Newspaper Page Text
Jackson Progress - Argus
PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY
J. DOYLE JONES
Editor and Publisher
Entered as second-class matter at
the Post Office at Jacksen, Ga.
TELEPHONE NO. 166
OFFICIAL ORGAN BUTTS COUN
TY AND CITY OF JACKSON
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
IN ADVANCE
One year $1.60
Six Months >76
Single Copies
Ten cent cotton is doing much to
drive away the blues.
A governor, congressmen, state
bouse officers and local officers will
be elected during 1934i The list of
offices to be filled is sufficient to
warrant an interesting campaign.
Fifteen cent cotton this fall will
lx mighty fine. The people of the
.South can help to bring this about
by reducing acreage and by consum
ing more cotton goods. It is work
well worth the effort.
Editor J. W. McWhorter has sold
his, interest in the Winder News to
Thos. M. Sewell, effective January
1, Mr. McWhorter, prominent Win
der banker, is one of the state’s best
known and most interesting writers.
Ilia retirement means a loss to the
Georgia press.
There is not the same rush this
season to secure three dollar auto
mobile tags. Last year when that
rate was put into effect people
stormed the capitol. For one thing,
the people know they can get the
tags when they want them and that
the price will not be increased.
The winter rains are needed. The
aid year ended with a deficiency in
moisture of some 12 inches. Many
weds were about to dry up and
streams were low. We hope the
rains come this winter instead of
next summer. A wet summer and the
boll weevil would play a big part in
cutting the cotton crop.
Raak.s, national and state, used big
space last week to let the world know
deposits are insured. Some of the
banks took a page to tell the glad
tidings. It is the best news the banks
have been able to publish in their
entire history. The guarantee of bank
deposits begins anew chapter in the
financial history of the country.
' Bank deposits are increasing and
they will continue to increase be
cause the people now have faith in
the hanks since the government in
sures the deposts. That was the one
thing needed, to . restore confidence
ie the financial institutions of the
country. Nor can the people be
blamed for their loss of faith in
banks both large and small. If de
posits had been insured all along the
country would have been spared
much suffering and hardships.
The Average Man—neither the
rich nor the very poor—is not
fooled, by all the bluster that is
ew taking place. He knows by ex
perience that when the huge debts
ue paid he will be the one to do the
paying. By skillful manipulation in
one way and another the rich and
powerful escape their just share of
taxation and the down and out pay
nothing worth mentioning. But the
average man pays and pays and he
it is who balances all the budgets
and keeps the machinery of govern
ment running.
Next to the opening of Jackson
National Bank on a normal basis, the
most constructive news citizens of
Butts county have recently received
is the announcement that the local
pepper factory will be operated this
season. That’s the kind of news we
Kko to hear. Butts county farmers
have been in the pepper game from
the first and they know how* to grow
smlity pepper. Since the cotton acre
age is to be sharply cut the income
ffcom pepper will go a long ways to
assure a dependable cash income for
Letts county farmers.
Jasper and Putnam counties have
been selected for the model farm
colony. An important part of the
success of the enterprise will be
transportation. The model farm must
be opened up by good roads.
This is a powerful argument for a
bridge across the Ocmulgee river be
tween Butts and Jasper counties. It
L? no use for the government to
spend millions on model farm and
then hide the farm. Open up the
firm to the public. The new bridge
will be needed now more than ever
before. The officials of the counties
interested should get busy at once
ar.d put over this project in the
shortest time possible.
Dr. J. M. Sutton, state veterinari
an, seems to have won in his contest
with the governor and commissioner
of agriculture. Dr. Sutton is a high
type man and has rendered the state
faithful and efficient service. By all
odds the veterinary department is
the most useful and constructive of
all branches of the department of
agriculture. Keep that branch intact
and abolish the rest of the politics
lidden department and the people of
Georgia would not suffer. The live
stock industry is one of Georgia’s
largest and most important activities
and millions of dollars are invested.
The livestock industry is large and
important enough to be protected
and fostered. More power to Dr.
Sutton.
The gold mine you are looking for
is right here in Georgia—in Jackson
and Butts county—and not in Wash
ington. By no possible stretch of thj
imagination can prosperity be creat
ed in Washington by laws and be
distributed to the country. The
strength of America during all the
years has been the honesty and rug
ged integrity of its citizens. This is
true now and will be true to the
last. When you as a citizen settle
your problems, and the other fellow
settles his and we all settle ours,
then there will be nothing to worry
about in Washington. To the gov
ernment w r e owe our first allegiance
and it is our duty to support it. It
is not the duty of the government
to support us. This idea ought to sink
in and take root in the hearts and
brains of the people of America.
