Winder weekly news. (Winder, Jackson County, Ga.) 18??-1909, June 03, 1909, Image 1
VOL. XVII.
SO SAYETH THE LAW.
Prominent Citizens Sentenced to Ten
v Days on Winder’s Streets—A
Card From Mr. R. L. Rog
ers Concerning Trial
Monday night the mayor’s court
room was crowded to hear the trial
of cases docketed against prominent
citizens for alleged violations of the
following ordinance:
‘‘Be it ordained by the mayor
and council of the city of Winder,
and it is hereby ordained by au
thority of the same
“That on and after the psssage
of this ordinance it shall be un
lawful for any person, firm or corr
poration to empty water or filth of
any character through any water
pipe, sewer or other drainage pipe
from any place of business or from
a private residence on any private
lot in said city, or into any street
or ditch in said city of Winder,
and it shall be unlawful for any
person, firm or corporation to use
a pipe or sewer or other drainage
conveyance for the disposition of
water or other matter unless such
drainage conveyance empties into
a running stream of water.”
It will be noticed that a strict en
forcement of the above ordinance
makes it unlawful for a business
man to serve soda water through a
straw, but the authorities were de
termined that every one should live
up.to the letter of the law, and
cases had been made against the
following well known citizens and
firms: L. M. Leathers, R. L. Rog
ers, Gem Grocery Cos., Turner’s
Pharmacy, Herrin Bros., S. E.
Sharpton, A. E. Bush, Mrs. Z F.
Stanton, N. J. Kelly, Job R- Smith,
W. T. Robinson, D. D. Kesler,
T. A. Robinson, W. O. Perry,
A. Y. Eavenson, W. L. Bush,
N. M. Gomez.
The cases came up for trial before
his honor the mayor Monday night
and Judge W. C. Thomas and Col.
T. J. Shackelford, of Athens, were
on hand to represent the defendants
while Col. Johns, city attorney,
did the oratorical stunt for the city.
Three cases were tried before the
mayor, Turner’s Pharmacy, N. M.
Gomez and R. L. Rogers, and each
defendant fined $5.75 or ten days
on the streets. It seems to be all
right to scatter slops over the streets
of Winder, but all wrong to run
them through a pipe, and as a con
sequence some of the public thor
oughfares are becoming very offen
sive in spots and a menace to the
health of the town, the First Na
tional Bank block, for instance.
By request Mr. R. L- Rogers
furnished us with the following
synopsis of his case and the trial
thereof:
“In justice to myself and for the
information of those who are inter
ested in the welfare of the city of
Winder and especially in the inter
est of those who have put in water
works, I wish to make a statement
in regard to my arrangements be
fore the mayor for violation of a
sanitary ordinance by putting wa
ter through a drainage pipe on a
private lot without the approval
of the sanitary committee. Now
in the beginning I wish to say that
I made no fight, but simply tried to
put my case in the hands of a just
and fair minded mayor and asked
for an investigation. The mem
bers of the board of health and the
tUinfter U)cchlu iXcius.
WINDER. JACKSON COUNTY. GEORGIA. THURSDAY. JUNE 3. 1909
sanitary committee visited my
premises making a thorough inves
tigation of the situation. When
the case was called Chief Policeman
Copeland was called first to testify
as to the sanitary conditions. The
mayor had just previously stated
that the sanitary conditions and
general laws of health were the only
things for his consideration in these
cases. Mr. Copeland stated in a
general way that the sewer pipe
and drainage leading out from my
residence was in very good condi
tion and that he did not think it
would endanger the health of any
one- Then the star witness of the
evening, Mr. M. J. Griffeth was
called, the first and only witness
who testified under oath in any
case that he was seriously damaged.
He stated that the health of those
living in the vicinity was endan
gered from the foul odor arising
from the sewer and that his prop
erty was damaged from the filth
that poured out over it. His evidence
had great weight with the mayor,
for upon his evidence alone the
charges against the defendant and
all other evidence were absolutely
ignored and a fine imposed for an
offense with which the defendant
was not charged. It was clearly
proven bv such members of the
Board of Health and sanitary com
mittee as Dr. S. T. Ross, Messrs.
C. M. Ferguson and H. T. Hodges
ih it the sanitary conditions with
the sewerage system and water
works were very much better than
they were under former conditions
and that there was no foul odor to
endanger the health of any one-
It was clearly proven that the
prevailing conditions were greatlv
improved, and yet the sole state
ment of Mr. Griffeth in his own
behalf absolutely set aside all the
charges in the indictment and all
the evidence. The mayor in render
ing his verdict told the defendant
that he was a “mighty fine man
and a powerful good citizen” and
that he knew there was no inten
tion of doing wrong and that the
sanitary conditions on the premises
were good. Yet the mayor says
“Here’s where we’ve got you. Mr.
