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THE BANNER, FRIDAY MORNING, MARCH 10, 1911. 1 ATHENS BANNER H. J. ROWE, Editor and Proprietor. THE ATHENS DAILY BANNER is delivered by carriers in the city, or mailed, postage free, to any address at the following rates: <5.00 per year; $2.50 for six months; $1.25 for three months, or 10 cents a week. The day of the baseball fan is at hand and there is much happiness in the ranks of those jovial devotees of the national sport. The opinion prevails that the peaoh crop in Georgia was not damaged so badly by the freeze as was at first thought. 0 The Southern Railway is getting ready to take care of Its increased freight traffic. Ffty-flve new locomo tives have ben ordered and much new I rack is to be laid at once. Bryan says Roosevelt and Taft are both urging the enactment of demo cratic measures into law and that there is no reason why he should be seeking office in order to put his pol icies Into effect. 0 The Portuguese do not wish their deposed king to return to their coun try, so they are willing for him to live outside of Portugal and they will support him handsomely as long ns lie stays away from home. 0 Joe Bailey may be a great man, but his conduct in resigning his sent in the United Stntes senate because the democratic senators wouldn't vote as he wished them to vote certainly Ib proof to the contrary. 0 It will not be many years until governments will be spending twenty- five million dollars on warships, few years since It was thought to be isomething very extravagant to be spending as much as two million dol lars for a war ship. If the reciprocity treaty goes through as to Canada, there are some who say the next proposition will come from Japan, asking for the same privileges that are accorded Canadn and that the little brown men will be Insulted If these privileges are denied them. 0 Both democrats and republicans are already busy making the plans for the conduct of business in the new congress. In less than a month tho extra session will be called to order and then there is promise of some lively old times. The domocrats will do some probing of their own when the next house meets. The Southern Commercial Congress that meets tomorrow In the Gate City Is attracting the attention of ail the great business organisations of the South, and there will be sevral thous and delegates in attendance. Athens will have one of the best delegations In attendance upon thnt great gather ing. 0 Hobson is of the opinion that the new treaty with Japan is something of a backdown by .Uncle Sam, it does Icok like the United States gave Japan the long end of the treaty. Mrs. Oliver Belmont, of New York, Is engaged In a little experiment that she expects to prove successful. She has taken twenty young women out of the factories in New York and Is teaching them how to farm. She calls them "farmettes." If she is suc cessful in this experiment she will tackle the proposition on a larger scale. She Is satisfied that In this way the lives of thousands of women In the factories throughout the coun try can be made brighter and happier and more prosperous. COMPENSATION FOR WORKMEN. The subject of employers' liability and the compensation of workmen must always be one of great interest, especially In this day of great industrial development A volume has just been issued by the United States Bureau of Labor, that contains much Interesting Information as to how the foreign na. tions are progressing in the solution of this question. The Macon Telegraph makes the following condensation of this Interesting article: Although systems of insurance and compensation for cases of industrial accidents are the best known forms of workmen's insur ance the book shows that many European countries also possess a wide variety of insurance institutions for the relief of distress caused by sickness. Invalidity, old age, and unemployment. Besides these forms, the methods of providing maternity benefits for wage-earning women and the systems of pensions for widows and orphans of wage earners are described. Germany has the most complete syster of laws on the subject, covering Insurance against industrial accidents, sickness, invalidity, old age, ar.d maternity in case of wage-earning women, and there is In some cases Insurance for widows and orphans of wage-earners. The Austrian system Is patterned closely after the German, with the additional provision for the mining industries. One feature of workmen's insurance in Austria whirh no other country possesses is a national compulsory system of old-age and invalidity Insurance for salaried persons, such as clerical employes of all kinds; the expense this Is defrayed partly by the employer and partly by the Insured per son. In France, Denmark and Belgium there are laws covering insur ance for accident, sickness, old age and invalidity and unemployment. In practically all of these countries the acident Insurance and compensation laws provide for the award of fixed sums to Injured em ployes without the necessity of a lawsuit, and without reference to the negligence of the workman, unless the employer can prove gross neg ligence on the latter's part. In practically every case the laws speci fy the amount of compensation to be paid and with but few excep tions the amount Is based on the wages previously earned by the In jured workmen. Compensation In the form of annuities is preferred to that of the award of a lump sum, In fact, the lump-sum award Is given only In exceptional eases. It is usual also to provide that the employer must pay the expense of medical and surgical treatment as well as a small sum to defray funeral expenses. The irformation contained in the