable pressure had been brought to bear on
recalcitrant republican!, and but for thla fact he would have been defeated.
The Southern people have no special love for Senator ledge. He la the
man who years ago Introduced in congress the bill that came to be known
ns the Lodge "Force Bill," a measure that was directly aimed at the South
and under which our voting precincts would have been placed fn the hands
of United States soldiers. He advocated this bill and aucceeded In passing
it through the house of representatives. It met Its death In the Senate by
Just one majority. /
Since then the aober sense of the country has tabooed any attempt to
place our elections under federal control and the best Judgment of the entire
nation has applauded the efforts of the Southern people to keep their state
governments clear of the shadow of negro domination.
♦
NEW ORLEANS DRAWS FIRST BLOOD.
The fight between New-Orleans and San Francisco to secure the Pana
ma exposition Is being waged with great activity. The committee In the
national house of representatives has heard the claims of the two cities and
by a vote of 9 to 6 decided In favor of New Orleans. This does not mean,
of course that -New Orleans will win out when It comes to final action,, but
favorable committee report will be of much se-vlce to those members of
the house who are leading the fight for -New Orleans and means that prob
ably the house will ratify the action of the committee.
The city or New Orleans is well situated foi the purpose of such an ex
position. It can marshal greater arguments In its favor than San Francisco
and the arguments put forward seem to have had their effect on the minds
of the committee, several of those voting In favor of New Orleans being men
from Northern states.
The people of New Orleans are doing all in their power to make *he ex
position a success. If It is finally decided to hold It there. The government
does not yet promise any financial aaalatance, but It la considered as certain
that ths government will have an exhibit at tha exposition that will coat not
less than one million dollars.
the support of the government."
If the democrats of the house will live up to this sentiment as expressed
by Mr. Underwood, then the party ts in a fair way to make a great record and
to win the presidential campaign of 1912.
e e
DEMOCRATS AND THE TARIFF.
The Mg gathering of democrats In Baltimore has passed off without any
thing inharmonious or calculated to stir up antagonistic feelings. For that
much the democrats of the country should be thankful. The speakers of the
occasion naturally had much to say about the tariff, and rrom what they
said It Is apparent that when the democratic house meets there will be dif
ferences of opinion as to the best way to arrive at revision Just as there
have been differences among the republicans. How serious these differences
may be remains to be seen, but It is quite certain that the democrats will
have no smooth road to travel.
This much was made clear bj several of the speakers, and yet the tone
of the speeches was such as to Indicate that after a thorough discussion of
the question there would be no great trouble In the party getting together
on some sensible plan for the revision of the tariff, some plan that will meet
with the approval of the peopla of the entire country.
Champ Clark declared in favor of revising the tariff piecemeal and ad
vocated taking up the most obnoxious schedules first. Senator Joseph W.
Bailey, of Texas, remarked that the whole bill was obnoxious, that there waa
not a single good schedule In the Payne-Aldrich law. Thus It is seen that
In the very outset the party In eongreas will be confronted with division
among Its members as to the best way In which the legislation on the tariff
question should proceed. But that should not be an Insurmountable diffi
culty. There wag one thing on which all agreed and that was that the tariff
should be revised In the Interests of the consumers of the country and that
the people of the country had a right to expect relief at the bands of the
democratic house, just as far as It may be poislble to get that relief with a
republican senate and president ready to block it.
Contrary to general expectation there was no presidential boom launch
ed, the nearest approach to that being the remark of Senator Bailey who
said If Champ Clark made a better speaker than Governor Harmon made a
governor, then Clark would be nominated, but that If Harmon made a better
governor than Clark made a speaker then Harmon would be nominated.
The meeting was one of considerable enthusiasm and augured well for
the success of the party when It comes into power in the house of represen
tatives. i
4— ♦
ACCIDENTS ON BATTLESHIPS.
Very frequently of late there have been accidents on American battlo-
ships which huve shown more or less faulty construction. The latest was
the explosion of boilers on the battleship Delaware. It has not been found
whether or not this accident was the result of faulty construction and there
fore the criticism Is not necessarily against those who b ullt the ship.
Still there remains the fact that these accidents have been entirely too
frequent or late and that something Is wrong, either in the construction of
the ships or in the handling of them. In time of war It would make tittle
difference whether It were the fault of the construction or the handling, tor
the result would be the same in either erent.
Steps should be taken to better protect the battleships of the country
and to remove the trouble, whatever It may be.
4 ! 4
SHEEHAN’S LOSING FIGHT.
As the days pass by it is quite evident that a few of the democrats in
Ihe New York legislature have firmly made up their minds that under no
circumstances will they vote tor William F. Sheehan tor United States sen
ator. Although Alton B. Parker, former democratic candidate for the preit-
dency and law partner of Mr. 8heehan, has written to seven friends in the
legislature, who cast their votes tor him in opposition to Mr. Sheehan, there
has been no change. Sheehan Is a little weaker than when he started.
Sheehan has endeavored to enlist the support of Governor DU, but the
governor has taken the position that this Is a question with which he ebould
not meddle and therefore he will give Sheehan no help.
The chance of Mr. Sheehan to land in this race is evidently gone and
he and his friends should have sense enough to see it and go on and elect
some democrat as senator who will be satisfactory to all factions. Tammany
Is making a mistake In pressing the claims of William F. Sheehan any fur
ther.
4 4
HEAD OF THE STEEL TSUST.
A few week* since, when William E. Corey, president of the United
States Steel Corporation, resigned bis position, it was given out that the
company would get along without a president In the future, and some people
has an idea that the steel trust was getting good all of a audden.
But this announcement was evidently without authority for a new preei-
dent has been elected and goes In at a salary of fifty thousand dollars per
annum. II appears that the company cannot get along without a president
to draw that large sum.
It may be that such an officer at such a (alary it necessary, but It haa
been whispered around many times that tha office Is a mere nothing as to
work required and that It Is just another way of dlsburalng the big profit* ot
the big trust.
The election of Henry Cabot Lodge
t» the senate from the state of Massa
chusetts is all the consolation the Col
onel got out of the November election.
Well, perhapa it Is better not to hava
nibbed it In too hard on the Colonel.
0
The anti-option bill to prohibit
gambling in cotton futures teems to
have a fair chance to get through con
gress this session. If Is being strong
ly advocated by a number of farmers’
organizations, Including the Fanners'
Union.
The Tennessee leaders are all up
In the air. The senatorial muddle
continues yid there seems to be no
cutlook for a satisfactory solution of
the problem.
Fourteen railroads and several
timet that number ot commercial
bodies and business firms are giving
five times as much as the stato for
the conducting of the agricultural
school on wheels which Is to tour
Georgia next month.