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A Striking Vindication For
Pay-As-You-Go Plan
("From AtliintA Jcurnu!)
Th* Surge increase in Georgia’s
ttwnne from the fuel oil tax for
tfc* first half of the current year
recalls a prediction made months ago
written the Cash and the Credit plans
etf building state highways were
ba-rlmg it out before the legislature.
JPrsexids of the Cash plan maintained
that the normal growth of income
fnoi the oil tax would enable the
ssSa'ie to complete an excellent sys
tior of roads without mortgaging its
property, without burdening its peo
ple and without incurring the expense
of heavy interest charges. Advocates
f the Credit plan argued, on the
cron nary, that only by a bond issue,
reading in amount from seventy
nlHinn dollars upward, could such
a syati in of the state roads be con
structed. Which of the two thus far
stands justified by events? Let the
record answer.
Receipts from the oil tax for the
first half of 1926 amount to two
million, five hundred and forty-eight
thousand dollars, .as against four
Million, eighty-two thousand for the
■entire twelve months of 1925. If
th average of the last three months
x MBlained-tand the likelihood is
tkw it will bp bettered—the total
receipts for this year will be in ex
erts* cl five and a half million dollars,
living a clear gain of one and a half
raiDion over 1925. This is so far be
yond the claims of the Pay-as-You-
Gn haOders that their estimates are
proved to have been most conserva
tife and their forecasts well with
in the bounds of reason. Add the
motor vehicle license fund, also stead
ily increasing, which will approxi
mate three million dollars for 1926,
iujd the year’s sum for highway
construction from-these two sources
**3l foe eight and a half million dol-
Jarsu This, again, exceeds the esti
mate of the Cash-plan supporters,
md reinforces their contention that
ike roads can be built without sink
ing the state in debt.
IftTicn this matter was at issue
before the legislature last March, The
Journal had occasion to say: “That
Georgia should have first-rate high
way service is agreed on all sides.
The only question is, how best to
procure it—by credit or by cash?
Advocates of a state bond issue con
tend that our sixty-three hundred
miles of roads can all be hard-sur-
faced in ten years for the sum of
one hundred and forty-nine million, 1
six .hundred and fifty thousand dol-j
iara. Opponents of a state bond is
sue assuming for argument’s sake
fcJhal Shis calculation of the cost is
turret t, show that the same result
tan I*e accomplished in eleven and a
bail years on the Pay-as-You-Go plan,
if only an extra cent is added to the
oil fuel tax; and that at the end of
fch* period the new highway system
■wiS 5* debt-free, whereas under the
bond plan there would remain an
encumbrance of sixty-one and ■
ju*rher million dollars. Even if the
SCasal'me tax is not increased, the
state’s regular revenue for road
Iraihling will provide, in the course
of fifteen years, more than would be
netted in that time by the proposed
serein y million-dollar bond issue, the
mdvoeates of the Cash maintain. And
they add the highly important cir
cumstance that while under their
plan the improvements would be
paid for when completed, the bond
plan would leave the state at the end
mi the fifteen years shouldering a
debt of forty-nine million dollars.
Moreover, the Credit plan would add,
according to conservative estimates,
not less than fifty per cent to the
cast of road paving; which would be,
mm the propsed bond issue, around
tfcirly-five million dollars.”
Sore those arguments were ad
wann-nd nothing has occurred to re
fute them, while much has developed
to confirm them, notably the large
increase in the revenue from the
foe) oil tax. The merits of the issue
sftssd now as then; and though the
:fKHbility and wisdom of the Pay
as-Tou-Go plan have won more and
mn adherents as the people have
hnd tune to investigate and to think,
am* are still clinging to the Credit
aeferrae. Of the candidates for Gov-
John Holder alone has de
dasd himself positively and unnlter
against that scheme. He op
ponrfi it when its propagandists were
it* ituur hey-day, and opposed it not
wrtiutnnnriing that it offered the easi
est any by which he could make a
ssf*ra*cular showing for his depart
wiinh. He told the legislature and
ha public the sober truth, and coun
seled them to follow business-like
prfsries rather than extravagant fads.
Thus by sheer logic of events Mr.
