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Jackson Progress-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
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Every governmental official or
board whose duties include the han
dling of public funds should pub
lish at regular intervals nn 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.
THE AMERICAN’S
CREED
I believe in the United
States of America as a govern
ment of the people, by the
people, for the people whose
just powers are derived from
the consent of the governed;
a democracy in a Republic; a
soverign Nation of many sov
ereign States; a perfect Un
ion, one and inseparable, es
tablished upon those principles
of freedom, equality, justice
nnd humanity for which Amer
ican patriots sacrificed their
lives and fortunes.
I therefore believe it is my
duty to my Country to love it;
to support its Constitution; to
obey its laws; to respect its
flag; nnd to defend it agninsi
all enemies.—William Tyler
Page.
The influenza epidemic is a thing
the country would like to forget as
quickly as possible.
Nearly all programs nowadays
arc being built around national de
fense. That’s right and proper.
Common sense methods by capi
tal and labor will settle all strikes
and result in a speeding up of na
tional defense.
Even under war conditions a lot
of money is wasted in the inaugu
ration of public officials. But the
show must go on.
Since the Great Exodus from
Capitol Hill the population of Ful
ton county may not be as large as
it was a few weeks ago.
Considerable farm work has been
done in this section recently. Farm
ers of the nation will do their part
toward national defense.
A reduction in state salaries will
not be popular but it is one effec
tive way to reduce expenses and
help get the state out of debt.
Georgia possesses peculiar advan
tage for recreation and under the
new administration the state park
system should be greatly expanded.
Georgia’s 4-H club members are
enlisted for national defense. These
young people are doing important
work and are worthy of unstinted
support.
Georgia is promised $14,000,000
worth of post road work at a cost
to the state of $500,000. Good
business, if true. The post roads
are needed.
Borrowing from Peter to pay
Paul has become a habit in Geor
gia. More revenue or a better bud
get law is needed to cure the sit
uation permanently.
This section has a grain crop
that is most promising. The small
grain crop is an important one for
the state, and this is especially true
under war conditions.
We are not sure that Georgia
needs four year terms for governor
and statehouse officers. Good of
ficers can be re-elected and two
years is long enough to be afflicted
with those having bad records.
Take It Or
Leave It
By J. D. JONES
Filling jobs is one of the hardest
things our officials have to face.
According to reports applications at
the rate of three a minute are be
ing filed with the present adminis
tration. Governor Talmadge made
his campaign on a platform of
economy. If he, in combination
with the General Assembly, is to
pay the state out of debt, expenses
must be sliced wherever possible.
This cannot be done if all the appli
cants are given jobs. The Rivers
administration was accused of put-
ting on needless job holders. It is
not an easy thing to turn down
those who supported a candidate,
but the line must be drawn some
where. Some weeks ago Governor
Talmadge said he would fire em
ployees by the train loads. He is
faced with a tough situation. But
those acquainted with Governor
Talmadge believe he is equal to the
task. Men big enough to fill im
portant state offices ought not to
have life made miserable for them
by office-seekers, but until a bet
ter way is found to handle patron
age that is just what happens.
The proposition advanced by Gov
ernor Talmadgo to have the Gen
eral Assembly reduce his salary to
$5,000 per year and slice the sala
ries of other constitutional officers
to that figure is spcetacular, but it
will not result in any material sav
ing to the state. It may be a step
in the right direction, for the ten
dency in recent years has been to
increase salaries and shorten hours,
but it will take more than this to
make a dent in the state debt. The
question of allocated funds is one
the General Assembly should study
carefully. Under the present ar
rangement some departments of
state have plenty of funds while
other agencies have to operate on
reduced budgets. All should be fed
out of the* same spoon. The budget
law should be revised. No appro
priation should be voted without a
companion hill to raise revenue to
pay the appropriation. Buck-pass
ing has become popular with legis
lative bodies in recent years. The
lawmakers should face the facts
squarely. The present General As
sembly is composed of good men and
upon them rests the difficult prob
lem of trying to restore Georgia
to a sound fiscal system.
