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THE BANNER, FRIDAY MORNING. JULY 28, 1916.
1 ATHENS 6ANNE
Established 1182.
H. J. ROWE, Editor.
DAILY WEEKLY-
BUNDAY
THE ATHENS WEEKLY BANNER
la the afflclal organ of Clarko County
and la mailed to any address for
following rates: Yearly, *1.00:
months, 60 conts; three months,
cents.
All st'bserlptlona are paid In
vanco and remittances may be made
by express, poetofllcs money order
registered letter.
The summer school management Is
already planning to take care of lit-
teen hundred teacher-students next
summer at the summer school of the
University of Georgia.
The meeting of the county super
intendents in this city for a confer
ence with teachers and other com
munity leaders on rural life will bear
fruit in the counties of Georgia.
The meeting of the country and
city editors of the state in Decatur
was the most generally attended and
the best handled convention of the
kind that has been held in the state.
The coming of the State Agricul
tural Society to Athens for Its an
nual session assembles one of the
oldest organizations of the kind
the world—certainly in the United
States.
More and more the campaign mat
ter is drifting from the "communi
cated" columns to the "advertising
columns.” This properly leaves the
editorial columns free to say what
the editor and his people believe
about matters end candidates.
*
The moving picture is extending its
Held of entertainment, cultural value,
and educational services—and soon
the church organizations will find
the movie a means of impressing
truth that could never gain the gen
eral attention which the film will so
licit.
The recent passage by congress
the good roads bill ought to stimulate
every state, every county, and every
road district in every county to bet
ter work along the line of permanent
highways, more consistent mainten
ance, and community pride in the
roads.
Weil, we’ve got the bailiff's race
and the county officers' matter off
hand. We can spend Our undivided
time and attention, enthusiasm and
whoop-’em-up-ablllty to the question
of selecting state legislators, state
senators, congressmen, governor and
and skate bouse officers, solicitors
general, presidents and the like.
Boston held Its fourteenth annual
free horse show and work horse pa
rade on May 30«h. There were 1,600
One-looking horses in the parade, and
moat of them were awarded a ribbon,
first, blue; second, red; third, yellow,
Each blue ribbon winner also receiv
ed a brass medal to be worn as a per
manent ornament on the harness
Join the Chamber of Commerce if
you are already not a member. Your
personal, individual, original coop
eration is needed—whether you di
rectly profit or not there Is a civic,
community duty to perform in taking
part In the stated organizations which
are working for the uplift of the city
—financially, industrially, commer
cially, educationally, end In all other
laudable and worthy lines.
There is one benefit from the cam
palgn year In state or nation—the
educative value. To the thinking cit
izen who can sift the truth from the
chaff, see through the campaign bun
combe, brush aside the purely vote
getting "stuff,” the campaign fs one
which reveals both sides of the great
questions of government and admin
istration. The state will learn more
of the Western and Atlantic Railroad,
Its history, status, and condition,
than has ever been known generally.
The nation will learn more of pre
paredness and non-preparedness and
unprepared new than It has ever
dreamed.
Miserable Happiness.
"Some folks," said Uncle Ebea, "la
so terrible busy tryln' to look like
day was happy dat dey makes delr-
aefs pulllckly miserable.”
When Inclosing Stamps.
Here is a bint for my own benefit
as well as yours: When sending a
postage stamp In a letter Instead of
moistening one corner and sticking It
to the paper, moisten a small spot la
the center of the stamp and the affix
It to your Inclosure. The removal of
a small part of the center of the
glued back In no way impairs the use
fulness of the stamp, but the corner
often tears off.—Exchange.
RURAL CREDITS BILL SIGNED
The farmers of this country should remember that It took a democratic
congress and a democratic president to give them a rural credits bill that
places them on an equal footing with others In this country In regard
finances and gives them opportunities for developing their farms never
fore afforded. This question has been fought out for many years and It
now believed that the federal law will cover all questions of importance
touching this great neod of the fanners of the country.
