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Jackson Progress-Argus
PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY
~X 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
Singe Copies •
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 oe
lieved to be a fundamental princi
ple of Democratic goverhment.
Ice skating was resurrected dur
ing the recent cold wave. Many of
the streams in the state were frozen.
Voters of Louisiana gave the Long
machine a good walloping. Chances
are the job will bo finished in the
second election.
The cold wave claimed a heavy
toll of life by fires, explosions, acci
dents. Intense suffering was re
ported in many sections.
It is an ill wind that blows no
good. Farmers are smiling because
they believe the cold weather has
thinned out the boll weevil.
The nation suffered a distinct
loss in the death of Senator Wil
liam E. Borah. He was a great
statesman and a patriotic American.
When Congress trims a few mil
lion from an appropriation bill that’s
front page news. It will take a lot
of trimming to make a dint in that
45 billion debt.
This has been one of the coldest
winters in the memory of the old
est inhabitant and all parts of the
world appears to have suffered from
low temperatures.
Farmers are encouraged over the
prospect for early payment of soil
conservation benefits. These checks
distributed in rural areas will be of
considerable help.
The anti-lynching bill has yet to
run the guantlet of the senate.
Chances are the bill will never pass.
It is a bit of cheap politics and un
worthy of its sponsors.
Fulton county seems to be divided
over an early primary. Many coun
ties are getting primaries out of
the way so state politics can have
full sway a little later in the year.
Thousands of Georgia voters will
be disfranchised unless they pay poll
taxes and register at once. It is
a year that will produce many elec
tions. Why not register now and
be prepared to vote?
Preparations are going forward
for the annual Press Institute at
the University of Georgia in Feb
ruary. A good program is being
arranged and every editor should
make plans to be present.
Americans will be glad of an op
portunity to donate to the relief
of Finnish war sufferers. This is a
call that appeals to the heart and
conscience of all liberty loving peo
ple. There should be a generous
response.
Pasture building will receive
more than ordinary attention this
season. Good pastures are neces
sary for economical livestock pro
duction. Georgia is making prog
ress with livestock and needs many
more acres planted to permanent
pastures to furnish cheap feed.
Take It Or
Leave It
By J. D. JONES
Two interesting items are con
tained in the news of 40 years ago,
published in this issue. One related
to the fight on vagrancy, wherein
it was stated Mayor Beauchamp
would place idle persons, without
visible means of support, at work
on the streets. The other was in
regard to hitching posts or wagon
yards for the convenience of
farmers visiting Jackson. Both
were live issues in past genera
tions. Often city officials would
wage war against vagrants and
many were put to work on the
streets or on public highways un
less they could show they had means
of support. Pan-toting was also an
evil of that day. Now both classes
are well taken care of by the WPA
or other relief programs. Scores
of vehicles thronged the streets and
it was necessary to establish hitching
posts and wagon yards. The auto
mobile effectively banished the
hitching posts, and now it is park
ing space that is at a premium. All
of which shows the world moves—
even if not in the direction some
of us think it ought to move.
Several of the exchanges are ad
vocating a two-party system for
Georgia. In that way, it is claimed,
Georgia would receive proper recog
nition in national affairs. Under
the present system Georgia, along
with several other of the southern
states, votes democratic regardless
of the nominee. The “Solid South”
is penalized for being solidly dem
ocratic, and when patronage is dis
pensed the South suffers for its
loyalty, accepted as a matter of
course. Not everybody is pleased
with the present administration and
not fond of the present brand of
(Jcmocracy, but party loyalty forces
them to swallow what is dished out.
There is on the part of most sou
therners a distrust and dislike of
the Republican party, dating from
Civil War and Reconstruction days.
The only thing left is the Democra
tic party and we swallow that hook,
line and sinker. It will ieally be a
fortunate thing when the South
breaks away from this traditional
attitude and when there are two
evenly balanced political parties.