H*Mer stands as the candidate for
who believe that Georgia’s best
imterests will be served by paying as
shc goes instead of mortgaging of
her future, by concentrating tax re
sources upon actual construction in
stead of spending millions for inter
est on avoidable debts, and by ad
hering to her historic principle of
moderate taxation instead of burden
ing producers and rebuffing inves
tors with the costs of a needless
bond issue.
SLATON CITES ENGLAND
AS ARGUMENT AGAINST
STATE BOND ISSUES
Writing to an Atlanta friend from
London, former Governor John M.
Slaton, who with Mrs. Slaton, is on
a European tour, says: “If Geor
gains knew conditions here produced
by debt they would hate the very
name of bonds.”
Governor Slaton is one of the lead
ing opponents against state bond is
sues in Georgia. He addressed the
extraordinary session of the legisla
ture against bonds and in addresses
delivered throughout the state he has
most effectively opposed the state be
ing saddled with a bond issue mort
gage.
“GEORGIA’S NEXT GOVERNOR
WILL HAIL EROM JACKSON
COUNTY”
We have the utmost confidence in
Uncle John Shannon, and believe he
can work out of the tightest situ
ation. Just now we do not envy
him with two candidates, Dr. L. G.
Hardman of Commerce, and Hon.
J. N. Holder of Jefferson, both in
Jackson county, running for gover
nor. Probably he will continue to
preach about the Grand Old Butter
milk and not mention politics.—
Jackson Progress.
Then you have a sight more confi
dence in us than we have in our
selves. We can’t event grunt. Can’t
say amen. But hit or miss, survive
or perish, sink or swim, we will say
this much if the world comes to
an end tomorrow—Georgia’s next
governor will hail from Jackson coun
ty. ALL HAlL!—Commerce News.
Minds Made Up to Elect Holder
(From the Cedartown Standard)
When Mr. Carswell announced for
governor, he was in favor of bond*
if the pay-as-you-pave plan doesn’t
work—a perfectly safe position for
anyone to take. This didn’t satisfy
those bond advocates, of course, who
are “hell-bent and predetermined’’
to have bonds whether they arc
needed or not, and now Mr. Cars
well says he is in favor of a refer
endum. He will have to “guess
again,’’ however, before he satisfies
either side to his position. And
while he is guessing, the people have
made up their minds to elect John
Holder ns governor.
Overwhelming Majority For Holder
(From the Douglas County Sentinel)
Hon. John N. Holder, of Jeffer
son, has anounced his candidacy
for governor of Georgia. His an
nouncement has been expected for
some time, as his position on the
bond question makes him the logical
candidate of those who are unwill
ing to plunge the state into a heavy
indebtedness for the paving of roads
and educational plans.
Mr. Holder will be elected gov
ernor by an overwhelming major
ity. His ability is unquestioned and
he will have the greatest opportu
nity that has ever come into his
life to prove himself a patriotic and
wise chief executive of the state.
A Bitter Foe Not a Good Judgs
(From Tifton Gazette)
“The Telegraph intimates that the
roads granted or promised may have
been granted or promised for politi
cal purposes and not to the best in
terest of the State. Who is to say
that they are not? We would want
a less interested opinion than that
of The Telegraph before rendering
a verdict. Suppose Tifton, Moultrie,
Thomasville. and Ocilla want a state
road connecting them, and Mr. Holder
preunises such a road. Who is to
say that it is not to be the best in
terest of the state? Suppose Ash
burn, Sylvester, Moultrie and Quit
man want a state road, and Mr. Hold
er gives it to them. Who is to say
that this is not to the best interest
of the state? Also, if people in the
counties traversed feel that they
have been well served by Mr. Holder
and wish to vote for him in return to
show their appreciation, who is
there to say that they have sold their
vote for a road?”
Will Make no Mistake Voting For
Holder
(From Dahloncga Nugget)
We are satisfied that no one will
make a .mistake in voting for John
Holder, because he b able, and a safe
man to hold the governor’s offieff, and
now is the time we’ need his services.
COMMENTS ON THE GOVERNOR’S RACE
What Georgia Newspapers
Have to Say Concerning
the Gubernatorial
Campaip
(From Savannah Press)
|P*ep And Push Promised
Candidate Carswell promises to
open headquarters in Atlanta and to
“put pep and push in the campaign.”