The bill has been signed by the president and is now a law. It will
put into operation as soon as possible and Its benefits will soon beoomo ap
parent
"In signing this bill." said the president, "I have not only a feeling of pro
found satisfaction but of real gratitude that we have completed this piece
legislation, which I hope will be Immensely beneficial to the farmers of the
country.
"The farmers, it seems to me, have occupied hitherto a singular pooitlon
of disadvantage. They have not had the same freedom to get credit on their
real estate that others have had in manufacturing and commercial enter
prises, and while they have sustained our life, they did not In the same de
gree with others share in the benefits of that life.
"Therefore, this bill, along with the very liberal provisions of the federal
reserve act, puts them on an equality with all others who have genuine as
sets and makes the great credit of the country available to them. One can
not but feel that this delayed Justice to them. Incidentally, It will be of ad
vantage to the investing community, for I can't imagine a more satisfactory
and solid Investment than this system will afford those who have money
to use.”
BIG PARTIES AND WOMAN SUFFRAGE
The women have votes In several of the states and therefore the demo
cratic and republican parties have to sit up and take notice. They must do
their best to placato the women who are demanding suffrage in the other
states and in order to do this both of the big parties have put planks in their
platforms that In a way commit them to woman suffrage but leave loopholes
big enough to crawl through when the pinch comes.
Tho truth Is neither of tho big parties favor woman suffrage but for poll
tical reasons they are not at liberty to say so. They are not in favor of
or they would come out and say so. We agree with them in their opposition
and only regret that the platforms did not speak more specifically. It the
platforms had merely referred the question to the several states and said noth
ing more about it, there would have been no equivocation. That Is the posl
tlon of both the big parties and they might as well have said so.
Mr. Hughes, the republican candidate for the presidency Is flirting with
the ladies on this subject. He Is trying to make them believe that his party
is much more favorable to the woman suffrage proposition than the demo
cratic party. There is nothing to his arguments. Republicans and democrats
alike are opposed to the new idea and the parties just didn't have the nerve
to say so very plainly.
Whether Hughes or Wilson be the next president, the position of the two
big parties will be the same on this issue. Woman suffrage may come somo
of these days but when it comes it will come through the winning of the sev
eral states and not through federal legislation.
"It may be said,” remarked the Brooklyn Citizen, "that Mr. Hughes has
assured the ladies that be is far more liberal than his party and that in what
he said, rather than In any platform declaration lies Uie justification of the
preference which the ladles have expressed for Mm. If Mr. Hughes has
taken upon himself tbw responsibility of giving to the suffragettes, whose
western Yota* he so much desires, promises which the republican convention
declined to make, it will become at once in order to Inquire, first, what value
ought to be attached to his pledges, and second, whether In case of his elec
tion he would feel any mors bound by the other planks of the platform than
by the first one.’’
It seems to ua that somebody ought to warn the ladles against the vote-
catching promises which are likely to be forgotten when the election is over.
It may be that certain of the ladies who waited upon Mr. Hughes are more
devoted to the interests of the republican machine than to the suffrage cause,
hence it would be well for democratic women not to take their word at Its
face value.
TRAINING THE NATIONAL GUARD
It begins to look as It the greater number of the national guardsmen who
save been mobilized will not be sent to the Mexican border at all, but will
be kept in their respective state camps and put in thorough condition to:
service if events should demand IL
This will be disappointing to many of them who were anxious to see
actual service, but In the end will bo better for all concerned, if the country
can be kept out of war with Mexico, which now seems certain to be accom
plished under the handling of the situation by President Wilson.
At the soma time there will bo a resulting boneflt from the mobilization
of the national guard in that those soldiers in camp will be given a thorough
military training that will stand them well in hand In the future should act
ual fighting become necessary.
One trouble with Uncle Sam has always been that, while he had plenty
of material out of which to make the best soldiers in tho world, tho material
was never whipped into shape and in the face of actual war, the na
tion stands at a disadvantage.
The training the soldier boys will receive in their camps throughout the
country will make the national guard much more effective both for service
at home when needed and for sorvlce against any hostile army they may
have to face In the future.
