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Jackson Prcgress-Argus
PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY
J. DOYLE JONES
Editor and Publisher
Entered as second-class matter at
the Post Office at Jackson, Ga.
TELEPHONE NO. 166
OFFICIAL ORGAN BUTTS COUN
TY AND CITY OF JACKSON
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
IN ADVANCE
One year $1.60
Six months *76
Singe Copies • 06
Every governmental official or
board whose duties include the han
dling of public funds should pub
lish at regular intervals an account
ing of it, showing where and how
each dollar was spent. This is be
lieved to be a fundamental princi
ple of Democratic government.
A ten day extension was granted
for buying 1939 automobile tags.
Now is the time to avoid the rush.
Barnesville and Covington are
towns in this section that have re
cently organized Rotary clubs. The
civic club movement is constantly
growing.
Some say the ground hog saw his
shadow and others claim he did not.
It is pretty safe to predict that win
ter weather will prevail for a few
weeks longer.
Politicians who promise the world
with a fence around it have to call
on the taxpayers to make good the
promises. The taxpayers are at the
bottom of every pile.
The legislature is troubled with
the problem of keeping livestock off
the highways in south Georgia. Most
people agree that the road hog is
the worst traffic menace the pub
lic has to face.
Monroe county reports progress in
the dairy industry. By keeping a
few cows and hens every farmer
can have a weekly payroll on his
farm. And that’s better than any
form of relief yet devised.
The death of Mi's. M. E. Judd re
moves a patriotic and public spirited
citizen who used her means and time
to promote the development of her
adopted state. Mrs. Judd was known
here for her work in connection with
the Indian Springs state park.
Quimby Melton begins his fif
teenth year as editor of the Griffin
News. Major Melton is one of the
best known newspaper men in Geor
'gia and uses his time and talents
to promote the interest of his com
munity, the state and nation. May
he long continue his good work.
Whether or not to abolish the poll
tax is a matter now engaging the at
tention of the general assembly. If
the poll tax were abolished as a re
quisite to voting there is not any
assurance that the vote would be
large - than at present. Probably a
penalty for not voting would bring
better results.
This country is so busy with its
own affairs that a disaster in a for
eign country does not make much
Impression in America. The recent
earthquake in Chili that took a hea
uy toll of dead and injured was one
of the major disasters of recent
years. The American Red Cross is
asking funds for relief work there.
Legislative committees probing
state departments are coming up
with some interesting facts. These
are facts taxpayers should know.
Taxpayers would know how their
monqy is spent if all tax-spending
bodies were required to publish re
ports of their proceedings. The tax
payer is a patient individual. He
pays more and knows less about the
public business than anybody in the
world.
TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT
By J. D. JONES
It is a day and age of fault find
ing and almost everybody is running
around asking what’s the matter
with this and that. Conditions are
wretched, according to these expert
sniffers, who have their noses raised
to catch every tainted breze. Al
most everybody and everything is
under-privilegd in one way or an
other, so these uplifters claim. The
South, we are told, is the No. 1 eco
nomic problem of the nation. On
and on it goes. By a process of
elimination one might well reach the
conclusion that everything is rot
ten—except the professional re
formers and uplifters. The thing is
going so far that all of us will soon
believe we are sick mentally, morally
and spiritually. It is time for an
about face. Everything is not rot
ten and the country is not going
to the dogs. Things are not per
fect now and never have been at
any time in the history of the world.
Asa man thinketh in his heart so is
he, according to Holy Writ. This
being true, let’s get away from the
defeatist attitude. Let’s keep the
head up and the chin out and resolve
to go forward. We stumble and
fall but get up and move ahead. It’s
time to quit kicking and complain
ing. The whole world needs a little
more boosting and less knocking.
Let’s move into the sunshine and get
out of the shadows.
Due to a shift in personnel, Ellis
Arnall, of Newnan, becomes attor
ney general of Georgia, succeeding
Judge M. J. Yeomans who becomes
attorney and director of the new hos
pital authority at Milledgeville. Ar
nall, 31 years of age, a former
speaker protem of the House of Rep
resentatives and an assistant attor
ney general under the Rivers ad
ministration, is said to be the young
est man ever to hold the post of
attorney general of Georgia. An
honor graduate of the University of
Georgia, Mr. Arnall is a member of
a distinguished middle Georgia fam
ily. He has had an interesting and
successful career as a member of
the bar and has served the state well
in official capacities. His appoint
ment is pleasing to his friends who
predict that still higher honors are
in store for Arnall in the immediate
future. A lawyer of recognized
ability, he will fill the duties of the
new office in an able manner and
no doubt will be elected to that post
in the next regular primary.