volume shows that in no case has any country after having adopted a system of compensation or Insurance ever gone back to the liability system; In practically all of these countries there Is a widespread demand for the Improvement and extension of the existing systems and in the largest of these countries—Austria, France, and Germany—government commissions arc now at work planning for the revision and enlargement of the systcmc. THE CRAWFORD LONG INFIRMARY. No educational Institution as large as the University of Georgia should be without an infirmary. While there Is no great amount of serious Illness among tho student body, there are frequently cases that call for hospital at tention and there are numbers of cases of less serious nature than can be bet ter handled in an Infirmary than otherwise. It would be unnatural for disease to be absent from any five hundred boys during a period of nine months, and It Is well for the Institution to have a splendid Infirmary where all students who are 111 can be properly atended to. The good women of Georgia who are behind the movement to secure the money with which to make possible this Infirmary on the University campus could not have directed their talents and their energies to n more deserving work. Nor could they have selected a worthier name for the Infirmary. The name of Dr. Crawford W. Long has been honored throughout the world. His discovery of anaesthesia was one of the greatest boons ever con ferred upon suffering humanity and the State of Georgia very properly decided to place hla statue In Statury Hall In the national cnpltol as a tribute to his greatness. But no.tribute to Crawford W. Long could be greater than that which the women of Georgia have planned, this Infirmary to be erected on tho campus of his Alma Mater. He was as tender as n woman, a gentle nurse as well as a great physician. This movement should never bo allowed to lag, but should be pushed forward steadily to Its completion. Athens bas started oft very well in contributions to the fund that is being raised. Every Athenian who has not subscribed should do so at once. The subscriptions should he In the most liberal amounts possible. Let Athens show her Interest and the people of the state will be quick to rally to the aid of the ladles and help them secure the sum of money needed for the erection, equipment nnd maintenace of the In llrmary. ♦ OPPORTUNITIES FOR A GREAT CITY. No city In the South enjoys more favorable prospects as a great commer cial city than Athens. The natural location affords every opportunity for tho building o,* a great city. The death rate here is as low, if not lower than that of any othei city In the state. The railroad facilities are as good as any of those of the larger cities In the state, and the freight rates on all commercial goods are just as low as any other city In the state is enjoying. Our business men are Just as good busines men as any in the state. They are progressive, sound and conservative in Judgment, and the success they have met with in their own busines. Is a strong indication of their worth and ability to build a great city. But. the great trouble among our citizens is lack of concerted ac tion. Too many of our citizens hold back and depend on the others to do the work. When new enterprises are In sight, it Is only a few of our citizens who put their shoulder to the wheel and go to pushing to secure the desired im provement. The meetings of the Chamber of Commerce are attended by a handful of enthusiastic citizens, but suppose <f one hundred enthusiastic busi- men men attended these meetings, is it not reasonable to suppose that some good Ideas would be brought out which would develop the inaugurating of some manufacturing plant or some new industry which would help to bul.ii Athens? A few citizens cannot accomplish what one hundred citizens could accomplish by concerted action. The time has come when it. is necessary. In order to build Athens to that great and growing city which It Is “"titled to be, for our citizens to come together and plan and discuss propositions which will mean something for the future of this city. We need to get closer together and work with the help of each other. It will build the city and at the same time build out own business to that point of profit where we can realize the worth of the effort. It Is time for Athens and her citizens to see tl.e import ance of an awakening and our citizens should come together at least once a month and discuss the welfare of Athens just as we would discuss the welfare of our own business with our asociates. With that kind of feeling and action Athens will mere than double Its population before another census has been taken. The greatest way to build Athens to that point in the commercial world which Is due to this city is through the organization of companies for manu facturlng enterprises, be they large or small. Weekly payrolls build a city faster tban any other agency and with many new manufacturing plants locat ed here, the growth of Athens will exceed the most favorable hopes of those interested In Its upbuilding. It Is only a question of a few weeks time until Athens will be supplied with all the power necessary to turn the wheels of thousands of spindles and other Industries. This power enn be secured cheaper than steam power, bas been developed and Is here for sale. It Is now up to our people to prepare to utilize it. It must not stand Idle. It has been brought to the doors of the city and opportunities awnlt the men with money and means to enter the man ufacturing lines. It Is true that Athens enjoys a trade from one of the best farming sec tions In the country, but that is not