Newspaper Page Text
Jackson Progress - Argus
PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY
J. DOYLE JONHS
Editor and Publisher
Entered as second-class matter at
the Post Office at Jacksan, Ga,
TELEPHONE NO. 16
OFFICIAL ORGAN BUTTS COUN
TY AND CITY OF JACKSON
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
IN ADVANCE
One year $159
Six Months .76
Single Copies .96
Automobile owners are paying too
many taxes. It is time to lighten the
burden.
Don’t forget to tell the world that
Butts county wants that Ocmulgee
river bridge
Now that the state has a rat kill
ing campaign, why not a snake kill
ing movement also?
The pickaninnies are hoping the
CWA work will not end until black
berry season begins.
The weather man can always b
depended on to pull the unexpected.
The recent cold spell pinched severe
-1 j.., dtA
Kidnappers are getting bolder,
even in face of life sentences. Why’
not the firing squad for that 'bunch
of gangsters?
Butts county farmers have sup
ported the cotton acreage reduction
campaign practically one hundred
per cent.
There is no better way to make
the world safe for democracy and to
practice the New Deal than by sub
scribing for your home town paper.
Butts county teachers have been
paid in full up to the first of the
year. This is a 'better .record than
many of the counties of the state can
boast
It is time to make tax returns for
11)34. The tax business goes on for
ever and one does not get through
paying before it is time to make re
turns.
Butts county farmers are signing
to plant loss cotton and at the same
time are signing contracts to grow
pepper this season. This looks like
a good combination.
Farmers of the South ape quick
to realize the benefits of co-opera
tion. In both of the cotton campaigns
they have extended wonderful co- 1
operation and support.
If the CWA work is stopped in
time to allow many families to go
back to the farm and plant a crop
for the year it will doubtless be a
good tiling for all concerned.
Nowhere in the country did the
people support the Roosevelt Balls
more heartily than in Georgia. The
President was honored by many
communities Tuesday on the occasion
of his fifty-second birthday.
Automobile sales are running
head of production and livestock
sales are increasing, it is claimed.
Plenty of riding and some real work
on the program this year.
Many forest fires are reported
over the state. This is a waste that
should ’be prevented. Georgia’s tim
ber crop is worth saving. It produces
* permanent income and grows while
you sleep.
By the time all the new models
have been displayed and the 1934
tag is adjusted, the state political
campaign will begin to open up. It
will not be a dull year for Georgia
voters.
The suggestion has been made
that Dr. J. M. Sutton, state vet
eiisn, is likely to be a candidate for
commissioner of agriculture this
summer. Dr. Sutton has many
friends over the state.
Automobiles without lights should
r.ot be allowed on the highways.
They are a constant menace to life.
There is a law against operating cars
without lights and it should be en
forced.
Governor Talmadge has probably
had as many appointments as any
executive in recent years. A political
appointment is not always an asset;
it is sometimes a liability. The dis
appointed office seekers are often
resentful.
The people of several middle Geor
gia counties are united in wanting
route 42 paved immediately. Several
delegations have appeared before the
highway department and asked that
this route be hardsurfaced and it is
proposed to name the road the “Tal
madge Highway.”
PUBLIC OPINION TO RULE
The way in which farmers of the
South have co-operated in reducing
cotton acreage shows that an over
whelming number favor the govern
ment plan. In a few instances —a
very few, it is hoped—some individ
uals now think the opportunity is
ripe for them to expand acreage
while their patriotic neighbors have
cut to the bone. It is to deal with
that class that a vote is considered
by the Secretary of Agriculture.
Public sentiment ought to control
this movement and we believe it will.
The man who wants to take advan
tage of the present opportunity to
grow more cotton, while his friends
and neighbors have reduced, will be
held up as an example. He will not
escape criticism and will be pointed
' out as a sort of profiteer.
1 The South is tremendously inter
-1 ested in the plan to better the con
i dition of cotton farmers. The situa
-1 tion seems well in hand and by a
continued pull the South will soon
1 see better conditions,
l „
GOOD WORK WELL DONE
The success of the cotton acreage
campaign in Butts county is a tribute
to all who had a part in this con
structive work.
B. M. Drake, Butts County Farm
Agent, has been busy for severat
weeks planning and directing the
campaign. He has had splendid co
rporation from his clerical assist
ants, as wel las whole hearted sup
port from the county and district
committees. Without this concerted
action and united effort the cotton
campaign would have lagged, regard
less of the attitude of the individual
growers.