Announcement that Governor
Rivers has arranged to borrow mon
ey to pay teachers part of the
amount due them will be received
with interest. It relieved a situa
tion that was becoming critical, for
many of the schools were arranging
to close. However, borrowing to
pay teachers is not a cure for a con
dition that needs permanent correc
tion. Asa class, teachers should be
paid as promptly as other state em
ployees. Education in Georgia needs
adequate financing and the peren
nial wrangling over finances is not
getting the state anywhere. Now
while the legislature is in session is
a good time to do something con
stx-uctive for education. The schools
are not yet out of the woods. If
the schools are to be operated for
seven months, if there is to be sat
isfaction, efficiency and justice then
more funds will have to be found.
It is peculiarly a job for the general
assembly. Nobody else can do the
job. The people of Georgia want
the educational problem settled once
and for all.
What America needs more than
anything else is to revive the pio
neering spirit. This country was
settled and made great by men and
women who had the pionering spirit,
who were not afraid to take a
chance, who were brave and cour
ageous and did not complain of hard
ships. Asa nation we are becoming
soft and flabby and are willing to
barter our liberties for so-called se
curity. The only security worth the
name is that we dig out uath our
hands and brains and take care of
by thrift and industry.
THE JACKSON PROGRESS-ARGUS, JACKSO:., GEONuIA
There is general interest in Boy
Scout Week, February 8 to 14. Dur
ing that period the Boy Scouts will
observe the 29th anniversary of the
organization. There are more than
39,000 troops in America and since
its inception the movement has en
rolled more than 8,400,000 mem
bers. Scouting is a vital force for
the training of young Americans. It
teaches many clean, noble and pa
triotic ideals. It is interesting to
note that Scouting is well represent
ed in Butts county and in this sec
tion of the state. Jackson and Butts
county citizens will continue to sup
port and sponsor Scouting as an in
vestment in good citizenship.
With Lawrence Camp as leader,
the “liberal” Democrats of the state
have had a meeting in Atlanta. You
are going to hear a good deal from
these liberal Democrats in the fu
ture. Plans are now shaping up
for controlling patronage in the
state, and the preferential presi
dential primary next spring will wit
ness a hard battle between the con
servative and liberal wings of the
party. A lot of benefits of one
sort and another are flowing out
to the people of the state. Public
spending just now is popular, and
the country has not made up its
mind to shoot Santa Claus. With
all the beneficiaries of the govern
ment aligned in solid array, liberal
Democrats will have a good deal to
say about politics in Georgia. And
that’s true of the country as a whole.
The writer has always thought the
general assembly was the sole pow
er entrusted with making law's and
passing tax measures. If this be
true, then why are heads of depart
ments, such as Grady Head, of the
Revenue department, suggesting a
proposed gross receipts tax? What
concern is it to Head what kind of
tax-raising laws the state has? Isn’t
it his duty to collect the revenue un
der any legislation enacted? In this
instance it seems that Head is out
on a limb and the people of the
state resent any department suggest
ing what kind of tax legislation
should be enacted. If the members
of the general assembly are not
capable of passing fair and just tax
laws they should resign and go home.
It looks very much like a piece of
propaganda. Until shown to the
contrary this writer will continue to
believe it is the duty of the legisla
ture to pass law's and the duty of
departments to attend to their own
business—which doesn’t include the
suggestion of proposed legislation.
A Jackson merchant w'as telling
the writer last week that he could
not get enough eggs to supply the
market. This particular dealer ships
eggs to Atlanta and in that way
helps to make a market for eggs and
prevent a glut in the local market.
It is a fact known of all men who
take time to think that Georgia is
not producing enough eggs for its
own people and most of the eggs
have to be shipped in from Tennes
see. Now, honestly, is that a pretty
state of affairs? Yet few fume and
fret and cuss about cotton and the
boll weevil and hard times, when
there is a cash market here at home
for all the eggs and poultry we can
produce. The people of Atlanta,
Macon, Augusta, Savannah, Colum
bus and other cities must be fed.
Why not feed them with Georgia
products—Georgia eggs and poul
try, livestock, dairy products, fruits
and vegetables? Does anybody know
of a good reason why this should
not be done?
