Newspaper Page Text
THE BANNER. FRIDAY MORNING, FEBLRUARY 3, 1911.
1 ATHENS BANNER
H. J. ROWE.
Editor »nd Proprietor.
THE ATHENS DAILY BANNER la
,silvered by corrltra In tho city, or
nailed, poetage free, to any addreea
M the following rate*: 95.00 par year;
|MS for alx months; |1.25 for tnrea
sisnths, or 10 cant* a weak.
Remittance* may be made by ex-
press, poatofllca money order or regia
larad latter.
President Taft will be
visit Athens in Marrh.
Are you one of Hie 1<»3 members of
the Chamber of Commerce?
With the spring weather, the base
ball fan has commenced to talk.
The new bank is another step for
ward In the progress of this city.
It Is only a few weeks now until
Hal Chase and his bunch will be
here practicing.
With a democratic congress, the
South Is being recognized on all
the Important committees.
Do jour duty to the city and
yourself by becoming a member
the Chamber of Commerce.
0
Make Athens the convention city
of the state. It can be done If our
people will go after the conventions.
The Chamber of Commerce is here
for the good of Athens. Ars you
favor of supporting It? Then become
a member.
: o
The Mexican Insurrection drags
along, and Diaz appears to be unable
to put a stop to the uprising, although
In the end It is believed that the gov
ernment forces will restore peace.
0
The "Great White Way” proposl
tlon seems to have dropped out
sight. It wus a splendid proposition
and Athens should again discuss
and bring It to a successful consuma-
tlon.
There should be a week of amuse
ment for the people of Athens and the
surrounding country this year and
the people of Athens should begin
discuss the best plans for bringing
this to pass.
Playgrounds for the children should
be provided for Athens. It would not
require so great nn amount of money
to bring this about and the people of
I he city should devise a way In which
to get up the necessary money.
The Atlanta and Carolina Railroad
teems to be assured now. The peo
ple of Athens will welcome the new
road that will link this city still
more closely to Atlanta and Augus
ta and the Intervening territory.
Ecuador and Peru are to try con
elusions on the battlefield unless
some agreement Is reached at to the
dllfesences between the two coun
tries. The troops of these two coun
tries have already had a few sklrm
label.
» 0
The slate makers are still at work
on the Chinese puzzle of redlstrlctlng
the state and providing' a new con
gresslonal district. There will be
hundreds of schemes proposed for
getting the twelve district! of the
state in shape.
0
The Savannah, Augusta and North
em Is being slowly pushed along this
way. It will not 'be ao very long un
til train* on that road will be run
nlng Into Athens. The new road will
open up a splendid territory to the
trade of this city.
0
The legislature will have an Inter
esting session even though the gov
ernor elect does not allow the use of
hts name for the office of U. S. sen
ate. There will be a mlxup, but It
does not appeal to be serious. Sena
tor Terrell will be elected unless con
dltlons change.
0
Whether Hoke Smith happens to In
advertently run for the senatorial po
sition before the legislature or not at
the next general assembly of Georgia
there will be a pretty warm lot of
campaigning done In the attempt to
trot out somebody to beat Former
■ Governor Terrell.
•So, there will be no primary for the
election of a successor to Senator
Clay. It has been settled that It
would not be safe for some candidates
to go before the people and the only
hope for their election would be
through the legislature.
Macon has established a number of
playgrounds throughout that city.
Playgrounds should be among the
first Improvements for this city. The
children have no place to play after
their school hours and the city could
not do better than to provide play
grounds In every section of the city
for the children.
CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS.
The need of a charitable organization in this city is being felt more and
more us the city grows. The time has come when Athens must have an or-
ganization whiWi can provide for those who are in need and provide for them
immediately.
