Newspaper Page Text
PLATFORM
Of Joseph M. Brown For
Governor.
Stands for Modification of Rail*
road Commission Law—Pro
hibition Lump,- Sum
Pension Law. Against
Lobbying, Etc.
i
Hon. Joseph M. Brown, of
Marrietta, former railroad com
missioner, yesterday issued an
announcement to the people of
Georgia of his candidacy for gov
ernor, subject to the democratic
primary of June 4.
There has been considerable
talk of late in the state press of
the prospective candidacy of Mr.
Brown, but until his announce
ment was forthcoming consider
able doubt was expressed that he
would conclude to make the race.
There does not appear to be any
question, however, that Mr.
Brown has given the matter
much careful consideration in the
last two or three weeks, the re
sult of which is his conclusion'to
oppose Governor Smith before
the June primary.
Mr. Brown’s announcement of
his candidacy and outline of his
platform are as follows:
“To the People, of Georgia:
Although I have unexpectedly
received a great number of let
ters, petitions and spoken re
quests, representing many thous
ands of people, a large majority
of whom are farmers, laboring
men, manufacturers and business
men, to allow the use of my name
as a candidate for governor of
Georgia, subject to the primary,
June 4,. As compliance involves
possibly a change in the practices
and plans of a lifetime, I have
refrained from announcing a de
cision, hoping that some other
candidate would come to the
front. But as that hope has not
been realized, I have been forced
to the conclusion that it is my
duty to obey the call which my
fellow citizens have made.
“In determining the question
of the advisability of making the
race, I carefully considered the
claim of certain adherents of the
present administration that the
fixed policy of the state is to give
the incumbent of the governor’s
office a second term as a matter
of course since the adoption of
the constitution of 1877. That
instrument limits the term to two
years, and precedent cannot
amend it so as to stretch a term
into four years. And if it could
the best interests of the people
demand its revocation where the
administration involved, either
through design or lack of knowl
edge, has wrought disaster to the
prosperity of the people. Gov
ernment should not only be ‘of
the people, ’ but ‘for the people. ’
As to Second Term Precedent.
“Furthermore, in his published
statement that he would not en
ter the race for United States
senator, the present governor
did not base his declination on
the ground that he was under an
obligation of honor to serve the
second term. That declination
was upon entirely other reasons.
Hence, if he be free to ignore
it, how can it be binding on the
democratic party as to him? If
he has the option to accept it or
not, the party has the option to
tender it or not.
“But in his speech at Decatur,
March 9 he enumerated among
the official plans he has for the
future, the enactment of the so
called ‘port rates.’ These rates,
if made effective, mean the ruin
of the industries of Georgia, and,
as a corollary, the destruction of
the nearby markets for farmers
of our ow T n state. It is thererore
imperative to Georgia that this
plan should be made impossible
of fulfillment, since the mere
threat of it and kindred declara
tions has wrought serious disas
ter to our poeple.
Mr. Brown’s Platform.
“If elected, I shall give the
people an administration charac
terized by the strictest economy,
and shall favor the following
measures:
‘l. A return to the payment
in one sum of confederate pen
sions, such as prevailed before
the advent of the present state
administration..
“2. The reduction of taxation
as quickly and to as great an ex
tent as can be made practicable.
‘ ‘3. The regulation of the rail
roads. This should be done with
firmness, but with judgment,
.holding equally in mind the rights
of the public who travel and ship,
of the stockholders who own the
properties and of the lives and
fair wages of the employees.
“4. The proper support of all
public institutions.
“5. As liberal appropriations
for the common schools as the
public finances will allow.
The Railroad Commission.
“6. Changes in the railroad
commission law, viz.: First, the
repeal of those parts which give
the commission jurisdiction over
such local institutions as tele
phones, gas and electric lighting
plants, cotton compresses and
street railways. Secondly, to in
sert the requirement that one of
the commissioners shall be a rate
expert, and to repeal that section
providing for a rate expert not a
commissioner, thus saving $4,-
000 per annum in that office.
Thirdly, to compel railroads to
properly light and heat passenger
stations and to require equitable
demurrage rules.
“7. The establishment of a de
partment of labor.