The cotton growers, the men who
actually plant and harvest the crop,
have done a big piece of work by
co-operating. They answered the Gov
ernment's call, just as it was expect
ed they would.
The sort of co-operation manifest
ed in the plow-up campaign last sum
mer und in the present acreage re
duction drive shows the farmers of
the South are willing to band to
gether under capable leadership for
the good of the common cause. It
means better things for the farmers
o : the South in the days ahead.
LET THE PEOPLE SPEAK.
On several occasions Governor
Talmadge has stated that he was sav
ing from the highway department
funds with which to pay school tea
chers and Confederate pensioners.
This cannot be done, of course, un
less the legislature authorizes such
action. Under the present law' a cer
tain portion of gasoline taxes are al
located to the state highway depart
ment and a certain part to the state
school equalization fund.
This is a matter of such vital in
terest that the voters ought to speak
cut during the present campaign. If
they favor diverting highway funds
to other causes let them say so. If
they favor retaining the present law
they can vote to that effect.
The writer is of the opinion that
automobile owners are already bear
ing more than their share of taxes.
THE JACKSON PROGRESS-ARGUS, JACKSON, GEORGIA
They realize this but consent to it
on the condition that the gasoline tax
leceipts be used to build roads and
bridges. Georgia ought to complete
in the shortest possible time its sys
tem of county-site-to-county - site
highways. Many counties in the state
are without a foot of paving. Many
needed bridge projects should have
attention.
Not until the state completes its
highway system and builds needed
bridges and makes proper provision
for refunding counties money al
ready advanced for highway work
should the state consider diversion.
We believe this is the sentiment of
a majority of the people of the state.
CARELESS ABOUT DEBT
The Average Man—neither the
very rich nor the very poor—is not
fooled by all the bluster that is now
taking place. He knows by experi
ence that when the huge debts are
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 government running.—The Jack
son Progress-Argus.
Our observation is that the aver
age man is devoting little thought to
how the debts are going to be paid—
that he is more concerned in getting
all he can while Santa Claus is hand
ing out his largess.
And, surprising as it is, there are
e considerable number of people who
believe that the government has an
inexhaustible supply of money and
that all the poor and unfortunate
should be tpken care of at federal
expense.
There is going to be a terrible
awakening one of these days when
Santa Claus goes back to the North
Pole with his sled and reindeer.—
Walton Tribune.
A TERRIFIC INDICTMENT
That was a terrific indictment the
slate head of a great civic organiza
tion used in speaking of that element
in a community who gives nothing
out but takes everything in, when he
leferred to them as “grafters.”
That’s strong language but we do
not think it is too strong.
There is in every community a
certain class of people who belong to
no civic organization, who spend
nothing for community growth and
progress, who reap where they have
r.ot sown. They are the sponge type,
absorbing all they can and giving
nothing out. They are the-ones who
wait for the more progressive and
forward-looking citizens to inaugu
late movements and carry them to
successful conclusion. They get by
without spending anything to push
the community forward. They are
ready to catch the rabbit after oth
ers drive him out of the briar patch.
They are usually the first to hollow
“we have killed the bear.”
After a long connection with bus
iness enterprises and public spirited
movements, the writer knows there
must be somebody to take the lead
and work for progress. Things just
don’t happen. There must be a driv
ing force behind every movement if
it is to succeed.
If anew bridge is to be built, if
anew highway is to be secured, if
any worthwhile project designed to
help the whole community, is pul
over there must be effort. This effort
involves the expenditure of both
money and energy. The public spirit
ed citizen is always glad and willing
to help, do do his part, to spend and
bt- spent freely for the good of his
town, county and section.
Public spirit is now and has al
ways been on the gold standard. It
is the most priceless asset any com
munity possesses.
The head of this civic organization
will render the state a distinct ser
vice if he succeeds in driving home
the thought that the leech, the
sponge, the community “grafter”
owes a debt to the town and county
in which he lives and which supplies
him his living.
TAKE n OR LEAVE IT
Hy >. D. JONES
Friends here are interested in the
announcement that Prof. W. P.
Martin, a former slperintendent of
the Jackson public schools and now
head of the schools in Gainesville,
will retire at the end of the present
term and resume the practice of law
with his son, Parks Martin. Prof.
Martin was head of the schools here
for several years and made a splen
did record. He later went to Dublin
and after remaining there for a long
period accepted a position as super
intendent of the Gainesville public
schools. Prof. Martin and family
have a host of friends in Jackson
and Butts county.