Some time since there was an organization perfected in this city, but for
some reason, the committee appointed to secure subscriptions of funds nec
essary for the support of the work failed to undertake the task and the mat
ter has rested rince that time. Now it is proposed to organize with a mem
bership of at least three hundred, with no annual subscription being less
than five dollars and no annual subscription larger than fifty dollars. Officers
will he chosen and the work will be carried on in a business like way. A dis
bursing officer will be in charge and after cases have been investigated and
found to he deserving, then relief will be given Immediately. While the pro
position may sound more commercial than charitable still there remains the
cold proposition of relieving when relief is needed and without delay. While
this may in a measure rob some of distributing their charity in a way that
would appeal to them more, still the organization will not only prove beneficial
to those In need by providing instant relief, but it win prevent those who are
not entitled to help from receiving our people’s donations and contributions
money which ’hey do not deserve. There is in the charitable work of a city
as much Imposition on the people as there is in any other line of business
and protection should be given in this work even more than in commercial
lines. A pauper once, always a pauper is practically true—there are fewr ex
ceptions There are today in this city professional beggars made ao by the
kindness of our good people so freely distributed.
1’nder the scheme of organization, when a beggar or any one calls on
citizen for help if will be the duty of that citizen, if a member of the organlza
tion, to fill out p card and give it to the applicant to be carried to the dlsburi
ing officer pnri If the subject Is found to be deserving and worthy then the of
ficer in charge will immediately help him. This scheme relieves embarrass
ment for those citizens Inclined to help any and all applicants and at the same
time the citizen is sure that his aid is not misplaced. The contribution made
to the organization provides for this relief and the giver will have the consola
tion of knowing that If the applicant is deserving, relief will be given and he
can feel that his subscription to the organization is applied for the relief.
A meeting will be called within a few days for the purpose of perfecting
organization and It is believed by those interested in that work that it is the
proper mode of organization to have funds on hand at all times to relieve the
needy and at t h e same time gjve protection to those who are willing to help.
A complete plan will be submitted at the meeting and committees will be
appointed to further the work by soliciting subscriptions. In the meantime
the Ranner will be pleased to receive the names of those citizens who think
well of an organization of this kind together with the amounts they would be
willing to subscribe for the work when organization is perfected.
coming of the American Jew, protected by the flag of the United States, will Uthe United States and fattened the purses of the protected few to tha great
..... .... .... ..... .... .« • m rr-t. ....I. K«*t’A oo Uorl ■ i non 111 o H oin tw' rulir nd rt v
THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
The Chamber of Commerce has now something over one hundred mem
hers. The woik the organization has done during the past year commends
unto every citizen Interested In the upbuilding of Athens. It has occupied
Held no other agency could and the result of Its labors are In evidence on ev.
cry hand The new passenger stations arc among some of the accomplish
inents during 1910, besides many other Improvements directly traceable to
this organization.
Il Is the purpose of the officers of the Chnmbcr of Commerce to build the
membership to at least two hundred before the end of the year, and It Is noth
'Ing more than should be done. Our citizens are reaping the benefits of the
organization and certainly they should be willing to become members and pay
the dollar per month dues. The officers are serving the organization without
pay, except'the secretary, and his salary Is very small. The amount of work
imposed upon him by the organization deserves a good salary but for the good
of Athens and tho success of the Chamber of Commerce he has been perform
Ing the duties of that office for a few dollars per month, about twenty-five dot
lavs.
Now that the new year Is starting c-ut, let every citizen bend hta energies
for the success of this city. No more safer way can bring nbout results for 'he
city than through the Chamber of Commerce. It Is our duty to support the
Chamber of Commerce and lend our time and energies towards keeping It up.
The metlngs are attended by small numbers; the members do not show
the proper Interest In the organization. Growing and developing of the city
requires concertedtaction. It ennnot Ik- done In a half-hearted way,
must be done by our people coming together and working for new enterprises
and conventions. Weekly pay rolls and conventions will build any city and
for those things we must work and work until we get them. Will you be one
to help?
4 — —
WHAT DO WE GET FOR THE MONEY ?