A bill to provide a uniform time
for the state has been proposed.
Such a measure would iron out a
lot of differences and complaints
and save time, trouble and incon
venience. Under the present system
parts of the state have central
standard time and other sections
have eastern time. What is even
worse parts of some counties ob
serve different times, bringing about
no end of confusion. In the sum
mer the situation is further com
plicated by daylight saving time.
Human nature being what it is
there will be no time, whether by
legislative sanction or otherwise,
that will suit everybody. But sure
ly the present condition can be im
proved by a uniform time for the
state as a whole.
People of Georgia listen with in
terest and pleasure to the salutes
to counties being given by Radio
Station WSB. In the alphabetical
list of counties. Butts county was
saluted Saturday night. The pro
gram was an interesting one and
covered such subjects as industries,
churches, schools, civic clubs, agri
culture and 4-H club work and rec
reation. and a well rounded musical
program. People of Butts county
! appreciate the spirit the Atlanta
Journal and station WSB is show
ing in giving these salutes. It is
part of the Forward Georgia pro
gram and will result in good to the
entire state. It is constructive pub
licity Georgia very much needs.
rHE JACKSON PROGRESS-ARGUS, JACKSON, GEORGIA
In discussing the social security
program in his inaugural address,
Governor Talmadge declared there
would be the fullest publicity in
connection with the department.
Personally, the writer never has
considered this important. This is
information placed before the Grand
Jury by the Butts County Welfare
Board, and it is supposed that oth
er county boards follow the same
procedure. What is important is
to see that as many old people, as
many blind and dependent children
as possible receive the benefits pro
vided for them. This is possible
only under the strict regulations
provided by the federal government.
As long as the federal government
pays fifty per cent of the cost of
the program it will be the dominat
ing factor. However, if this infor
mation is to be made public nobody
should object. More publicity is
needed in all public business. Be
fore the present Legislature ad
journs there should be a law pro
viding for itemized statements of
receipts and disbursements of all
elected officers.
Agricultural club work for boys
and girls has grown remarkably
since the first club was organized
in Newton county years ago. These
4-H clubs now cover all parts of
the nation and the work is constant
ly expanded to embrace new pro
jects. Georgia has always ranked
high in 4-H club work. The 4-H
Club Council in a recent meeting
planned its work for the year
around national defense. No agen
cy in the country is doing more ef
fective work to provide training
and leadership than 4-H clubs.
Georgia is being made a richer and
better state as a result of this work
and surely it is a privilege arid
pleasure to co-operate fully with
the hoys and girls and their state
and national leaders.
The rural housing project is a
meritorious one and should be ex
tended to all parts of the country.
This section would certainly profit
from more and better farm dwell
ings.
Grand juries throughout the state
are condemning the indiscriminate
pardoning of criminals. It is a
slap at the courts. It breeds disre
spect for law and order. It is ex
pensive for taxpayers.
Uncle Sam is rolling up his
sleeves and everybody is getting
busy. A little bit slow, perhaps,
but Uncle Sam is moving for total
defense and this gives the European
mat! dogs an uneasy feeling.
Now is a good time to plant pine
seedlings and a good time to keep
fires out of forests. The state is
reaping rewards from its timber
resources and the income will be
perpetual if forests are protected
from fire.
With defense projects being built
at an unheard of rate almost every
community is trying to get some
sort of project. If industry is to
be decentralized there should be
enough projects for all counties to
share in the spending.
Having failed to get a civil ser
vice bill to perpetuate his appointees
in office, former Governor Rivers
had to sit by and see most of them
fired by the new administration.
Until some better plan is devised
to the victor will belong the spoils.
While the legislature is in session
it is fairly safe to say some fences
will be built for the 1942 political
campaign. Some say that Governor
Talmdage will run for the United
States senate and that Charles D.
Redwine will be a candidate for
governor.