CONRATULATIONS
The Greensboro Herald-Journal
has entered its seventieth year. Edi
tor J. C. Williams has been connect
ed with the paper since 1906. The
Greensboro Herald-Journal is one of
the plain and outspoken papers of
the state and shoots straight from
the shoulder on all questions and all
issues.
With the January issue the Carroll
County Times, with J. J. Thomasson
as editor, begins its sixty-third vol
ume. Mr. Thomasson is a veteran
among the editors of the state and
writes interestingly and construc
tively on all questions of the day.
To Mr. Williams and Mr. Thomas
son and the splendid papers they rep
resent The Progress-Argus extends
sincere congratulations and greetings
of the new year. Both are a credit to
Georgia journalism.
MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIREC
TION
The Butts County Board of Edu
cation is to be congratulated in mov
ing for anew building for the Jen
kinsburg school center. With the aid
of Civil Works Administration funds,
supplemented by county revenue, it
is proposed to erect a model plant
to serve that thriving section. The
project has long been needed.
In the city of Jackson plans are
being considered for anew school
building, with auditorium and gym
nasium. The project, a badly needed
one, is a challenge to the community
to do its part.
Since the Civil Works Administra
tion is here to stay and federal funds
are being spent at the rate of a mil
lion dollars a week in Georgia, it
seems the part of wisdom to spend
part of this money for permanent
improvements. When bridges, schools,
libraries, health centers are built
they will be here long after the usual
run of work is forgotten. Two main
things art to be considered: Work
THE JACKSON PROGRESS- ARGUS. JACKSON, GEORGIA
must be provided for those otherwise
unable to obtain employment; the
permanency of the work.
There is no denying the fact that
there has been a lot of hit and miss
work being done all over the coun
try. This probably could not be help
ed, for the situation was urgent and
it was not possible to plan the work
with a view to permanent improve
ments/Now that the work is better
organized it seems that work of a
lasting nature wherever possible
should be undertaken.
No doubt the people of the com
munity are to blame for not securing
permanent improvements. In some in
stances the work has been openly op
posed, because of the wage scale or
for other reasons, and in many cases
the people simply have not concerned
themselves at all, being willing to al
low the relief committees to handle
the whole program. Every good citi
zen—who in the end will have to
pay the bills—should become inter
ested in this matter and give the
benefit of his suggestions to those
in charge. It is a time when careful
planning is needed.
TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT
By J. D. JONES
Speaking of living at home and
being independent and all that sort
of thing, they tell this one on one
of middle Georgia’s substantial far
riers: On the first of the year he
bought a gallon of kerosene oil and
obtained a copy of Grier’s Almanac
and is now fixed for the rest of the
year.
The Hon. Fitzhugh Penn, mayor
cf Monticello, fox hunter and editor
of the Monticello News, in the first
issue of his paper for 1934 wished
everybody a happy new year. His
list seemed all-inclusive. Here’s the
same to you, Fitz. The only request
we have to make is that you help us
get that bridge across the Ocmul
gee. Jackson and Monticello are too
friendly to be separated by any
thing like a river.
It is a dull day in Atlanta when
they are not kicking somebody
around the capitol or shaking up
the CWA, PWA, CCC or XYZ. They
just don’t like dull times up that
way -
Freeman Land, just installed pres
ident of the Kiwanis club, has out
lined several constructive measures
for the year. The boys will help
him put these things over. Kiwanis
is beginning its twelfth year of ser
vice to Butts county and the oi-gani
zation has justified its existence.
Prof. L. D. Watson, Jr., connected
with Riverside Military Academy at
Gainesville, will receive his mail at
Hollywood, Fla., for the next two
months. Riverside maintains a win
ter home in Florida. Prof. Watson,
well known educator and former su
perintendent of the Jackson public
schools, writes that he is taking a
daily plunge in the Atlanta ocean.
That must be delightful. Up this way
we are staying close to the fire.
An outstanding example of the ad
\antages of co-operation is afforded
by the Jackson Ice Corporation.
This enterprise was organized for
convenience, not profit. As it has
turned out the concern has 'been a
remarkable financial success. In war
days this section could not obtain
ice at any price, all the ice factories
being required to furnish the army
camps. Unable to stand that intolera
ble condition the people of the com
munity met and organized an ice
company. The stock was widely dis
tributed in Butts and Henry coun
ties, and that has been one of the
secrets of the success of the enter
prise. The company has served the
community well and at the same
time has paid an annual dividend.