TWO INTERESTING QUESTIONS
The Germans having demonstrated that a merchant submarine can be
sent across the Atlantic with a full cargo In spite of the blockade of the Eng
lish fleet, the next question arising is whether or not the Germans will be
able to send a merchant Zeppelin across the Atlantic with a freight cargo.
That much haa been promised as the next surprise of this great war of sur
prises. Some day soon we are told to look out for a big freight Zeppelin to
drop from the clouds Into New York City.
The submarine development has been proved efflclenL and we believe
the Zeppelin will turn up In due time. There seems to be no limit to the
nerve and the ingenuity of the Kaiser's people.
Will these bearers of freight be of any service after the war is over?
Will the undersea and air route figure In future transportation across the
Atlantic? Theso questions may sound foolish today; tomorrow they may be
answered affirmatively as a matter of course.
The march of human ingenuity has never been interrupted. Each de
cade has Its surprises; each century Its revolution of ideas. Sailing under
the ocean waves and flying over the bosom of the great deep may yet become
very commonplace occurrences.
HELPING NEGRO FARMERS
It is recognized that one of the best ways to elevate the negro la to make
a better farmer of him. No better education can be given to the negro than
that which shows him how to stay away from city dives, how to stay at home
on his little farm and make a good living there for himself and his family.
There are thousands of negroes in Georgia who are learning this lesson
They are waking up to their opportunities and are eagerly grasping for
knowledge of better farming methods.
Quite a large number of them attend farmers’ meetings in different sec
tions of the state. They are having their farmers’ institutes like the white
farmers. Well-informed white farmers are giving them good advice and they
are taking it and applying it.
Of course they are not learning as much as the white race, but they are
learning a number of things and arc making their newly-acquired knowledge
pay them well.
This kind of education for the negro will do him far more good than the
study of the classics. Industrial, not classical education, is the need of the
negro. . - - ;
FOOD RIOTS IN BELGIUM
News of food riots in Belgium and Northern France comes through the
press reports and from what is said of them, It appears that the German
military authorities are causing a good deal of the trouble by their refusal
to allow Dutch products to be sent into Belgium and France.
Under a former agreement Holland was allowed to ship a certain amount
of food products to England and the same amount to Germany. England
then agreed to turn over her share to the relief commission In Belgium. Ger
many refused to allow this, as it would lessen the expense of the English.
As a result thero Is acute suffering in Belgium and Northern France.
The Germans, In putting down the food riots, have driven thousands of the
people from the cities into the rural districts, where they are not welcome,
an those districts have all they can do to supply with food the people already
living there.
The situation could be met If the relief commission could get enough
ships to carry the food into Belgium, but they cannot get them. The sug
gestion has been mado that tho Interned German ships now in American
ports be used under the protection of all the belligerents, but Germany has
vetoed tho suggestion.
If the war lasts through the winter, and the outlook is that It will last
sevoral winters yet. tlfe situation In Belgium and Northern France will be
come very acute by tho approach of cold weather.
THE STATE HIGHWAY COMMISSION
The legislature should get down to business In earnest and pass a high
way commission bill. There seemq to be a great difference of opinion as to
who should compose the commission and on this point it Is thought that the
passage of any commission bill It endangered.
We know It is a difficult matter to bring together a lot of men who havo
diamotrically opposed views of a subject, but he good of the state demands
that these gentlemen sink their personal views and get together on some fair
and equitable basis, so that tbe state of Georgia may have better roads and
may bo put in position to share In the great work of road Improvement that
the federal government has mapped out.
We have our Ideas as to {he best bill, but are not hidebound about them.
What is needed is a highway commission that will meet the requirements of
the federal act and that will give to the state thorough and efficient service
at the least cost. The legislature can work out this problem If It will, and
the people of the state are expecting it to work It out
WILL THEY GET TOGETHER?
The house and senate seem to be far apart as to their views of the naval
construction problem. Whether or not they will be able to get together be
fore the time for the adjournment of congress remains to be seen. At pres
ent It appears that thore will have to be a considerable amount of conces
sion on both sides before any bill Is passed up to the president for his signa
ture.