This is the greatest age for pub
licity and propaganda the world has
ever seen. A great mass of propa
ganda flows weekly into all news
paper offices. Many agencies and
departments are trying to get over
something—without cost—to the
people. A newspaper is known for
what it refuses to print quite as
much as for what it does print. If
any substantial part of the publicity
received were printed all newspapers
would have to enlarge their size,
employ additional help, pay extra
postage and spend more money for
newsprint. The government is one
of the worst offenders.
Interest in livestock production is
spreading to all parts of the county
and this is one of the hopeful signs
for the year’s farm operations. Most
farmers are uncertain about cotton;
peanuts will be restricted in acreage
and other sources of income must
be found. Butts county has every
advantage for becoming a great
livestock center. Almost every farm
has abundant water and good pas
tures may be built on approved
plans. By this fall the county should
have stock yards and weekly auction
sales. More livestock will boost
cash income and help the county
get away from a one-crop system.
In connection with livestock sales,
the county should renew its interest
in poultry. The monthly co-opera
tive carlot sales of poultry formerly
held here brought in a good deal
of money. There is no reason why
these sales should not be resumed.
It was disappointing to know that
peanut acreage in Butts county will
be limited to 60 acres. Many farm
ers were planning to plant peanuts
as a cash crop, but it seems the gov
ernment will restrict acreage. Pea
nuts may still be planted for home
consumption and as a hay crop. The
crop is a safe and dependable one
and it will not be surprising if a
good many peanuts are planted in
the county this year.
THROUGH ARGUS EYES
BV DOYLE JONES JR.
Jackson High’s basketball squads
have two more home games before
tournament time. Saturday night,
February 11, they meet Fayetteville
on the Indian Springs court at 7:30
o’clock. Then on Tuesday evening,
February 14, comes the game of
“games” with Griffin High School.
The Griffin boys narrowly defeated
our local lads earlier in the season
by a 20-17 score, and needless to say
Jackson hopes and expects to even
the count Tuesday night. All Griffin
teams this writer has seen perform,
whether in basketball, track, tennis,
football, etc., without exception, have
been well coached, highly competi
tive and possessing much of that in
definable factor which in sports
lingo is commonly referred to as
“color.” The games Tuesday night
should leave little to be desired from
even the most rabid basketball fans.
The largest crowd of the year is an
ticipated to be on hand to welcome
our neighbors from Spalding county.
LOOKING BACKWARD
THROUGH THE FILES
News Of 30 Years Ago
Mrs. B. A. Wright, prominent and
beloved resident of Indian Springs,
died Saturday.
E. L. Smith let a contract for
construction of a ten-room house,
corner McDonough and King streets.
*
Governor Joseph M. Brown was
the guest of honor at a banquet giv
en by the Jackson chamber of com
merce at Hotel Buchanan.
The Ladies’ Aid Society of the
Baptist church was to have a quilt
ing party at the home of Mrs. R.
E. Carmichael.
News Of 10 Year i Ago
At the monthly co-operative poul
try sale 8,036 pounds netted farm
ers of the county $1,907.65.
Two tracts of farm lands were
sold at $29 and $53 per acre, re
spectiv >
The work of protecting the min
eral spring at Indian Springs against
overflow water by building retain
ing walls had been completed, with
State Forester B. M. I . lourrow in
charge.
Mrs. Lettie Wilson Towles, daugh
ter of Hon. and Mrs. C. A. Towles
of Cork, succumbed to injuries re
ceived in an automobile accident at
St. Augustine, Fla., Tuesday night.
The death of Mrs. Emmett E.
Voorhis, the former Miss Sallie Mae
Fktcher, occurred Tuesday at To
wando. Pa.
Mrs. O. A. Pound entertained the
directors of the Jackson Club Cor
poration at a luncheon Friday.
Pro”. Van Fletcher was selected
to teach Education at the Regional
Institute at Barnesville June 10-
What Is A Bank?
NOT STRONG DOORS, MARBLE
FLOORS AND GLUM FACES #
Nobody invented the bank. It just giew.
the home, the school and other institutions, the bank
came along to supply a community need.
This bank provides a safe place to invest sur
plus funds and protect valuables. It is a Gibi altar
of financial strength for the community
Those in need of ready cash come to this insti
tution for assistance. Banking is a vital community
service and we enjoy conducting this service for
Butts County and surrounding territory.
“You’ll Find Us Friendly”
JACKSON NATIONAL BANK
JACKSON, GEORGIA.