The directors met last week and vot
ed the usual dividend —and that will
be welcome news to the stockholders.
Options on more than 800,000
acres of land in Jasper and Putnam
counties have been obtained for es
tablishing the model farm colony.
The average price was $5.00 per
acre. We hope the enterprise suc
ceeds. If it does it will have a far
reaching effect on the back-to-the
farm movement.
Governor Talmadge is a kingfish
ir. Georgia but he doesn’t have much
weight in Washington. The Civil
Works Administration in this state
has been reorganized and Miss Gay
Shepperson placed in exclusive con
trol. The reorganization was brought
about, it is stated, because Governoi
Talmadge criticised the CWA wage
scale. When Uncle Sam js connected
with any enterprise he comes pretty
near being the boss.
With more than a million dollars
a week being paid out in Georgia to
CWA workers this is equal to anoth
er cotton crop. In fact, these wages,
if maintained all the year, will net
considerably more than the state’s
cotton crop, after all expenses have
been paid. Spending of this large
sum of money is telling in all lines
of business.
Following the fine rains the grain
erop in Butts county is most prom
ising. There is a large acreage plant
ed to wheat and oats. The hail storm
last May ruined much of the grain
crop and that was a loss that is still
being felt. Barring some unforeseen
disaster, Butts county will produce
a good grain crop this season and this
will prove of great help.
The cotton belt is smiling with 10
cent coton now a fact. Butts county
is fortunate in having much cotton
held over from other seasons and
when all this cotton is finally sold
ic will swell bank deposits and make
business hum.
Taking over by the state highway
department of Route 72 from Jack
son to the Lamar county line is a
matter of great interest. The county
will share liberally in increased gaso
line tax revenue. This highway will
be a mighty popular one and it is
hoped to have it hardsurfaced one
of these days before long.
Jackson’s mail service and passen
ger train service is nothing to brag
about. The Southern Railway, if it
hopes to get any material amount of
passenger business, should put on
another passenger train between
Jackson and Atlanta. Another train
would be of great convenience to
the people of this section, all the
way from Hazlehurst, Eastman, Ma
con, Jackson, McDonough to Atlanta.
With government money flowing
almost as free as water, the people
of Jackson and Butts county ought to
get together and outline some con
structive projects—something that
will be permanent and lasting. A
bridge across the Ocmulgee river is
such a project. The building of a
new school house, with auditorium
and gymnasium, is another. The new
highway from Jackson to Macor.
along the Southern Railway is an
other. Why not get together and ask
for these things and put them over
while the money is being spent? It
will be building for the future.
Reduction of cotton acreage is not
worrying Mr. O. E. Smith, Butts
county’s enterprising real estate
dealer. He plants no cotton. With his
fine pecan grove and his real estate
business he manages to keep the wolf
away from the door.
ONE BY ONE
Just as “one by one the roses fall”
so state by state is the retail sales
tax being adopted. The victory, how
ever, may not be so much due to
the tax as to the necessity for a
drastic change. Mississippi had no al
ternative and our sister state is be
ing pulled from the financial mire,
while Illinois is the latest common
wealth to seek the sales tax panacea.
Georgia is beginning to see the
light. The stygian darkness into
which the ad valorem tax has thrown
the taxpayer has left the state grop
ing to find a way to meet its obliga-
PACE BUS LINE SCHEDULES
DEPARTURES NORTH BOUND A. M.
Monticello 8:15 (E. TANARUS.) Jackson 6:30 - 8:00j
Locust Grove 6:55 - 8:25 —McDonough 7:00 - 8:35
Arrive Atlanta 8:00 and 9:45
DEPARTURES SOUTH BOUND P. M.
Leave Atlanta 3:00 P. M. - 5:00 P. M.
McDonough 4:05 - 6:05 Locust Grove 4:15 - 6:15
Jackson 4:45 - 6:45 Monticello 6:30
BUS STATIONS
Atlanta—Union Bus Terminal, Carnegie Way
Stockbridge—Clark’s Store
McDonough—Leslie’s Drug Store
Locust Grove —Coan’s Service Station
Jackson—Pace Bus Station, Third Street
Monticello—Cannon’s Drug Store
tions. In the sales tax, we believe,
the way will be found; a way .that
places the burden upon him who hath,
upon the men with money to spend
and a way that need be followed on
ly in proportion to the amount spent.
If you have no money you pay no
tax. Nothing could be fairer, more
equitable, more just.
It is time the property-owner was
relieved. It is time that property
came back into its own as man’s most,
valuable, most to be desired posses
sion.—Gainesville Eagle.