The United States spends annually large sums of money for the construc
tion of battleships. Other nations are spending even more. Comparing the re-
suits of tho naval enterprise ot the different nations, Is It certain that the
United States gets as much for the money put Into naval construction as
the other nations?
■If they do not. then what Is the reason, and are the ihtp builders getting
a profit beyond that which is legitimate?
And again, doe* It necessarily mean that the spending of large sums of
money secures more sea power than smaller sums secure for other nations?
The New York Journal of Commerce, commenting on the cost of battle
ship construction and the results secured therefrom by the different nations,
says:
If the annual cost of naval construction and maintenance was a
fslr guide to the naval strength ot the countries that spend the money
It would seem that Great Britain Is rapidly losing Its former position
on the sens. But the admiralty's figures demonstrate that naval pow
er cannot he valued In a rough and ready way by the money spent
upon It. There Is a very Interesting table giving the tonnage of the
vessels completed and the cost of new construction during the pres
ent century. From this It appears that there Is to the credit ot
Great Britain 1,001,813 tons of new construction at a cost of $474,500,-
000; of Germany, 474,876 tons at a coat of $239,400,000, and of the
United States 554,208 tons at a cost of $303,400,000. In other words,
Great Britain has spent on new ships considerably lets than Ger
many and the United States together, while the tonnage of new con
struction In her case about equala their combined totals. The vital
point being not wbat the various nations have spent, but what they
have obtained, It Is instructive to find that while 'rarships cost about
$505 per ton to build in Germany and $547 In the United States, the
outlay In the United Kingdom It less than $475 per ton.
The fight being made by the cftl
sen* of Macon for the removal of the
capital from Atlanta to that city haa
created much Interest throughout the
etate. Whether the building Is mov
ed or not, the Central City haa made
• game fight end the matter may
prove more aerione than wae antici
pated in the beginning. |
AMERICANS IN RUSSIA.
The United States may be called upon some of these days to adupt very
positive methods In dealing with the empire of Russia. For years there has
been a disposition In Rusita to violate the treaty provisions by which Ameri
can cltlzeni are guaranteed the right to enter the Russian empire and to be
protected there. The United Slates haTe time and again been forced to the
necessity of remonstrating with Russia and baa always been glten fair prom
ise* that are not lived up to.
In the Russian empire It Is known that the Jew has no chance. The gov
ernment respects none of bis rights, If, indeed, he has any rights. The gov
ernment does not hesitate every year to heap persecution u]>on the Jews and
to make their lives lives of misery. So great has become this persecution of
the Jews that the people of the civilized world have made protest against It In
strongest terms.
Now, U ao American Jew seeks to go to Russia, he Is denied entrance Into
the Russian dsmaln. Russia wants no American Jews. She knows that the
call for the change of policy towards the Jews that she is unwilling to make.
Therefore, In violation of her treaty obligations with the United States, Russia
denies the Jew admission.
This will not last forevA- Some of these days there will be a more definite
understanding and one that will be observed. When that day comes, the
question of the oppression of the Jews In Russia will steadily settle Itself.
♦ 4
THE STING IS STILL THERE.
It will be many, many years before the passions of the people of Tennes
see subside and the people again take a calm view of things In the light in
which they shculd view them. The prohibition question divided the people In
to hostile camps, the murder of Edward W. Carmack fanned Into a consuming
flame the feelings of those who stood by that brilliant Tennessean In all his
fights, the pardoning of his slayers by Governor Patterson alienated from the
regular democracy thousands of men who had never voted a ticket adverse to
that party, a new party of democratic Independents arose and fused with the
republicans, electing a republican governor, and for the first time In many
years the state of Tennessee has a republican chief executive.
That passion still runs high in Tennessee and that the sting of political
feeling Is still present Is evidenced by the unyielding opposition to Malcolm R.