sufficient to support and build a city In keeping with what can be built by active work and co-operation on the part of our citizens. W’e have the Inducements here and we must provide for the in vestors who are anxious to come here on account of our many advantages. It Is a business proposition gentlemen. The opportunities are here for us to build a city as large as any in the state. The door has been opened in manu facturing lines and it Is our hope to accept the situation and enter into the Athens spirit which Is bound to bring forth results for a growing city which will be the pride of the state and of the South. Join with us In the upbuilding of Athens and let us go forward with a de termination to win and our efforts will be crowned with success and Athens will be known far and near as one of the leading cities of our southland. The responsibility Is upon us; If Athens falls to reach the place in the commercial world which It deserves—then It will be our shortcomings which has brought It about and the responsibility is ours. ♦ POLITIC AND POLITICIANS. ♦ ♦♦♦♦ Amarillo is the latest city in Texas to adopt the commission plau of gov ernment. Kansas City has already begun its fight for the democratic national con vention for 1912. Luke Lea. the new United States senator from Tennessee, is barely past the age limit of 30 years which the constitution Imposes upon sena tors. ' • * • Francis Pendleton, the new judge of the supreme court of New York, is a son of the late George H. Pendle ton, United States senator from Ohio. The new United States senate will be composed of forty-one democrats, thirty-eight "regular" republicans and thirteen "insurgent” republicans. • * • John D. Works of California is the oldest among the new members of the United States senate. He was bom In Indiana sixty-four years ago this month. . * . The withdrawal Y>f Mayor Head of Louisville has left ex-Senator Mc Creary and Wiliam Addams, of Cyn thlana, the only avowed candidates for the democratic gubernatorial nom ination In Kentucky. • • * Senator Bourne of Oregon, one of the progressive members of the upper bouse, is expected to succeed Sena tor Penrose of Penaylvanla as chair man of the senate committee on post THE COMING OF THE PARCELS POST. ' In spit of opposition, which was considerable at first but which has dwln died year by year, the proposition to establish a parcels post system in the United States seems to be within reach of adoption. It may be several years before the government will try this experiment, but that it will be tried at no distant date seems to be quite certain. There is no doubt about the convenience such a system would be to the farmer. It would be practically as helpful as the rural free delivery of mail and the rural telephone service, helpful not only from the standpoint of con venience but also from a financial standpoint. It would probably be detrimen tal in a degree to the business of the small countyr merchant and would cor respondingly help the merchant or the larger cities, but the great benefits that would flow to the farmers appear to overbalance the arguments that are ad vanced against It. A number of the European nations have tried the parcels post system with satisfactory results. If It Is put Info practice In the United States, It will no doubt be started on a small scale and as it proves successful and the way ap pears to finance It successfully. It will be extended. It Is one of the governmental problems In process of solution but which has not yet been solved. The national lawmakers will sooner or later put Into concrete form their Ideas as to Its solution. The friends of the parcels post system, and they are legion in this country predict for it a thorough success, whenever It Is given a fair and impartial trial. __— PRESIDENT TAFT’S WISE SELECTION The permanency of the tariff board was left in the air by congress, for the bill to make the board a permanency failed of passage, but provision was made for the continuance of the board's work for the time being at least by the :xp.opriation of the sum of two hundred thousand dollars to cover its ex penses. President Taft, in naming the members of this important board, displayed the greatest wisdom In his selections. Hon. William M. Howard, who for fourteen years so ably represented this district In congress, has bee n named as a member of this board and will at once take up the duties of that position The president could not have found a better man for this place had he searched the entire country. Mr. Howard is one of the ablest men In the United States and his long service as congressman has made him perfectly familiar with the great question that has for decades agitated the country and that must ever continue as the greatest of all the economic question In the American republic. Mr, Howard will bring to the discharge of his duties a long experience, a great ability, a lofty patriotism and a character unimpeacbed. He is In a po sition to render the country great service In this position. THE CASE OF SENATOR L0RIMER. Senator William Lorimer retains his sent in the United Stales senate, the vote on the motion to declare the seat vacant being 40 to 40. Party lines were broken all around. Thirty-live republicans nnd eleven democrats voted for Lorimer, while twenty-two rcptihlleans nnd eighteen democrats voted against his retaining his seat. With a vote of forty senators against him. It would seem that Senator Lorimer would not feel very comfortable in hia seat In the senate in the fu ture, but the chances are that he will not allow that to worry him much. From the way in which party lines were broken, it seems that there was enough doubt In the caso to make