Member Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
July 13.
Col. E. J. Williams, United States
Army, commanding Fort Screven,
left Monday for Walter Reed Hos
pital in Washington to undergo an
operation for appendicitis.
SCRAPINGS FROM
HARD SCRABBLE
dear editer,
All our life we have heard that
music hath charms for the savage
beast but we didn’t know how it
would turn out on one of them tam
ed animules we call cows. We had
a cow what got so unruly she
wouldn’t let nobody milk her. She
kicked over the bucket before we’d
git the bottom covered. Guess she’d
heard all her life about spilled milk
and wanted to see some. She shore
seen it ever time we tried to milk
her. One fair evenin not long ago
we desided we’d try music on old
unruly Bossy and see what the re
sult would be. We taken her right
up close to the back porch steps,
and one of the chilluns brought the
grindin organ or phonergraph right
close to the side of the edge of the
porch. Old Bossy started eatin, the
organ started grindin and I started
milkin all at the same time. And
would you blieve it Bossy was gen
tel and meek as you please and
didn’t seem to know the bucket w r as
under her and was filling with milk
ever minit. We shore blieve music
and milk goes together now. May
be a little troubble to git the phon
ergraph out on the porth two times
a day but it aint half as bad as not
having plenty of milk and butter.
Truly we live and learn.
Old Sam Sassafras got so mad
last week caused he wuzn’t lected
J. P. he’s been swelled up like a poi
soned pup ever since. Looks like
he dont want to speak when a feller
says howdy and smiles at ’im. I
dont know of nobody whut cares
how long He stays puffed up. His
old lady and the chilluns says they
are having the time of they lives
since he’s quit talking.
We are expectin a large crowd at
the preeching sermon at Mount Eb
ernezel next Sunday. The young
paster has married him a wife and
the congregation will look ’er over
fer the first time. If they look
like they aint got enuf to eat, the
ladies will give them a pantry show
er.
Must close and git the phonergraph
ready.
So long.
SUSIE STUCKEY.
Examine Yourself
Just stand aside and watch yourself
go by
Think of yourself as “he” instead
of “I.”
—Strickland Gillilan.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1939
WHEN LETTERS WERE FORMAL
Thomas Jefferson was a great let
ter writer. It is said that he wrote
thousands of letters every year. And
of course they had to be very for
mal. People in those days were se- 1
rious-minded and they did not de
scend to familiarities. Jefferson was
himself a man of plain habits and
tastes, as we know, but he felt that
he had to comply with the fashions
in letter writing which the high-hat
people of that day set.
Here, for instance, is the way he
closed one letter: “Repeating to
you my sincere sense of your good
ness to me, and my wishes to prove
it on every occasion, adding my sin
cere prayer that Heaven may bless
you with many years of life and
health, I pray you to accept here the
homage of those sentiments of re
spect and attachment with which I
have the honor to be your most obe
dient and humble servant.”
Bear in mind they had no type
writers in those days. All letters,
as well as writings of every sort,
had to be done laboriously in long
hand, and with quill pens. Try to
imagine what people of today would i
say—especially the younger genera
tion—if they were told they would
have to write their letters by hand
and model them after the style of
Jefferson’s time!
Lincoln, the Pioneer
Born in a log cabin in Kentucky,
“Honest Abe” Lincoln started at the
bottom of the ladder; you might say
he had no chance.” And he didn’t
climb to the top on a series of lucky
breaks.
What traits did Lincoln have that
can be just as valuable to us in pio
neering today? Well, he had cour
age and determination and a willing
ness to keep trying; he was simple
in manner, honest, and modest. He
didn t moan over his lot in life but
strove constantly to make the most
of what he had. These qualities
were enough to make Lincoln not
only a great president but a man
whose name will long live in the his
tory of the world.
Light Enough
Charles Kingsley found in the
everyday affairs of life many inter
esting and helpful observations.
One winter night he started to
walk down to Chelsea with a friend,
but found himself enveloped in a
dense fog before they had reached
Hyde Park Corner.
“We lost the way half a dozen
times,” the friend related later, “but
Kingley’s spirit seemed to rise high
er and higher as the fog thickened J
Isn t this like life?’ he said. ‘A deep,
yellow fog nil round, with a dim
light here ami there shining through.
You grope your way from one lamp,
to another, and you go up wrong
streets and back again. But you get
home at last—there’s always light
enough for that.’ ”