Patterson, who has Just retired from the governor’s chair. He has as strong
friends as any man In Tennessee and has as bitter enemies, the latter predom
inating in number. There are those who believe he has done no wrong while
governor and there are others who regard him as a criminal on account of his
connection with the Carmack killing, as witness for the defendants and as the
man who pardoned them after they had been convicted by the courts of Ten
nessee.
In his farewell address, Just before he turned his office over to the new
governor, Governor Patterson took occasion to reiterate his belief In the*$»rln-
clples for which he had stood and to say that he would do the same things
again were he to pass through the same conditions. It was not surprising that
the governor should have been roundly hissed by large numbers of his hearers.
This hissing of the retiring governor Is evidence enough to show- that the feel
ing among the Tennesseans Is far from baring passed away and that It will be
many years before the people come to regard public questions and political'
contests with calmness and conservatism.
4.
JTO CUT OUT THE “HELLO!”
The ethics ot the phone conversation has been much discussed. It is an
admitted proposition that even allowing for the customary Informal and
sometimes brusque expressions and the also frequently quite more brusque
tones employed, the phone conversationalists are not as considerate or as
courteous as the requirements In face to face Interview would not only re
quire but would cheerfully receive. The following Is one way of looking at
the situation: ,
Would you rush Into nn office or up to the door of a residence
and blurt out “Hello; Hello! Who am I talking to?” and then, when
you received a reply, follow up your wild, discourteous salutation with
"I don't want you; get out of my way. I want to talk with Mr. Jones."
Would you? That is merely a sample of the Impolite and Impatient
conversations that the telephone transmits many times a day.
There Is a most agreeable mode of beginning a telephone con
versation which many people are'now adopting, beenuse It saves use
less wordc and Is, at tho same time, courteous and direct. It runs
thus;
The telephone bell rings, and the person answering It says: "Mor
ton & Company, Mr. Baker speaking.” The person calling then says:
"Mr. Wood, of Curtis & Sons, wishes to talk with Mr. White."
When Mr. White picks up the receiver, he knows Mr. Wood Is on
the other end of the line, and without any unneccessary and undigni
fied "Helloes," ho at once greets him with the refreshingly courteous
salutation: “Good morning, Mr. Wood.” That savors of the genial
handshake that Mr. Wood would have received had he called In per
son upon Mr. White.
Undoubtedly there would be a far higher degree of telephone cour
tesy, particularly In tho way of reasonable consideration tor the oper
ators. If the "face-to-face" Idea were more generally held In mind.
The fact that a line of wire and two shining Instruments separate >-ou
from the person with whom you arc talking, takes none of the sting
out ot unkind words.
Telephone courtesy means answering the telephone ns quickly as
posstblo when tho bell rings—not keeping the "caller" waiting until
one gets good and ready to answer. Telephone courtesy,' on party
lines, means being poHte when someone else unintenllslly breaks in—
not tuapping, "Get off the line; I'm using It.”
In a word. It Is obviously true that that which Is the correct thing
to do In a face-to-face conversation, Is also correct In a telephone
conversation, and anyone has hut to apply the rules of courtesy, pre
scribed long years before the telephone was first thought of, to know
the proper manners for telephone usage. ,
Be forbearing, considerate and courteous. Do over the telephone
ns you would do face to face.
4-
TEN YEARS OF PROGRESS IN GEORGIA.
Ceorgla ban nothing to be ashamed of In the record of progress which the
Empire State of the South has made during the past ten years. Here are
some percentage figures which will show, as far as the accuracy ot the last
year's census statistics Ib a guaranty ot accuracy, the advance which Georgia
has made.
In population, gain, 17.7 per cent: in taxable property, 61 per cent: in
railroad property, 167 per cent; In farm products, 125 per cent; In factory
products, 134 per cent; In capital In state banks, 167 per cent; In deposits in
state banks, 200 per cent; In value of negro property, 114 per cent.