it a question as to whether or not the sen ator from Illinois really should have been excluded from the senate. The rua jorlty report of tho senate committee that Investigated his right to a seat In the senate was in favor of hla being allowed to retain his seat. In this report a number of democrats Joined In favjr of Lorimer. That there was gross fraud in his election and much bribery there can be no doubt. The only contention of the Lorimer advocates was that I-orlmer himself was net guilty of any bribery and was not cognizant of it. THE GOVERNMENT SPY SYSTEM. Much has been written recently In the press of the country condemning the "spy system" employed by the national government in the operation of the various departments of the service. There may be Instances where India creet Inspectors, as they are classed by the government officials, emp/ov means other than (air to make a record for themselves, but we believe that such eases are rare. The duty of an Inspector is to Investigate cases reported to him by his superior officers at’.d in turn he is required to make a written re port and only In extreme cases is he expected to make arrest until thoroughly satisfied of the guilt of the party under suspicion. When one considers the large number of postal employes of the govern ment, and the main requirements being a civil service examination to secure a position, it is remarkable the small number of cases where theft is practiced, if there a»e dishonest employes in the government service—then it is for the protection of the honest employes for the inspectors to do their duty and bring to Justice those who are guilty. Honest men and women are not afraid of in vestigation, but on the other hand they invite inspection, and if it Is done by the so-called “spy system” It Is no more unfair than any other system which leads to the apprehension of the violators of the postal laws. It is practically impossible to secure evidence In a large office where sov. eral hundred men and women are employed without having some place for the Inspectors to view the daily work of the employes. Certainly an inspector walking up and down the floor of the building would not be able to secure evi- dence against an employe, who would be put on notice of his presence. The moment a stranger should enter the building, suspicion on the part of those who are guilty would arise, and It is safe to predict that while the stranger was in seeing distance, the service would be perfect. For that reason some place for the protection of the officer must be provided. Then, again, if such Is the case, the government oweB it to the public to employ honest men and women; the property of the public Is entrusted to tho care of the government and through their officials safety of delivery is expect ed on the part of the public and guaranteed on the part of the government. If there are dishonest employes in the postoffice department, is it not for the protection of not only the public, but of the honest employes of the postoffieo department to have Inspectors who are alert In their duty to bring to justice all employes who are not honest? The Banner would be the first to protect honest employes from the at tacks of unscrupulous inspectors, but before the department of Inspectors Is tried and convicted, It Is the duty of the public to give It a hearing, and then f it is proven such charges are true—then every inspector guilty should he dismissed from the service and honest men appointed In their places. But be fore we abolish this important department, let us investigate the govern ment's side of the ease. ♦ , » EIGHT SOUTHERNERS DEFEATED BILL. Eight Southern democratic senators cast their votes against the bill pro viding for the submission of the constitutional amendment for a direct vote of the people in filling positions in the United States senate and as the bill re quired two-thirds vote to pass, it was four short of the necessary number when the roll call had been completed. Every Southern senator who voted against the bill is in favor of the measure, provided the United States eon gress be not given the power to regulate the elections of senators. It was on account of the fear that the government would try to supervise the elections in the future that the eight Southern aenatora voted against the measure They were led in thla opposition by Senator Bacon, of Georgia. The defeat of this bill, cince the Sutherland amendment was tacked to it, should be gratifying to tho people of the South. The direct primary laws and customs In the different state will give the people ample opportunity to pass on the question as to who shall represent them In the senate, and until, the bill can be passed without the right being given to congress to control the elections, then the law had better remain as It is. It ia rather surprising that as many Southern senators voted for the bill as did, but it may be that they did not have the same fears as to federal in terference as had the eight cenatora who voted against the meaaure. THE OPEN AIR SCHOOL. It is certain that the open air school hap passed the stage of the experi mental. It has proved to be a aueceaa wherever tried and it is believed that the future holds for It a great increase in efficiency. The first open air school was established In Germany and since that time the experiment has been tried in various countries with much success. In this country in 1908 there were only three such schools. In 1909 the number had increased to five; in 1910 there were twenty and at the present time there are twenty-three. New York city alone has set aside money for the operation of twenty such schools and other cities are falling Into ’ine with the new move- ment. It is demonstrated with ease that such school arrangements are eminent ly conducive to better health for the pupils and that a better grade of work is done by the children who attend them. In other words, this movement is one back to nature and its advocates are enthusiastic over its prospects. It may be a long time before Athens will come to the establishment of open air schools but it is one of the things that will come. And again it mar be sooner then we expect in this city, for with the present increase in school attendance, even at the opening of the schools next September, it may be ne cessary to house some of the grades In the open air on account of lack of room In the buildings THE AGRICULTURAL TRAIN. The agricultural train, which is carrying the agricultural college on wheels throughout the state, has made it possible for the farmers of this state to be reached at the doors of their homes with advantages second only to those of the great college which is loctated in this city. For this great benefit, the various railroads in this state are largely re sponsible, and tc them the people of Georgia owe much. Without their co operation in the matter it would have beeh impossible to have carried out the plan as formulated by President Soule which hns proven of so much worth to the farmers of Georgia. Without charge the railroads have rallied to the support of the college and In doing so they have rallied to the Interest of every farmer in the state, and to the railroads, the farmers and the agricultural college owe much. The Banner feels that their action nnd co-operation In this matter Is worthy of tho attention nnd appreciation of every Georgian, and the press of the state should he liberal In calling the attention of the people to tlielr ef forts to give to every farmer an agricultural college at his door. ♦ — DETERMINED TO ABOLISH VETO POWER. The English House of Commons is right after the House of lairds relative to the veto power of the latter body and has Just passed the bit] abolishing tho veto power of the Lords. The determination on the part of the people of the British government to abolish this veto power seems to he made up. There is no ceaslnc of the fight to bring about the passage of such a bill. Of course the house of Lords may again turn down the bill and the English people may again get Into a round of politics about It but the belief is gaining ground that sooner or later this veto power is to be abolished. The house of Lords not long since turned down the budget of the bouse of Commons and in exercising this power to velo, the lords stirred up a regular hornet's nest. ♦ t SECRETARY TO THE PRESIDENT Until a few pears since the president of the United States had a private secretary. Now the office is known as that of secretary to the president. A few years since the office paid about three thousand dollars per annum, now it pays six thousand and there Is a bill pending in congress to raise the sal ary to ten thousand dollars per annum. A few years since a good stenograph er with no special ability could fill the office with great credit, now It requires a man with more or iesa statesmanship and with an abundance of diplomacy. The office has grown in importance, until it In a large measure approaches tho importance of the presidency Itself. .For the secretary to the president knows more perhaps of the business of the executive office than any other living man, save the president himself, and In hundreds of instances his opinion Is asked by the president on important matters before a derision is reached by the president. The duties of the office have grown to such an extent that it is not an un reasonable demand that the salary be increased to ten thousand dollars. The secretary stands between the president and the public and deserves good pay for the criticism that is heaped upon him, for the patience that is required ,n handling all kinds of people and for the ability that Is necessary to solve many a problem that Is put up to him. SEEKING POTASH DEPOSIT The use of potash in the manufacture of commercial fertilizers is a ne cessity that causes the importation of large quantities from Germany, where the greatest petash deposits are to be found. The Germans make practically their own terms as to the sale of potash salts and the farmers in this country, especially the farmers of the South, pay what the Germans ask. It Is certain that the earth contains much potash, but It has not been found In that state where it can be readily used. The United States Is now starting an Investigation on this subject with a view to finding potash depos its in this country. j The geological department has much data at hand on the subject which has been collected during past years and it is believed that in some of (he arid sections of the west these deposits may yet be found in such abundance as will make this country independent of Germany. Deep borings will be made by the government investigators with the hope that the potash deposits may be found at a great depth below the surface. It these Investigations should prove to be successful It will represent a great saving to the United States, for this country consumes about twenty-five mil lion dollars worth of imported potash salts every year. James A. Reed, the new United States senator from Missouri, was born in Ohio and lived several yean in Iowa before locating in Kansas City, where he began his public career as prosecuting attorney. Former Mayor Tom L. Johnson of Cleveland, who bas been regarded as the leader of the Bryan democracy in Ohio, haa given hla frtenda to under- stand that be will support Governor Harmon for president.