An honor worthily bestowed was
the awarding of a loving cup, pre
sented by the Cook County Commer
cial Club, to the citizen rendering
the most outstanding service during
the past year, to Prof. J. C. Thomas,
superintendent of the Cook county
schools. Prof. Thomas, native of
Butts county and member of a prom
inent family of this section, has
long been an outstandig educator.
As head of the county schools in
Cook county he has put over many
progressive and constructive meas
ures. He is a former president of the
State School Superintendents Asso
ciation. The people of Butts county
are proud of the splendid record
that John Thomas has made. He is
a useful and outstanding Georgian
of the present generation.
Georgians are distressed to learn
of the illness of two prominent citi
zens who have rendered the state
useful service, Hon. John T. Boifeuil
let and Dr. M. L. Duggan. Mr. Boi
feuillet is clerk of the Georgia State
Senate and for many years was a
member of the Public Service Com
mission, in which he faithfully rep
resented the interests of the people
oi Georgia. He is a brilliant orator
and.a writer-of gregfr chum*. " iW.
Duggan is a former state school su
perintendent and has wrought well
for the cause of education. Friends
hope that both of these honored citi
zens will soon be restored to health.
A phase of the Georgia campaign
that has attracted little attention to
cate is the part that President Roose
velt will play. In the post-war period,
it is recalled, that Thomas W. Hard
wick, an able and popular Georgian,
was a candidate for the United
States senate. His record of support
of war measures was challenged and
Fresident Wilson threw his full sup
port behind W. J. Harris, with the
result that-Harris was elected. Gov
ernor Talmadge has frequently criti
cised some of the recovery programs
oi President Roosevelt. This may or
may not be an issue in the approach
ing campaign. If President Roosevelt
and the administration throws sup
port to a candidate opposed to Gov
ernor Talmadge interesting develop
ments may be expected. Strange
things often happen in politics.
At least three vacancies on the
Butts County Board of Education
must be filled by the February Grand
Jury. Mi*. W. F. Huddleston, presi
dent of the Board and a veteran of
long and distinguished service to the
cause of education, will be up for
appointment. Likewise Mr. J. E. Mc-
Michael, member of the board for
several years. The vacancy caused
by the recent tragic death of Hon.
C. A. Towles will be filled at this
term. Butts county has been noted
for .its strong support of education
and the board has performed nota
ble service, consolidating all the coun
ty schools and keeping out of debt.
More than usual interest will be cen
tered in the filling of the three va
cancies.
Judge J. A. McMichael, clerk and
treasurer of the city of Jackson, who
was honored by General Hardy by
appointment to his staff for the gen
eral and state reunion of United Con
federate Veterans, is adjutant of
John L. Barnett Camp No. 1114 of
Jackson. He is one of the four sur
viving Confederate veterans in Butts
county, the others being Mr. J. S.
Gregory, Mr. R. Van Smith and Mr.
Thornton. Judge McMichael is loyal
to the cause of Confederate veterans
and has attended many of the state
and national reunions for the past
several years. Judge McMichael, an
honored and respected citizen, en
tered the Confederate army when
a lad of 16.
The average citizen who is finding
it hard enough to balance his budget
and keep the wolf a few feet from
the door, is struck by the ease with
which congress votes billion dollar
appropriations. The mill keeps grind
ing and the billions continue to roll
out. It is easier to vote this money
than it is to pay it, and this the tax
payer will find out in the years to
come.
There has been a disposition in
some quarters to poke fun at the
state veterinarian by calling him a
“horse doctor.” That’s little stuff.
Of the politics of the situation we
know little. But this column does
know that the livestock industry is
one of Georgia’s most important en
terprises. We recall how bitterly the
cattle tick campaign was fought.
That was the beginning of the live
stock industry in Georgia. Bovine
tuberculosis has been wiped out,
practically. In both movements the
state veterinarian, in co-operation
with the federal authorities, played
a leading part. When the boll weevil
came in Georgia turned to dairy
farming as a means of support and
millions of dollars have been invested
in lands, fences, 'buildings, cattle,
trucks, equipment. There are fre
quent outbreaks of fatal diseases
among cattle, such as blackleg and
hemorrhagic septicaemia, and cholera
among hogs. Georgia needs a com
petent state veterinarian to protect
the livestock industry of this state.
The people will not be fooled by poli
tics always. ~ -
UNREASONABLE PRICE
ADVANCES
Users of fine papers are feeling
the heavy hand of monopoly made
possible by NRA. This is impressed
upon the buyer when he goes to
market now and finds that the price
of paper has been advanced 35 per
cent, and that the price is the same
no matter from what manufacturer
the product comes.