(From Cleveland Courier)
Will Hold To Holder
Several sections have organized
Holder clubs. That may be neces
sary in some sections, but the people
of White county formed their opinion
on who would be governor long timq
ago. They will hold to Holder.
(From Walton News)
Ono By One They Come
Quite rapidly and with large num
bers are Holder Clubs being organiz
ed througout the state. Hepzibah,
Hartwell and one or two more places,
are among the number that recent
ly published lists of their enrollment.
Walton county has organized no
club so far. We do not know that
she will, but if reports be true, Mr.
Holder is growing more and more in
favor with our people, and on Sep
tember Sth he will get a splendid
vote here.
(From Adel News)
Abusive Method* Won't Go.
The campaign for Governor so far
seems to be one of abuse on the part
of some of the candidates and two
or three papers in Georgia against
John Holder. That’s all it amounts
to and such tactics as are being used
will make friends for Mr. Holder.
People these days pay very little at
tention to the methods that are be
ing used. The other candidates are
offering nothing constructive. No
one knows whether they want to
place a huge burden on the people
of the state in the way of bonds or
not. But no one has ever had any
doubt where John Holder stood on
any question.
Abuse of Holder Helps to Elect Him
(From Bainbridge Post-Searchlight)
On the 9th day of September the
Macon Telegraph can compliment it
self on doing more to elect John
Holder than any other one agency in
the state. Abuse is not a platform
to elect men on, and the public soon
finds it out.
* * *
(From the Calhoun Times)
Still at The Starling Post
George Carswell and Dr. Hardman
are still prancing at the starting
post.
Holder Next Governor
(From Manchester Mercury)
Hon. John N. Holder, chairman of
the State Highway Commission, and
several times speaker of the house
of representatives of Georgia, is one
of the four candidates for the nom
ination for-governor.
That Mr. Holder will be nominat
ed we entertain no doubt. The
basis of our confidence is the confi
dence we have in the voters of the
state that they will select from all
the candidates the one hest qualified
to fill the high office of governor.
Mr. Holder has been participating
in the public affairs of the state from
the days of his young manhood until
now. He is democratic in manner,
loyal to his friends, loath to criticise,
constructive rather than destructive,
always having a plan to propose as a
means whereby exisiting unsatifac
tory conditions may be improved, and
will “fight back” when expe4iency
requires.
Mr. Holder has had experience as
a farmer, banker, mayor of his home
town, chairman of the county board
of education, member of the legisla
ture for eighteen years, and chairman
of the State Highway Commission,
which broad experience pre-eminent
ly fits him for governor and he will
be nominated on September 8.
* * *
(From Walton News)
No Unkind Criticicm
While we believe Dr. L. G. Hard
man made a mistake in jumping on to
Holder at Carnesville, in the open
ing speech of his campaign, and said
so at the time, expressing the be
lief that it would lose him a thous
and votes, we hope we did not convey
the idea that we hold anything per
sonal against this excellent Georgian,
for we do not. We rather like him.
However, we are of the opinion that,
just at this time, he should have giv
en Holder the field.
' M
W /m
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'*■■■ < * M : \
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• ,
JOHN N. HOLDER
Papers in different parts of the
State predict he will be nominated for
Governor on September Bth by larg
est majority ever recorded for a
candidate for governor in the historj
of the State.
(From The Franklin, Ga., News
and Banner.)
A Man of The People
Holder is a man of the people—
knows them in every county, knows
the people’s needs, is in sympathy
with them, and can be relied upon
to safeguard their interests.
e * *
(From Thomasville Times-Enterprise)
John’s Year to Do Most Anything
John Holder gets in and says he
is confident he is going to win on
an anti bond issue. This seems to
be John’s year to do almost any
thing he wants to do.
• * *
Political Boomerangs
(From the Moultrie Observer)
They are charging John Holder
with granting paving work to counties
where he can make votes. This is
equal to charging that the two very
excellent men on the board with him
are willing to traffic with state road
funds to advance the political inter
ests of the chairman of the board.
This is another one of those political
charges that prove a boomerang.
Dr. L. G. Hardman Favors Small
Bond Issue
(From Toccoa Record)
In an address which he delivered
in Gainesville this week, Dr. L. G.
Hardman, candidate for governor,
stated that he advocated a bond is
sue that will take care of rural roads
leading to rural schooLs, churches and
courthouses and build centralized
school buildings and state highways
in every county in the state. He
thought that the issue should be a
more reasonable amount than $70,-
000,000.