There Is food for thought In these figures. And there Is still more pro-
vender for rumination in the more careful noting of the figures compaatlve
from which these percentage* are obtained. They are;
1910
Population 2,609,121
Taxable Wealth $763,706,365
Railroad Property 121,179,989
Negro Property 32,000,000
Farm Products 232,000,000
Manufactured Products 220,000,000
Capital of Slate Banks .,
Deposits of 8tate Banks
I.oans of State Banks ...
R. R. Mileage
R. R. Earnings
31,518,430.02
66,775,714.67
74,000,343.87
6,992.83
39.506.099A3
1900.
2,216,331
$433,323,691
- 45,169,278
14,118,720
104,304,476
94,532,368
11,880,891.60
22.009,064.14
28,354,705.64
5,614.88
22,211,850.05
TARIFF COMMISSION SCHEME.
When the framers of the American constitution provided for two houses
of congress empowered to enact Into law such measnrea aa they might
deem necessary for the conducting of the government, it was evidently their
belief that these bodies would contain men of sufficient Intelligence to pass
all questions of government that might arise. And even now, when It Is
true that many congressmen and senators are either not up to the highest
standard of ability or of the highest personal character. It (s still true that
the American congress Is fully capable of handling all questions that affect
this government.
The members of the J wo houses of congress are chosen to do this work
•end they are expected to do It. The cry tbst has gone up for a permanent
tariff commission It nothing more than the dying gaaps of the crowd that
haa for more than forty yeara fattened the protective tariff on the people of
detriment of the masses. Tli people have called upon the democratic party
fto give them relief through a Just and equitable revision of the tariff, to en 1
act a law that wifi do away with the protective features of the tariff and pro
vide a tax simply for the support of the government. The representatives of
the people are fully qualified to speak for them and they have plenty of
ability to find out the way in which tariff legislation should be enacted. It Is
not neeesary for a tariff commission to be named and given power to adjust
the tariff.
The advocates of the protective tariff have come to the laat ditch in the
fight that Is new being waged. They are defending that position very shrewd
ly and very ably. If they can get a bill through the present congress to make
permanent the tariff commission, they know that they will have gained a
strong point and will have rendered more difficult the work of the democrats
in the next house. The democrats should keep thoroughly awake on this
proposition anu should put up a stiff fight to check It now.
4 4
DEVELOPING THE AUTOMOBILE.
The automobile Is In some sense a dangerous machine and When people
use It for Joy riding It becomes a menace to safety of pedestrians or anything
that gets In its way, but It is a vehicle that has come to stay and whoae good
features overbalance the bad.
It has been less than twenty years since the horseless carriage made It*
appearance, and three years after It was first given to the world, It was
thought quite wonderful that a speed of twenty-nine miles an hour could be
attained. Last year Barney Oldfield, at Daytona, Fla., drove hla machine at a
rate of more than one hundred and thirty miles an hour and there Is no telling
what further speed records may be attained.
The number of automobiles In this country It astonishing. During the
past year more than two hundred thousand were manufactured. The preced
ing year but eighty thousand were manufactured and the rear preceding that
only fifty thousand. It It something ot a stride In any business to Increase
four hundred per cent in two years.
Placing the average value of the automobiles at one thousand dollara, It
will be seen that the investment last year alone amounted to more than two
hundred million dollars, or a sum larger than the output of gold In the .United
Slates that year twice over.
The automobile Industry has come to be one of the great Industrie! of the
country and the amount of money locked up In these machines Is beginning to
rival that represented by the great life Insurance companlea.
j — —-— - -i — 4
THE BANKS OF GEORGIA.
The annual report of State Treasurer Pope Brown show* a number of In-
terestipg things, but none of more Interest from a business standpoint than
the part relating to the state banks. The report from five hundred and twen
ty-five state banks for 1910 show a gain In assets of more than twelve million
dollars and total assets of more than one hundred and twenty million dollars.