Every class of paper used by the
printer, which, of course is the pa
per used by all lines of business—
with the single exception of news
print, has been marked up so rapidly
that is absurd to think the consumer
can or will stand the skyrocket rise
A dozen mills and their affiliates
manufacture ninety per cent of all
paper stocks used in the United
States. They got together, fixed
prices, asked and received the bless
ings of NRA and now' sell the cus
tomers they once served on a com
petitive basis, that it is such and
such a price, or else you get no pa
ler. Wholesale distributors can a nd)
nothing about it. If one should de
cide to try for volume at a small
margin of profit, the mills would
promptly refuse to sell him and his
doors would be closed. Prices have
been fixed. Take it or leave it is the
attitude of manufacturers and those
who touch their products must dance
to the monopoly tune.
It was not the intention of the
President to create such a condition.
He set out to guarantee a square deal
for all, but the “big boys” played
a shrewd hand in dealing with NRA
officials and through their codes
have, in many instances, obtained
legal sanction of high-handed monop
oly. But they won’t long get by with
that program. If the administration
doesn’t call a halt, which we believe
it will, the consumer will have some
thing to say. Nobody can force him
to buy. And it is unlikely that he will
long continue to buy from the man
ufacturer who feels that he has the
market cornered.
We speak with first-hand knowl
edge about this paper business. We
understand similar conditions exist
in many other lines of trade.—Elber
ton Star.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1934
WITH THE EXCHANGES
!
Favors New Bridge
A 'bridge across the Ocmulgee
river is a project which every citi
zen in Jasper and Butts counties
should wish to see put over. As has
been intimated, work on number six
teen has been completed up to the
river banks on both sides and the
bridge is the only thing needed now
to make this one of the most impor
tant roads of the state, from east
to west. Elsewhere in this issue of
The News may be* seen a timely ar
ticle from Doyle Jones, editor of The
Jackson Progress-Argus, commenting
upon this project and urging that
concerted action be taken to secure
anew bridge to replace the ferry
which has been in use for one hun
dred years or longer.—Monticello
News.
Why They Would Not Fit
A man near town who had always
worn two-piece underwear when he
wore any at all, received two union,
suits as a Christmas present, but
complained to his wife all day that
it did not fit, that it choked him in
the seat, and caused other uncom
fortable feelings. When night came
and he stripped to hit the hay, his
wife discovered the trouble. He had
had his legs through the arm holes,
and his arms where the legs should
have been. He refused to put ’em on
next day.’—Banks County Journal.
Giving Plenty of Rope
“Give a calf enough rope and he
will soon tangle himself up” is as
applicable to most Georgia politi
cians as to the calf. And when the
head man comes along it don’t take
long to get these undone and ousted.
—Madisonian.
A Friend at Court
Somebody is taking mighty good
care of retiring state officeholders.
Earle Cocke lost his job with the
Board of Regents, only to receive
a better post with the federal gov
ernment, and Pete Twitty stepped
from the game and fish post to a
good job with the navy department.
Somebody said that no sooner does
Governor Talmadge knock one off
the state pay roll than Senator Rus
sell puts him in a federal position.
It must be grand to have an influen
tion friend like Senator Russell.—•
Tifton Gazette.
The Way to Prosperity
The quickest, surest and only
method of restoring prosperous times
in the United States is to devise
some method of giving the farmer
better and more profitable prices
for their products, such as cotton,
wheat, oats, cattle and hogs, potatoes,
butter, eggs, and all other products
of the farm. —Sandersville Progress.
Pay For Your Own Copy
A man who was too stingy to sub
scribe for his home paper sent his
little boy to boi-row the copy taken
by a neighbor. In his haste the boy
ran over a four dollar stand of bees
and in ten mi'nues looked like a war
ty summer squash.
His father ran to his assistance
and failing to notice the barbed wire
fence, ran into that, cutting a hole
into his anatomy and ruining a five
dollar pair of trousers.
The old cow took advantage of the
gap in the fence and got into the
cornfield and killed herself eating
green corn.
Hearing the racket the wife ran
out, upset a four-gallon churn of
cream into a basket of little chickens,
drowning the entire hatch. In her
haste she dropped a thirty-five dollar
set of false teeth.
The baby, having been left alone,
crawled through the cream into the
parlor, ruining a brand new twenty
five dollar carpet.
During the excitement the oldest
daughter ran away with the hired
man, the dog broke up eleven setting
hens and the calves got out and
chewed the tails off four fine shirts
on the clothes line. —Exchange.
Repairing lighthouse property is
a CWA project which will employ
1,000 workers i:i " l *toter