The two-party system is best for
the nation. Not all people see and
think alike. There are honest dif
ferences of opinion. The present
Democratic party, which is a far
cry from the party of Jefferson
and Jackson, does not possess all
the virtues, nor is the Republican
party wholly bad. When the South
has a two-party system then the
South will sit at the first table in
stead of eating political crumbs as
is now the case.
Many grand juries in Georgia
have taken notice of the lax meth
od of collecting taxes and have rec
ommended means for tightening up
the collection of revenue. In this
issue will be found an editorial from
the Thomaston Times dealing with
a recommendation of the Upson
county grand jury relative to col
lection of taxes. Spalding county,
Henry county and other counties ad
jacent to Butts have recently col
lected a vast amount of past due
taxes because of grand jury action.
If everybody paid taxes promptly,
paid honestly and fairly the tax
burden would be lighter on all con
cerned. With the present method
in force in some counties an „undue
burden falls on a few while others
escape altogether. If this policy is
followed it will eventually lead to
a tax rebellion. It is not easy for
any property owner to pay taxes,
but if one has to pay then all should
be forced to pay. In that way the
burden would be distributed, coun
ties would have funds to operate
on a cash basis and the moral effect
would be wholesome. When the
Butts counts’ grand jury meets it
*
THE JACKSON PROGRESS-ARGUS, JACKSON, GEORGIA
cannot do a better service than to ,
go thoroughly into the whole sub
ject of tax collection and recom
mend vigorous methods of improv
ing the situation now in force here.
The question of a public health
nurse for Butts county is now one
of the most important facing peo
ple of the county. Under recent
legislation it is now possible for a
county to employ a public health
nurse, in co-operation with state and
federal agencies, at small expense.
With a full time health nurse on
duty in the county it would be pos
sible to save people a vast sum in
doctor bills and medicine. It would
mean more efficiency and better
living. If the grand jury see pro
per to go fully into this matter it
will be effort well directed.
The growth of rural electrification
was evidenced last week when stock
holders of the Central Georgia Elec
tric Membership Corporation met in
Jackson. Farmers and farm women
from a dozen middle Georgia coun
ties attended the meeting and there
was a spirit of interest seldom seen.
This immediate region is well serv
ed by the farm co-operative, which
is enjoying a steady and substan
tial growth. An increase in farm
buying power will sharply increase
consumer demand for lights and
household and farm appliances. Land
values have been increased as a
result of these REA lines. Many of
the problems of rural life are being
solved by rural electrification. Sure
ly all of us rejoice at these great
benefits and will be glad to see
the day when every farm home in
the nation can enjoy the full advan
tages of lights and power and labor
saving devices. Rural electrification
has arrived. Its growth and use
fulness will steadily increase through
all the years.
The opinion is expressed that the
small grain crop was seriously dam
aged by the recent freezes. Because
of the dry fall grain was not plant
ed until late and was not well es
tablished to withstand severe cold.
Former Governor Thomas W.
Hardwick calls upon the state Dem
ocratic executive committee to call
a preferential primary. Many coun
ties have called upon the committee
for similar action. These requests
should be heeded.
It is announced that seed and feed
loans will be available again this
season. Uncle Sam is trying to
help farmers help themselves and
the aim of every farmer should be
to reach the point where he will not
need this help.
It is pretty small politics to array
the teachers against highway work
and vice versa. Georgia needs ed
ucation and it needs highways. Un
der a wise and fair system of taxa
tion there will be enough funds for
roads and schools.
WITH THE EXCHANGES
The Waste of War
There will never be any enduring
prosperity in the world so long as
nations pour human life and the
products of labor down the waste
pipes of war. There cannot be
enough production and industry to
offset the folly of such expense and
at the same time provide for all the
needs of the people.—Monroe Ad
vertiser.
Money At The Bottom
Money is the life-blood of all this
new dealisni and inasmuch as the
treasury at Washington is running
low and that the money is playing
out matters are becoming jittery.
Common sense impresses one that
profligate spending must come to a
stop some time.—Madison Madi
sonian.