Tho house wants to build no battloshlps, the senate wants to build ten
battleships within the next three years; the house wants five battlecruisers,
the senate six; the house wants four scout cruisers, the senate, ten; the
house wants ten destroyers, the senate, fifty, etc.
The total house program calls for seventy-two vessels, while tho senate
wants one hundred and fifty-seven. With such a difference of opinion there
will be a lively fight before a bill Is finally agreed on.
The senate evidently has learned well the lesson of preparedness and Is
going In for naval construction on a big scale. The house Is In favor of
preparedness, but thinks the nat'm had better go a little less rapidly. Just
now the senato is doing the talking, presently the house will begin to talk
also.
The outcome Is awaited by the American people with much Interest.
made will not be stopped through lack of power to acquire property outside
the city limits and protect the watershed that will be drained by the creek
that will furnish the water for the new reservoir.
This means much to the city and the Banner Is glad that all differences
of opinion have been set aside and the bill sent on Its way to passago by tho
legislature.
City Engineer Barnett Is already at work on the improvements and for
several weeks tho construction of the big dam has been under way. When
completed these improvements will give Athens a source of water that win
be ample in every way. It will also insure a pure supply as well as an am
ple supply.
The citizens voted tho necessary bonds with perfect willingness and they
now have a right to expect a water supply that will be pure and adequate.
We do not in the least doubt that they will get It when the now Improve
ments are finished.
RURAL EDUCATION IN GEORGIA
Every year during the session of the University Summer School there is
held a most interesting Rural Education Conference at which the leading
educators of the state gather and discuss the problems that confront those
who are working for the educational uplift of the masses of the people of tho
state.
These conferences from the very beginning havo been of the greatest
good. They get better and better each year and tho educational leaders of
the state are coming to fully realize their Importance as a help towards the
solution of many of the most vexatious problems that beset the school sys
tem of the state.
There Is always much of value in the interchange of ideas and to a largo
degree that Is what the rural education conference held annually In this city
means. Theso citizens from all over tho state have different problems to
grapple with and they gain much knowledge as to the handling of these prob
lems by meeting here and discussing them.
The conference this year is well attended. The work being doae is of
tbe highest order. The reports from tho different superintendents shows that
rural education in Georgia Is distinctly on the advance. It has much to do
yet. There are thousands of things to be done to make It better, but many
of these things havo been done in the past and many of them are now being
done. Every year witnesses a distinct advance and the children of the state
are getting better and better chances to secure an education.
Through the work of those interested In rural education illiteracy In
Georgia Is being rapidly wiped out. It will take a number of years to accom
plish this but a good start has been made and there is no retrogression.
SHOULD PASS THE APPROPRIATIONS
The University of Georgia is asking at the hands of the legislature two
hundred and three thousand dollars this session, not for the central Institu
tion here in Athens, but for the branch colleges. The University wants a
new heating plant, but in order to make sure the appropriation of the sura
above mentioned, withdrew its request for the heating plant for this session
and centered its fight on the request for tbe branch colleges.
The legislature is asked to appropriate one hundred thousand dollars to
build two -buildings at the State Normal School, one for a dormitory, the oth
er for an administration building and class rooms. Also for fifty thousand
dollars for a new dormitory at the Georgia Normal and Industrial College at
MllledgevlUe and fifty thousand dollars for a new building tor the South
Georgia Normal College at Valdosta. Also three thousand dollars to provide
an addition to the library building at the Technological School.
Tho bouse has already passed the Valdosta bill by a practically unani
mous vote. The three other bills should go the same way. The University
trustees at their annual session in this city last month went Into this ques
tion of appropriations in a very thorough manner. There Is not the shadow
of a doubt about the need for all that Is asked and more, If the work of these
splendid normal schools Is to go forward.
Every dollar spent In the way asked by the University trustees means an
Increase of efficiency of the schools In Georgia that are turning out tho
teachers who are to make the common schools more efficient The advocates
of the common schools would do well to see that only in this way can those
schools ever be built up to the highest standard.