Griffeth says you have damaged
him and I will fine you $5.75 or
ten days on the streets.” The
astronomers say this whole universe
is moving toward the constellation
Lyra at the rate of 2,262,000 miles
a day. I wish some of the wise
men would visit our city court a
time or two and tell us which way
it is moving and with what veloc-
ity. ’ ’
Mr. Rogeis lives one-half mile
from the center of the city
and had fited up a sewer
age system of his own, running his
drainage pipe to a patch of woods
some two hundred yards fiou the
house, and there are charges just
as unreasonable against other citi
zens of Winder.
There is only one solution to the
whole affair and that is an early
installation of a sewerage system.
To our mind the death of one citi
zen or the reputation of the town
as a healthy place to live overshad
ows all the howling against high
taxation. Let the “Chinks” in
Corea take care of themselves just
for a short space of time —until we
look after the health and schooling
of our own children.
Miss Runette Wescott, who has
been visiting her sister, Mrs. W. H,
Toole, returned to her home in
Macon.
VIOLETT AND CHARITON AT WINDER
From Georgia Christian Messenger.
On April 18th, Brothers Yio
lett and Charlton began a revival
at this place with bright prospects,
this being the first meeting held
in our elegant new church. The
church was united and hopeful.
Judicious advertising was done and
large crowds came to hear the
evangelist. Just as the interest
began to grow and souls began
to accept the Saviour, organized
sectarian opposition began and
continued through the entire
meeting of 25 days. This op
position was lead by the secta
rian preachers of the town, yet
we won a signal victory in every
way —there were 39 added to the
body and the church filled with
enthusiasm-
Bro. Violett is one of the very
best evangelists in our brotherhood.
He knows the Bible, believes
the Bible and relies on the Bi
ble as God's power to save a
lost world. He is eloquent, force
ful and attractive. He keeps
sweet and is kind under all cir
cumstances. No church will be
disappointed in E. E. Violett.
Our people are delighted with
out an exception. This was a
great meeting for Winder, when
you consider we have only 3,000
white people and that one field
was w r ell gleaned a year ago.
Bro. Frank M. Charlton is a
sweet singer and led the music
to the delight and satisfaction of
all. We take pleasure in com
mending him as worthy in every
way. Georgia would like to adopt
these men as her very own.
J. H. Wood, Minister.
PATHFINDERS EXPECTED HERE.
The Journal-New York Herald
pathfinders are having a rough time
in Georgia today on account of the
heavy rains of last night and this
morning.
Yesterday evening Mayor Ca
rithers received a message from the
Journal that the pathfinders would
spend Thursday night here, and
about the same time Mr. W. H.
Toole received word that a party of
four from Atlanta left Lawrence
ville at 6:30 o’clock bound for
Winder en route to meet the tour
ists. The Atlanta party, composed
•
of Hon. Charles I. Ryan, R. C.
Clarke and Ralph Smith became lost
in Gwinnett county and finally
rolled up to the house of Prof.
Williams,about ten miles from town
and spent the night, arriving here
at 10 o’clock this morning. They
are stopping at the Granite hotel,
and when called upon by the edi
tor seemed to be taking life easy-
Mr. Ryan had just received a tele
gram from Mr. Cohen stating that
the pathfinders would be here this
morning, but at the time we go to
press there is nothing doing.
The mayor had made arrange
ments to send an escort to Com
merce to meet the Herald-Journal
party and pilot them to the city
and had expressed an intention of
killing a mule and having it barbe
cued for the occasion, but the heavy
reins seem to have washed away
every vestige of all programs. The
cars are expected to arrive hourly.
About fifty bushels of whippoor.
will peas on hand. Order now-
They are going fast. June H.
Wood, Carl, Ga.
A STRENUOUS WEEK.
Board of Educatton Holds lip Robe
son’s Appointment as School Su
perintendent and “Religious
Brethren” Get Busy.
Winder is having a circus and the
bear dance is on-
With prominent citizens being ar
rested and arraigned before the may
or for the alleged improper disposi
tion of their soapy waters and the
board of education up in the air as
to the election of a school superin
tendent, Winder is filled with excite
ment and the erstwhile good Gov
ernment League has taken to the
tall timber.
Personal and religious interests
are so closely woven together around
Winder’s center circus pole that it is
mighty hard to clear away the rub
bish without touching a live wire.
The consensus of opinion is that
the main cause of the present bear
dance is the fierce struggle for po
litical supremacy being waged by
the three principal church organiza
tions of the .town.
About a year ago Willis Perry,
now a memlier of the board of ed
ucation, published an article in the
News intimating that sectarianism
dominated the board. Immediate
ly the “leading religious brothers”
raised their bristles and the air be
came murky with disorder and dis
sension. Matters grew from bad to
worse until it was feared by some
that Prof. J. T. Walker, Methodist,
then pincipal of the school, would
lose his mind.