Georgia Was Penalized
Between April 8, 1935, and De
cember 31, 1939. this country has
spent $11,776,501,570 for relief, of
which Georgia received only $170,-
361,798. But may be the adminis
tration has figured that Democrats
ought not to need as much as Re
publicans, while the Democrats are
in power.—Tifton Gazette.
Through
Argus-Eyes
By DOYLE JONES, JR.
With one of the heaviest snow
falls on record coming as a climax
to a January which to date has been
the severest in the memory ol the
oldest inhabitants of this county,
King Winter made ironic the term
Sunny South. Waking Tuesday
morning to a sight which is becom
ing too rare in this section of the
country, that of pure unadulterated
snow, the citizens of Jackson lost
no time in taking advantage of
Mothdr iNature’s handiwork.
Snowball battles raged all morning
in the business section with no one
being spared, sleds were seen on
several of the steepest hills in this
vicinity, cars were stuck and drivers
cussing and but definitely. By
noon the glamour boys and girls
were tiring of the snow and the bat
tles were less frequent and liked
the intensity of those earlier in the
day. A cold, spine chilling rain
cooled the ardor of all but the most
hardy and the afternoon was spent
by most around the nearest
fire. Comes rumors of scores
of cars and trucks unable to con
quer file hazardous hill leading to
Indian Springs, falling by the road
side. However, your correspondent
had no desire to see for himself as
he twice felt the pangs of the mo
torists’ lowest moments —being
stuck—and in your own backyard.
Wouldn’t the Finns enjoy our 28
degree weather and eight inch snow?
Compared to their 58 below and snow
drifts 20 and 30 feet deep they’d
think this a heat wave and would
probably seek relief by strolling
around in their shirt sleeves or less.
But, seriously, with a little more
seasoning with such temperatures
as January has brought us we might
make good fourth string reserves for
the Finnish army. At least we
would make good summer fighters.
Somewhere out in the infinite in
the Valhalla of Great Americans,
another was welcomed with open
arms last week. He was William Ed
gar Borah, the “Lion of Idaho/’ a
man who was an exponent of a van
ishing race, the great statesman,
who leavs few behind to follow in
the steps of Clay, Calhoun, Dou
glas, and Bryan. He championed the
Lost Cause, spoke for the convic
tions he believed no matter who
opposed him, and will be sorely
missed in this critical period of
American history. History, I believe,
will reserve one of the highest nich
es for the name of Borah and as
time, goes forward his greatness
will be more apparent. Borah
fought many measures which would
have meant the political demise of
a less magnetic man, he often op
posed Roosevelt sponsored legisla
tion and during his 33 year tenure
stepped on more important toes
than any other Senator in Wash
ington, but always made them like
it. He lived true to himself and
his country, and died, as I imagine
he would have liked it, at the ze
nith of his glory with his name on
every lip as the defender of Ameri
can neutrality.
REFORM NEEDED IN THE COL
LECTION OF TAXES
At the November term of Upson
Superior court the grand jury ap
pointed a special committee to in
vestigate the giving in and collec
tion of taxes in Upson county and
to make some recommendation re
garding their findings. This com
mittee made its report to the grand
jury Tuesday and the findings in
the shape of a special presentment
are published elsewhere in this issue
of the Thomaston Times. Every
taxpayer of the county should read
this recommendation as it concerns
us all.
' Among other things the report
states that the committee found
that there were taxes on the books
as far back as five or six years
totaling many thousands of dollars.
The Beginning
OF A
Happy Future
Married or single—it is the part of wisdom to
deposit a portion of your earnings in a leliable
bank. It accumulates so rapidly that before you
are aware of it, you’ll be classed among the capi
talists.
The future is brighter when you have accumu
lated a snug nest egg. It will enable you to sleep
nights without worry or dread of the future.
JACKSON NATIONAL BANK
JACKSON, GEORGIA.
Member Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
The grand jury after hearing the
report of the special committee rec
ommended that these back taxes be
collected in the near future and that
beginning with 1940 that fi fas be
issued as soon as the date for pay
ing taxes, December 20, expires and
that these fi fas be immediately
turned over to the sheriff for col
lection with instructions to collect
at once or proceed by proper levy.