* * v
(From Bainbridge Post-Searchlight)
Telegraph Helps Holder
The Macon Telegraph is working
hard to elect John Holder without
any opposition. Their enmity to the
man has done more to put him in a
commanding position than any other
one thing.
Holder, the Outstanding Candidate
(From the Crawfordville Advocate-
Democrat)
The Atlanta Journal and the Au
gusta Chronicle are putting in some
sledge hammer blows for Hon. John
N. Holder in his race for governor.
They are making a clean, able and
telling fight for Mr. Holder by mere
ly pointing out to the voters why it
is to the state’s interests just now
to elect Mr. Holder governor because
of his stand for economy and a busi
ness-like administration of the state's
affairs. This is much better than
trying to elect your favorite candi
' date by criticism and abuse of his
|
opponents, and has a great deal more
effect. In fact, John Holder is the
outstanding candidate for governor
today largely because of the abuse
and criticism heaped upon his head
last year by his political enemies
The people of Georgia know Mr. Hol
der to be a clean, able, conservative
and constructive citizen, and they re
sented the uncalled for attacks that
were made on his last year in an ef
fort to crucify him.
George H. Carswell, a lastsmin
ute entrant in the race for gover
nor, says he favors state bonds for
building highways. All right, “Ev
ery person to their own notion,” said
the old woman as she kissed the cow.
Holder the Next Governor
(From the Cleveland Courier)
In the opinion of the Courier Mr.
Holder will be the next governor of
Georgia.
* * ♦
There’* Old Man IF Again
(From the Lavonia Times)
A lot of people would like to vote
for Dr. Hardman, and think he would
make a good governor IF he could
be elected. But we don’t think he
is any stronger politically now than
the last race he ran.
* * *
Will Stay on The Job
(From Elberton Star)
Newspapers in every section of the
state predict an overwhelming ma
jority for John Holder in the Septem
ber primary. Mr. Holder says he is
going to stay on the job as highway
chairman despite the efforts of his
enemies to dislodge him, until he is
elected governor, as it seems certain
he will be. '
Agrees With Mr. Brantley
(From the Valdosta Times)
Mr. A. P. Brantley, of Blackshear,
says that it would be “a calamity
for John Holder to resign his posi
tion as chairman of the highway de
partment” and also that “the state
will be fortunate to get a man to
take his place in case he is elected
governor.” We take no stock in the
abuse which the Macon Telegraph has
been heaping upon John Holder. Mr.
heaping upon John Holder. Mr.
Brantley is about right.
* * *
Other Candidate* Offer Nothing In
Their Favor
(Rrom Bainbridge Post-Searchlight)
We could never support a man for
office whose sole claim to the office
is some error that the other fellow
made or the short commings of an
other man. The abuse hurled at the
head of John Holder by the men run
ning against him has not brought out
one single reason why a man should
vote for them or what they would
offer instead of any mistakes that
Holder might have made.
* Holder in Fortunate Position
(From the Waycross Journal-Herald)
One cannot be for bonds and con
sistently be for bonds unless he were
yet more strongly for paved high
ways.
Bonds arc a means to obtain paved
highways and not an end in and of
themselves.
We need a man for governor who
is without any question interested in
Georgia and who is determined that
these highways shall be paved.
John Holder occupies the fortunate
position in the present race of hav
ing an interest in paved highways
and a determination for paved high
ways that cannot be questioned.
This interest is stronger than a “I
Will not oppose paved highways”
for it is “I am now working for paved
highways.”
We have felt and feel now that
the highways could be paved more
rapidly than the plan of Holder an
ticipates, but in comparison with the
other candidates in the race, John
Holder seems most determined that
Georgia shall have paved highways.
There are those who insist paved
highways should not be a determin
ing factor, but it is too evident that
so many of the other things we de
sire for Georgia depend upon paved
highways. Unless the highways are
paved these other things will be
postponed—perhaps defeated.
It is the time in Georgia to elect
a governor who will pave the high
ways.
All Sewed Up
(From the Dalton Citizen)
John Holder seems to have the
governor’s job sewed up.
• • •
No Detours on This Highway
(From Savannah Press)
There may be some doubt about
other routes, but Mr. Holder sems to
have the highway to the capitol pav
ed without a detour.