The cry of hard times, condition of the treasury, etc., should not he
ralBcd against the appropriations. Georgia is rich enough to take care of
these appropriations If they are made and we believe the house and senate
are of the mind to make them.
WORK OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The people of Athens scarcely realize the great work that Is being done
for the city by the Athens Chamber of Commerce. They do not realize this
bocause not enough of them are members of that body and do not keep up
with what it Is doing.
There never has been a time In the history of the organization which is
now more than thirteen-years old when it did not do its part toward building
up tbe city, but of late years the work of the organization has been on a
larger and more effective scale and today tho members are taking more In
terest in It than ever.
There is no movevment of public Interest that arises that does not re
ceive the active support of tbe body and in most Instances the movements
are originated by the body Itself.
It is not necessary to recount the great work of this organization, how
It has advanced the Interests of the city for many years and what It Is now
doing. If the business community would wake up and give it a still more
loyal support than it now receives it could do better and better work.
It Is true that many of the business men do support It and yet Its mem
bershlp could be larger and the larger the membership and tho greater the
Interest of the members the better work can be done.
The meetings of the Chamber of Commerce are always full of Interest
and It would be much better for the city It a larger proportion of the mem
bership attended these meetings. Many of the members pay their dues and
give their faithful aid and do not attend the meetings. By this they weaken
the work of the organization. Their presence and active support Is really
worth much more than their money.
Every citizen of Athena should back up the Chamber of Commerce In Its
work. In that way they will receive benefits, if not directly, certainly in an
Indirect manner. There is nothing that advances a city more than an active
trade body well supported by the people of the city.
WATERWORKS IMPROVEMENT
The passage of the city waterworks bill by the house and its certain pas
sage by the senate makes sure that the Improvements that are now being
IN THE INTEREST OF SHIPPERS
A meeting of vast importance to the shippers of Athens was held yester
day by the Chamber of Commerce Jointly with representatives of tho Atlanta
Freight Bureau, business men of Atlanta, who are Interested In their state
and its welfare.
Theso gentlemen were hore for no other purpose than to arouse and aid
the wholesale merchants and shippers to a point where they will see tho Im
portance of the rate question in Georgia which, if promulgated, will effect
every line of shippers in the state.
These gentlcmcmn explained the condition as is now facing the commer
cial Interests of tho state as proposed by the carriers and urged that Athens
shippers Join with the representatives of other sections of the stato in de
manding that the rates be Just and equitable.
It Is not a sectional fight or for the interest of any one city or town, but
the change is far-reaching and every city and town In the state would be ef
fected similarly should the schedule which has been tiled with tbe railroad
commission be approved by that body.
In order to meet the argument of the transportation companies before
the railroad commission, much work will have to be done. The railroads
have since February kept a large force of clerks busy preparing data of all
kinds In connection with the proposed rates, while the shippers have done
little on account of the lack of organization and funds with which to pre
pare information to be used before the commission. However, tbe members
pared Information to be used before the commission. However, the members
of the Atlanta Freight Bureau have not been asleep and through their offi
cers much work has been done gathering data and such Information as wiU
be valuable in the argument against the proposed changes. Other towns and
cities hare contributed liberally towards this expense and they will do more.
If It is necessary. Athens has been asked to contribute five hundred dollars
for thds purpose. It Is Just that Athens should and It Is believed that sbo »’ l[
for the Athens spirit haa never tailed to prevail when she has been call- 11
upon.
It Is not a fight to destroy the railroads, but to Investigate tbe mliter of
proposed rates, thoroughly and, If possible, keep the revised rates from dl s
criminating to points in this state. The shippers are only asking for a ,alr
and equitable adjustment and it Is believed that that the railroad commlssioa
will see that rates agreed upon will be fair both to the shipper and the c» r
rlers.
of said county, deceased and the ap-1 been due ana unpsia ior mom uuu>i ,
praisers duly appointed to set apart I six weeks, the directors of said com-1 the property of the defendants In n I
aaid additional vrera* anooort for sack’aanr hare ordered the loan foreclosed I fa. Moore ft Bona, to satisfy a 11 fa I taught us to beware of definition