THE COLLEGE “RACKET”
Going to college is called “the
great American racket” by Ralph
Cooper Hutchison, president of
Washington and Jefferson college,
at Washington, Pennsylvania.
President Hutchison declares that
student organizations in many cases,
past and present, were formed for
graft, that agents for fraternity
jewelry and the like say they cannot
do business on some campuses with
out paying graft, and that in general
the old ideal of education, culture
and character has been submerged
by the motives of social and financial
profit.
The educator thinks that this sit
uation has arisen because the rapid
expansion of pioneer America pro
duced a tremendous demand for wor
thy and able men, a demand greater
than the supply. The result was that
the college degree, supposedly sig
nifying unusual ability, had great
value. This encouraged the public to
“send its sons through the sausage
grinder and out with a packer’s
tiademarke.”
Criticism of this sort will help the
colleges rather than harm them.
There is destined to be anew deal
in more than politics. And the first
step toward the new deal is to be
come aware of some of the past mis
takes. —Atlanta Georgian.
ANOTHER SIDE TO CWA
The people who run CWA have no
easy snap. They battle with every
kind of human character and dispo
sition. They deal with some noble,
high-minded people who were unfor
tunate in their affairs and were
swept off their feet by the depres
sion, and that is an easier type to
manage than the irresponsible, sod
den, shiftless kind. The worst scan
dal raised against the CWA is that
it gives employment to undeserving
people who do not appreciate it; and
to others who are too well fixed to
need it. They see in the employment
a chance to beat the government; at
any rate, they are willing to ride
hard and long. They are not looking
upon the employment as a lift over
a temporarily rough place. They feel
that they have a snap for life, and
that no matter what their personal
conduct or habits —no matter how
they neglect their duty—they expect
the government to keep on reaching
down to find them and feed them.
Protests have come to The Tele
giaph from correspondents who say
they have seen CWA workers drink
liquor and get drunk with the funds;
paid by the government, when the j
money was intended to relieve dis- 1
tress of the men and their families. ;
Some workers who have been talk- \
ed to on the subject seem to have j
the very foolish idea that the gov
ernment wants to set them up where
FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 1934
they can enjoy life and have a good
time like other folks. They say liquor
is cheaper than it has ever been in
the history of the state, and it does
not cost much to buy a drunk —and
why shouldn’t a fellow drown his
troubles now and then?
This attitude of mind has caused
some of the workers to get laid off,
and then they have run around in all
directions trying to find a way to
reach the president’s ear. They seem
to think he would be more generous
even than the Santa Claus who re
quires that little children shall be
well behaved at least a few days dur
ing the year.
These matters are mentioned to
show that there are two sides to the
CWA question, and the biggest trou
ble is to help the hungering wife and
children while the irresponsible hus
band blocks the effort. The govern
ment would like to solve the problem,
but how can it be done? It never has
been very successfully done.—Macon
Telegraph.
WITH THE EXCHANGES
Always Take a Receipt
An Indian owed a merchant. One
day he came to pay and wanted a
receipt. In vain the merchant told
him a receipt was unnecessary. “Me
must have to show me owe you
nothing,” said the Indian. “Me go
to heaven and Lord ask Injun he
pay debts, Injun say, ‘Yes.’ Lord ask
Injun where is receipt? What Injun
do? Can’t go all over hell looking
for you.” He got the receipt.—Ex
change.
The One True Friend
This is a day of politics. We see
is in all the government activities,
and we guess it is all rght. Accord
ing to Will Rogers, his dog is the
only friend who never does anything
for political reasons.—Madisonian.
Figure This Out
At the present clip it will not be
leng before every citizen of the Uni
ted States will have a country, state
and federal job. When that happy
day comes there will be nothing to
tax but the incomes of those who
are working on public jobs. The job
holders will be taxed to pay their
salaries, which must be raised by
taxation. There is some more college
professor economics.—Dawson News.
Some Optimistic News
The resumption of work at Bessie
Tift College and the opening again
of the public schools of Monroe
county bring added inspiration and
uplift to every section of the county.
In all our efforts to bring about
prosperous conditions throughout the
nation, it appears that too little at
tention has 'been given to our educa
tional interests upon which the stand
ards and progress of the people rest
to so great an extent. —Monroe Ad
vertiser.
In The “400” Class %
There are 400,000 words in the
dictionary. But none are used any
more than “please remit.”—Greens
boro Herald-Journal.
The number of enlisted men in the
U. S. Navy is 79,000,, while in for
mer years the personnel ranged as
high as 100,000.