This is a most gratifying snowing and one ot which the people of the state
should feel proud. The business prosperity of a state Is guaged largely by the
condition of Its banks. When the banks are In prosperous condition and show
gains, then the people are in prosperous condition. The banks make tbelr
money out of the prosperity of the people. The owners of bank atock are
connected most intimately with the business world and the prosperity of the
business world means the prosperity of the banks.
Georgia’ banks could not have made aueh a showing In times of financial
depression or when the masses of the people were not prosperous. New banks
are springing up all over Georgia and when there la a call for more banking
capital It shows that the people are active In their various lines of business.
4— —: 4
THE PLOWBOY POET OF SCOTLAND.
Today the world celebrates the anniversary of the birth of Robert Burna.
He was a poet; he Is a poet yet. There were foibles In hla life that many llko
to remember, but the good has outlived the bad and hla contribution to the
world's betterment, the world's enjoyment, the world’s needed uplift toward
things that are sentimental in the reel sense ot sentiment is among the treat,
urea of the ages of literature and of the poet's gnd the musician’s art. Here Is
the heart-throb that heals a little londor and a little more nearly true to the
spirit which breathed It than anything else Burns ever wrote:
Thep gently scan your brother man,
Still gentler sister woman,
Tho' they may gang a kennln wrang, ' ”
To step aside Is human; "
' At ",
One point must still be greatly dark, ' ■
Tho moving why they do It, * Je- ' *”
And Just ts lamely ye can mark
How far perhaps they rue It. .j •
• ~i-~ i-■ -
Who made the heart? 'Tla He alone ' "* '*
Decidedly can try us, * ’y~’ '• ”j J
He knows each chord, Its var'ous tone, ' r "?
Each string Its var'ous bias; ' "V ’’ '
riff— ‘•w *
Then at the balance let's be mute, *' i v
We never can adjust It; - * f ' m J
What's done we partly may compute,
But know not what’s resisted!
IMPROVING RURAL FREE DELIVERY.
Every step that may be taken towards the Improvement and extension of
the rural free delivery of mail throughout the United States should meet with
hearty approbation. The action of the house of representatives In Increasing
the pay of rural carriers to one thousand dollars per annum, is a step in tha
right direction. There should be better pay for this service and there should
be more routes established wherever It ts shown that they are needed.
This Improvement should be carried on even It It should entail a loss. It
should not be expected that the rural free delivery system will pay expenses
everywhere, and yet that fact should not deter the government from providing
these facilities for the people.
The service of the rural free delivery has demonstrated Its worth to the
nation. It has made farm life more tolerable, It haa brought a measure of
convenience to the home of the farmer that was not before enjoyed. It haa
wrought a great change educationally. It has been of g -eat service commer
cially not only to the farmers but to the merchants In the towns and cities.
Many of the routes now pay more than expenses, many meet their ex
penses and other are an expense to the government, but on the whole the sys
tem has proved to be most successful and Its extension 1* demanded by the
great majority of the people of the nation. The national congress spends mil
lions on much less worthy work. The needs of this system should be met and
should be gradually extended until Ita benefits are shared by all the inbabl-
tanta of country diatrlcta who are within reaaonable reach of the town or city
centers.
The new passenger station for the
A. L. will be In keeping with pro
gressive Athens. The plana as sub
mitted provide for a building which
will be a credit to this city.
It It about time for someone else to
come forward with a recipe for divid
ing Georgia up Into proper congres
sional districts so aa to provide for
twelve congressmen without disturb
ing the territory now represented by
eleven.
Tho Atlanta-Carollna Railway Co.,
seems to be ln earnest In building nn
electrc line from Atlanta to Augusta
via Athena. This line would mean
much for the development of this city
and section.
Chamberlain's Cough Remedy is a
very valuable medicine for throat and
tang troubles, qnlchly relieves end
cure* painful brsathing and a danger
ously sounding cough which Indicate*
congested lungs. Bold by all dealers.