The report of the grand jury has
no political significance whatever
and it is not intended that it should
have. The present officials simply
have been following a custom of
years and the report is not intend
ed as a criticism of them. It is sim
ply a system that is out of date and
should be discarded for more mod
ern methods.
If all the back taxes that are col
lectable were brought into the
treasury soon the county would be
better off financially and could
probably reduce the tax rate next
year. Certainly there is no good
reason why some people should have
to pay taxes while others are allow
ed to let them carry over for years.
Of course taxes are always hard
to pay but the same rules for giving
in and collection of taxes should
apply to all people alike.
If the recommendations of the
grand jury are carried out the
Thomaston Times believes that it
will result in the saving of money
for the county and the reduction
in the tax rate eventually. At any
rate the tax payers of Upson coun
ty should study the findings of the
grand jury in the special present
ments.—Thomaston Times.
ABSENTEE-LANDLORDISM EVIL
No single group is to blame, but
the state of Georgia is burdened
with too much absentee-landlord
ism. The state department has said
no exact figures are available, but
the supposition is that more than
fifty per cent of the property is
owned outside of the state; and
probably thirty per cent of the re
mainder is owned by people living
in Georgia towns.
The urge to sell these holdings
and get rid of the property kills
interest in the land. The owner
doesn’t want to put any more mon
ey into it, and the renter or tenant
expecting to be ousted at the end
of any season, so nobody is in posi
tion to build up the productivity and
the livableness of the farms.
On the owner-occupied farms a
far different picture is presented.
Cover crops are being plowed in,
and terraces are holding the soil;
fertilization is being applied; and
while marketing conditions are not
yet ideal, they are vastly improved
and offer hope.
One or more of the government
rehabilitation agents have said the
cropper or tenant seems to feel he’s
up against a dead wall, because he
can t figure out a long-time pro-
THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 1940
gram; and therefore does not know
how to plan.
Few leases are ever granted, even
if they should be sought. Contracts
to buy are more often made, ana
these are more desirable where the 1
terms are suitable and possible of
fulfillment.
The agitation over the farming
situation has impressed many that
some lands are too depleted to be
tilled successfully; and about the
only sensible use for such is to give
them a chance to grow timber. But
a mortgage holder who has taken
over the property because of de
fault in debt payment, is not inter
ested in spending any more; what
he wants is to get back the forty
or fifty per cent valuation he put
into it at the beginning. Somebody
else will have to plant the pine trees
if they are planted.
The serious mistake has been
made of fencing the worst abused
and worst worn lands for pasturage;
and this has brought disappointment.
It is gradually being learned that
good lands are needed for pastur
age. Poor pastures produce poor
animals, and that’s a sure route to
poverty.
Since the South is again being
looked upon as having rights in the
union, and industry is turning in
this direction, it is as sure as day|
follows the night, values are com
ing back to the Georgia lands. They
can be bought now for less than
half normal, reasonable prices;
some people are investing in them
to improve and develop them.
The movement in that direction is
slow, but is easily seen. An entire
ly different type of farming is be
ing done, but it is a better type.
One cash crop systems were never
meant for a state with so many va
rieties of soil and climate/
When the lands get into the
hands of people who want to im
prove them, the cropper and tenant
problems will solve themselves, be
cause the tenants and croppers will
be able to build themselves up to
a higher status; and at last they
are the people who should event
ually be the owners. Any other ob-
jectives move us all in the wrong
direction. Some historians say the
most prosperous agricultural coun
try is where the owner must live
on his land or he must surrender
it to somebody who will live on it,
and his holdings are limited to a
reasonable size farm.—Macon Tele
graph.
Battle of Flodden Field
The battle of Flodden Field was'
fought near the haamlet of Flodden
in Northumberland, September 9,
1513, between the Scots and the
English. The Scottish king, James
IV, was defeated and slain by the
Earl of Surrey.