The Georgia Highway Depart
ment was created in 1919 and af
ter twenty-one years the state road
system is far from completion. Mil
lions have been collected in gaso
line taxes and the average motorist
wonders if he is not getting cheat
ed when he pays a sales tax of
tihrty-three per cent to have his
tank filled up.
THE LAST STRAW
By VINCENT JONES
Recent news photos show Sena
tors Russell and George shaking
hands with Georgia’s new governor,
apparently in the very best of
spirits. All of which goes to show
that you can’t even believe all you
see these days.
Naught is the sum total of all
those who sincerely believe Ed Riv
ers will ever be Governor of Geor
gia again.
Taking a blind date is like strik
ing a match: more often than not,
you’re going to get burned.
Listening to a politician is like
walking in the woods—you hear the
wind blow.
Faith is what you have left when
your hope gives out.
A great man prophesied 20 years
ago, “The lamps of civilization are
going out all over Europe.” Solo
mon didn’t have all the wisdom.
Men’s mind is like an autogiro:
it turns ’round and ’round but
doesn’t go very far, or very high.
Kissing a girl in the dark is like
cussing a flat tire; wasted energy.
If Governor Talmadge had noth
ing but enthusiasm, then he still
should be commended; for the will
to win is half of the victory.
As one writer put it, there are
“more horses than oats” in the
State Capitol; it would also seem
that there are more State Patrol
men than ’Gene wants.
Politics is like war in that it
sure is Hell when the other fellow
is on top.
A nation is no greater than its
traditions and yet the United States
broke one of its oldest last Monday
with President Roosevelt’s 3rd in
auguration. No wonder we all stay
dizzy, the world is moving faster
these days.
The world, and radio in particu
lar, would be much better off if,
excepting a few of the more sedate
and more dulcy swing bands, all of
the swing bands and musicians now
engaged in the union squabble could
be put in a boxing ring and allowed
to fight it out.
Petty politicians should keep in
mind the “great oaks from little
acorns” philosophy.
A striking clock is a “bookie” of
our destiny.
Love is not blind; love is the only
thing that sees.
Scrapings From
Hard Scrabble
dear editer,
I don’t know much erbout pol
lertics but I dont like this here
buziness of givin one man all the
power over a nashun, a state or a
countie. The pioneers in this coun
try wouldn't er done it. They
blieved in everybody havin a voice
in the affairs of the government.
They blieved in liberty, they did.
Nowadays we dont know whut lib
erty means, and fer the most part
they dont want to know. All they
wants is a full stonxache and some
more gaserline, and liberty can go
to the winds. This country is on
dangeous ground when people are
too sorbed in findin entertainment
that they cant take no intrust in
their countrie’s welfare. Don’t
know whut we’re comin to but may
be the next ditch wont be no worse’n
the one we’re in.
Didn’t mean to write er essay,
Mr. Editer, but you kin put it in
the waiste basket, if you likes.
So long.
SUSIE STUCKEY.
PREPAREDNESS
m
Front page news these days are the furious ef
forts of our Nation to get ready for any event after
many years of neglect.
PREPAREDNESS for emergencies is the foun
dation on which our bank has been built.
We invite new accounts and welcome all busi
ness on our foundation of preparedness. All ac
counts insured up to and including SSOOO in the
FDIC.
JACKSON NATIONAL BANK
*
JACKSON, GEORGIA.
Member Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
BIRTHDAY GREETINGS
The Jackson Progress-Argus, ably
edited by J. Doyle Jones, has begun
its sixty-ninth year of service to
the people of Butts county. The
paper was founded in 1873 dui’ing
the Reconstruction period and has
continued its usefulness to the peo
ple of that section since that date.
—Dawson News.
WITH THE EXCHANGES
Grafting Politicians
Grafting politicians ai-e a more
deadly menace to American insti
tutions than all the fifth columnists
put together. A man who in time
of peace will sell his political pres
tige, or an officer who will take a
bribe, will in time of war betray
his country to the enemy if the
price is high enough; and a man who
will sell his vote is just as much of
a traitor. —Pickens County Prog
ress.