As To Prohibition
‘ ‘B. The strict enforcement of
the present prohibition law. If
OKjr P° ss^e Cotton Crop Jp
of the best possible quality, h the aim of
every enterprising cotton planter. And 1
“i* 33 easy as rolling down hill” if you
L# Virginia-Carolina J
:J§ Fertilizers
Is there any reason why you cannot do just as well as Mr.
f James M. Swint, of Chipley, Ga., who used 600 lbs. per i|
1 acre of Virginia-Carolina Fertilizers on his cotton crop? J&
He gathered one and a half bahs of cotton per /A
acre, and there were more bolis yet to open. A <|||
i wY This i3 the experience of hundreds of other cotton
S planters. Careful preparation of your soil, and liberal ***%
m use of high grade Virginia-Carolina Fertilizers will I
r| surely “increase yovryields per acre.” Numerous un.
|§ prejudiced authorities tell how it is done in the new ' Bii&M
m: Virginia-Carolina Farmers’ Year Book or Almanac,
§ji a copy of which may be secured from your fertil- 1
Hi i?er dealer, or from our nearest sales-office. A**, if
%'■ An interesting picture of Mr. Swint’s 21 M
cotton will be found in this Year Book. |p
Virginia-Carolina Chemical
Columbia, S. C. Baltimore, Md.' V M &L 1
Atlanta, Ga. Columbus, Ga.
the people in the coming election
choose members of the general
assembly who, in accordance with
the will of their constituents,
make any changes in the present
law, I will sign the bill thus
ordered by the people.
“9. The enactment of a law
against lobbying, so as to pre
serve the purity of our legislative
system, the same as the purity of
our jury system.
“10 The encouragement, by a
proper administration of the laws,
of the agricultural, mercantile
and manufacturing industries of
the state. The assurance, not
only to citizens of this state, but
to citizens of other states, that
all capital invested in ligitimate
enterprises in Georgia shall have
the equal protection of the laws
and the equal friendly considera
tion of those who administer the
laws of Georgia.
Undesirable Immigration
“11. The discouragement by
all legal methods of undesirable
immigration.
“I make no promise that I in
dividually, or in my official cap
acity, will accomplish any of the
results above indicated, for, while
one man, if he be governor, may
cripple and possibly wreck the
prosperity of the state, it rej
quires the co-operation of the
people and the executive to re
store confidence and upbuild that
which has been prostrated.
Hence, I should ask your earnest
co-operation. I confess that I
have none of the arts of the
politician, and no great news
paper to urge my candidacy, but
I have faith in the people.
“In conclusion, let us unite to
prove that Georgia will be just
to all whose citizenship, or in
vestments, are within her
borders. Let us unite to restore
employment, with good wages,
to those who are now the .un
merited victims of an unnecessary
panic. Let us unite to prevent
cotton from falling to an un
profitable price. Let us unite to
bring back prosperity to Georgia.
Respectfully, your fellow citizen,
JOSEPH M. BROWN.
. Marietta, Ga., March 18, 1908.
Bailey & Jones
Can accommodate you to your satisfac
tion if you need anything furnished by a
Livery Stable
Their material is first-class and their prices
are as good as you can find anywhere.
GULL Him SEE THEN
GO TO
Middle Georgia Lumber and Man’g Cos.
H. F. GILMORE, Manager
FOR ALL KINDS OF BUILDING MATERIALS
FOR GOOD WORK AND LOW PRICES
t
Flooring, 95c per hundred: No. 2. Shingles, $1.90 per
thousand and No 1 Shingle at $3.75.
We make all kinds of Sash, Doors, Blinds, Screens, all kinds of
mouldings, brackets, baluster, etc. All kinds of turned and sawed
work. See us when you want any building material.
WE HAVE JUST RECEIVED
Tfls Best Lot of Georgia
YOU HAVE EVER SEEN.
We bought this diredt from
the quarries and we can
build you any design
you like.
This industry was started for
your benefit as well as
ours, so if you want
to mark the rent
ing place of
your loved one, let us hear
from you. We can save
you money.
When in town call around and inspect
our stock and work. We have a nice line of
urns and vases in stock.
Yours to serve,
Jaekson maiDle Cos.