•
Looks Mighty Like Holder
(From the Tifton Gazette)
As the situation stands today,
State Highway Commissioner Hol
der has the race for governor sewed
up in a cement bag. If the anti-Hol
der candidates would adopt the pol
icy of the candidates for commission
er of agriculture and all except one
withdraw, the lone opponent might
be able to give Mr. Holder a run for
his money, and it wouldn’t all be
over paved roads, either.
• * *
(From Dahlonega Nugget)
Holder In Lumpkin
John Holder is about the only can
didate known for governor in Lump
kin.
Making a Clean Race
(From The Thomasville Press)
Mr. Holder is making the cleanest
race of them all. While his oppo
nents are all throwing bricks and
slinging mud at him, he goes on in
[ a calm, dignified way, presenting the
issues to the people as he views
them, paying no attention to charges
thrust at him by other candidates
and the newspapers that are against
him. That mode of campaigning is
much more preferable to undignified
personalities, and it further indicates
that Mr. Holder is interested only
in those big things that affect state
affairs that will confront him in
case he is elected governor. . .•.
The Press has so far taken no
stand in the race for governor. It
has remained on the watchful and
waiting bench until the hour has
struck when a decision must be
made. The list is closed and we
know who the candidates are and
have in a manner learned as best
we could what they claim to stand
for, which is not much of anything,
as we interpret it correctly, if you
get what vie mean.
Personally, they are all very fine
gentlemen and are due the profound
respect of a!! the people. But se
lecting a governor is not a personal
matter, as we understand it. It is
an important business proposition,
and we propose to go at it in that
light, with due regard for all con
cerned. . . .
We are of the candid opinion that
Hon. John N. Holder Is the best
and most suitable man for the posi
tion of governor, and are for him
from now until the last ballot is
east. . . .
That he is a man of splendid busi
ness ability and good judgment can
not be questioned,' for in former and
present ■ public office, he has proven
his worth. In his position off oppos
ing a state bond issue we heartily
agree with him, and we hope he will
remain everlastingly opposed to
spending millions of future state
funds in interest for the sake of
securing a little ready cash to reck
lessly squander in an effort to build
roads quick because a few politicians
and civic club leaders would have us
believe that our state would be woe
fully disgraced if it put on the
brakes by using sane business poli
cies and travel with the procession.
As chairman of the highway com
mission we contend that Mr. Holder
has displayed splendid ability in the
face of a flood of political bricks
thrown at him in an effort to oust
him to make room for another, and,
perhaps, weaker office-seeking politi
cian. As we see it, Mr. Holder has
made wonderful progress with the
means at hand in building roads. It
loks as if he has been absolutely
fair and impartial in the distribu
tion of funds and allotment of mile
age. In fact, we don’t believe any
one could have done better, regard
less of what has been done or said
to the contrary.
Then, again, his experience in the
affairs of the state has thoroughly
familiarized him with every depart
ment, and we believe his record will
show that he is absolutely impar
tial toward state institutions and
sections. There are many other in
dications too numerous to mention
here and now that impresses us that
he is the best man in the race for gov
ernor, and we hope and believe that
Thomas county will accord him her
vote on election day.
“Make Holder’s Election Unanimous ’
(From the Springfield Herald)
As the race now stands for gov
ernor, there is no doubt but what
John Holder will be Georgia’s next
governor. He is far the biggest
man, intellectually, now in the race
when it comes to statesmanship. Me
do not agree with some of his views
and we believe he is doing wrong in
holding on to the position he has
while he is making the race, but he
is going to be elected anyway and
we feel like it would be better to
make the election as unanimous as
possible. We have always liked
John Holder personally and we be
lieve he is big enough and broad
minded enough to make Georgia a
good chief executive
If predictions of the newspapers
count for anything, and a majority
of them seems to take the same view,
John N. Holder, chairman of the
state highway department, will be
named governor of Georgia on Sep
tember Bth by the largest majority
a candidate for this office has ever
received. This is stated without any
effort to discredit the chances o
any other candidate for the office, al
of whom are working with might
and main to build up a following-
Sometimes a man is elected to sta.e
office in spite of newspaper oppe
sition, but newspaper support, as m
the case of Mr. Holder, is recognize
as a big step toward election.