At the conclusion of one year of
Walker’s superintendency the board
l>egan searching for a Moses to lead
it out of tire wilderness and fell upon
Prof E- J. Robeson, Methodist, of
Gainesville. He refused to come
at $1,250 unless the board guaran
teed his appointment the next year
at $1,500, provided his work proved
satisfactory. This the board did
unanimously, and it is so stated on
the minutes, reading as follows:
“Salary of Prof- E. J- Robeson
$1,250, for the first yer and if ser
vices satisfactory, to be retained at
$1,500 second year.”
The board was composed at that
time of G. W. DeLaperriere, A. A.
Camp, T. A. Robinson,Methodists;
R. L. Carithers, Baptist; W. H.
Quarterman, Presbyterian; R. H.
Cannon, Christian church; G. A.
Johns, no affiliation.
During the year Messrs. A. A.
Camp and G. W. DeLaperriere,
Methodists, were dropped from the
board and W. 0- Perry, Deciple of
Christ, and S. W. Arnold, Baptist,
elected in their stead by a very “re
ligious council.”
The school year under the guid
ance of Proffessor Robeson had been
marked by its harmony and discip
line and the members of the board
individually and collectively dec
lared that his work was perfectly
satisfactory.
There was rotadtud alcng th
horizon until after the commence
ment exercises. Then the board
met to select teachers for the sue.
ceeding year and refused point blank
to honor its contract with Proffesor
Robeson, not even giving him the
courtesy of an appearance to state
wheth' rhe would accept the posi
tion at the same salary he had been
recieving, but appointed a distant
day upon which they would meet to
select a superintendent.
Then it was’that small clusters of
YOUNG MEN ENTERTAIN.
The Winder Young Men’s Club
gave its initial entertainment Fri
day evening from 9 to ll:30o’clock
at the club rooms over Turner’s
Pharmacy. The rooms had l>een tas
tily decorated for the occagsion with
potted plants and cirt flowers nd
varied refreshments and delicacies
were served throughout the evening.
In the receiving party were Mr.
and Mrs. W. L Blasingame, Mr.
and Mrs. R. L. Carithers and Mr.
and Mrs. W- L. Jackson- The
punch bowl placed in the hall ad
joining the club rooms was presided
over by Misses Starr Blasingame
and Annette Quillian. The invited
guest were profuse in their expres
sion of appreciation to the young
men for the pleasures of the evening,
and many were the words of praise
they rcc ived for handing them
selves together for mutual benefit
and entertainment of their friends.
The directors of the club request
us to thank those who so kindly as
sisted in making the reception a suc
cess —the ladies in decorating the
room, the receiving party, the girls
who presided at the punch bowl,
Messrs. Flanigan & Flanigan for
the loan of a handsome piano, and
to Jim Saunders for his thoughtful
ness as to every detail of entc r ain
ing, than whom there is none bet
ter.
Those enjoying the hospitality of
the club were: Misses Ruby Ca
rithers, Callie Saunders, Ruth Ca
rithers, Ethel Jackson, Maggie Ruth
Phipps, Estelle King, Gussie
O’Neal, Ora Lee Camp, Johnnie
Lou Smith, Pauline Camp, Lizzie
Cooper, Starr Blasingame, Annette
Quillian, Messrs. B. A. Julian,
M. E. Sisk, J. W. Saunders, F. J.
MeKibben, Cupid Potts, L. E. Her
rin, Carey Downing, G. C. Moseley,
C. S. Hipp, R. H. Nowell, G. D.
Ross, Rev. and Mrs. W- T. Hun
nieutt, Rey. J. H. Wood, Mr. and
Mrs. C. M. Furguson, Mr. and
Mrs. W. L. Jackson, Mr- and Mrs.
W. L. Blasingame, Mr. and Mrs.
R. L. Carithers, Homer Smith, Mr.
and Mrs. G. A- Johns, Mr. and
Mrs. E. A. Bush.
men could be seen here and there
upon the streets jesticulating and
“argufying” and the common sin
ners stood in open-mouthed wonder
watching the blue smoke as it as
sended from the bunches of “reli
gious brethren.” They demanded
that something “be did” and “did’,
immediately, but the board contin
ued to spar for time and feel the
pulse of the people until petitions
and counter petitions were circula
ted from house to house. A glance
at the signatures upon the partisan
petitions reminded cne of being
called upon to read the roasters of
the different churches- The board
made two umsuccesful attempts to
adjust matters and on the third day
the cock crew, Professor Robeson
being selected as superintendent at
SI ,200 and given until today to send
•
in his reply.
We have it upon good authority
that Professor Robeson has accepted
the appointment at the reduced sal
ary and will act as the balance
wheel for another year.
It is now openly charged that
their is religion and “religious com
bines” in the board. Mayl>e so, but
for the life of us we fail to detect
either the spirit of the golden rule
or an imitation of the life of the
lowly Nazarine in the actions of
“the brethren.”
NO. II