Swivel-Chair Plan
The Sandersville Progress wants
to know what has become of the
“plan” to consolidate some of Geor
gia’s 159 counties. The “plan”
originated in the fertile brain of
Atlanta big wigs and was soft
pedaled when they got the reaction
from the counties. Georgia has too
many counties, but let the counties
themselves take the initiative, if it
is to be taken, and don’t permit a
few swivel-chaired tea hounds to
tell them what they shall do.—Wal
ton Tribune.
Pensions Go On Forever
The federal government is still
paying out pensions for the War
of 1812 and the Mexican War of
1848. The daughter of a soldier
in the War of 1812 and 130 widows
of Mexican war veterans are draw
ing monthly pensions. Dawson
News.
LETTER FROM OUR
CONGRESSMAN
Capitol Hill, Washington. D. C.,
My dear Constituents: When you
read this letter the third inaugura
tion of President Fianklin Delano
Roosevelt will have taken place. It
will have been the fortieth public
presidential inauguration in the his
tory of our country, and the thirty
seventh public inauguiation at the
Capitol in Washington; Washing
ton’s two inaugurals and that of
John Adams having taken place be
fore the building of the City of
Washington and the establishment
of the seat of government here.
Four of our presidents, Tyler,
Fillmore, Johnson and Arthur never
had public inauguxals. they having
as vice presidents been sworn in
quickly and privately to succeed
presidents, who died in office and
not having been elected to the pres
idency for succeeding terms. Six-
THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 1941
teen of our presidents had only one
inaugural, although several of them
sei-ved longer than four years. These
sixteen were the two Adamses, the
two Harrisons, Van Bxiren, Polk,
Taylor, Piexce, Buchanan, Hayes,
Garfield, Theodore Roosevelt, Taft,
Harding, Cooledge and Hoover. Ten
of our presidents had two inaugu
rals each, Jeffer
son, Madison, Monroe, Jackson, Lin
coln, Grant, Cleveland, McKinley
and Wilson.
Only one, however, of the thirty
one presidents has been elected by
the people three times and had three
public inaugurals—and that is our
gx-eat leader, Franklin Delano Roose
velt. In my humble opinion none
of our presidents ever had to face
the trials that he has faced, or car
ried the bui’dens he has caiTied.
Taking the oath of office when our
country was writhing in the throes
of internal economic ills, unemploy
ment and destitution almost univei*-
sal, he has in his two terms of of
fice brought order out of chaos and
| l'eplaced fear with confidence, yet
in this beginning of his third term
he finds our great country facing
its most serious war crisis as the
last great demociacy. He faces his
task with courage and confidence,
and I do not believe for one moment
that his strength and fortitude will
waver. Of all our great presidents,
none has been braver or stronger
and none has loved the average cit
izen more nor done more to make
his lot happier and more comfort
able and secure. He is wise, cour
ageous and strong—and has not
failed to meet any emergency. Our
people love and trust him.
Interest in Congress has centered
this week almost entirely in the
hearings being held daily beore the
House Committee on Foreign Af
fairs on HR 1776, the bill to au
thorize the lending and leasing of
weapons, ships, planes and other
munitions of war to Great Britain
and the other nations engaged in
fighting the Axis powers. The
great Secretary of State, Cordell
Hull, and the Secretary of War,
Henry L. Stirason, testified before
that Committee on the conditions
that confront our government. The
attempt of Republican Representa
tives Fish and Tinkham to cross-
examine Secretary Hull were amus
ing as well as puerile. Both Secre
tary Hull and Secretary Stimson
were of the opinion that the pres- 1
ent emergency is much more acute
and much more dangerous with ref
erence to the time element in the
production of munitions of defense
than it was in 1917. As soon as
the hearings are completed on this
bill, it will be sent to the floor of
the House for passage.
The weather has been miserable
this week—sleet, rain, ice. We
hope it clears up for the inaugura
tion Monday.
A. SIDNEY CAMP, M. C.