Newspaper Page Text
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The Amerlcus Times, Established 183(1
Consolidated April, 1891,
Entered at the postoffice at Amerl-
eus as second-class mall matter.
THOMAS GAMBLE, JR.,
Editor and Manager.
C. W. CORNFORTH,
Associate Editor and Assistant
Manager.
3. W. FURLOW, City Editor.
W. L. DUPREE,
Assistant Business Dept.
Editorial Room Telephone 99.
The Times-Becorder is the
Official Organ of the City of Amerlcus
Official Organ of Sumter County.
Official Organ of Webster County.
Official Organ of Railroad Commie
slon of Georgia for the 3rd Congres
sional District
SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
Dally,, one. year *6.00
Dally, one month .
Weekly, one year *l-W
Weekly, six months 6UC
Address all letters and make remit
tance payable to
THE TIMES-RECORDER,
Amerlcus, Ga'
Amerlcus, Ga., April lTtli, 1908.
“Brown and Bread,” Is the slogan
of the Macon Telegraph. Why not
make It Browned bread.
The Valdosta Times says that in
stead of running on his record, Hose
Smith Is running from his record.
Castro is too big to spank and too
small to whip, so he goes right on
hurling defiance at the American peo
ple under the impression that he has
licked us to a finish.
Alabama’s law against playing base
ball on Sunday has been declared un
constitutional by the supreme court
of that state. Mobile was thinking of
seceding from the state If the law had
besn upheld.
Fulton county's Joe Brown Club
has enrolled 4,000 members, enough
to Insure the carrying of that coun
ty against Hoke Smith. Other coun
ties are being enthused by this mag
nificent showing.
The Atlanta Constitution in in
clined to make light of a Missouri
candidate who says he “heard the
call like a voice In the night,” that
paper commenting, “and they do say
that Missouri mules even bray at the
darkness.”
When his term of office as President
Is out, Roosevelt is said to be plan
nlng to spend a year in travel
foreign countries. Perhaps he can
trust the country in the bands of his
friends for a little while. Of course
If anything should happen he could
iiturn ml resume the dicta,>• .hip.
Nearly every day Gov. Smith'
poses" the Interests behind the oppo
sition to his re-election. He Is put-
ting up scare-crows at every corner,
but the people ar« getting wise
the fact that they are only dummies,
filled with straw of the kind at which
the proverbial drowning man is said
to grasp.
The Dalton Citizen says: “The Au
gusta Herald Is now trying to discov
er what newspapers In t Georgia are
owned by the railroads." No, not
now. After making a few reckless
charges the esteemed Herald bad to
eat humble pie and acknowledge that
It went off halfcocked. We believe
the Herald’s search has ended.
Gov. Smith having been greeted with
cries of “Joe Brown” at Marietta, his
press agent Is earning his money by
trying to turn the Incident into
count for his chief. With an exhibi
tion of venom, the correspondent
charges that a son of Joseph
Brown was one of the ringleaders,
is r safe bet that the charge Is a fab
rication.
The Georgia Railroad Commission
ft seems, has run squarely up
against the Interstate Commerce
Commission in allowing the railroads
of this state to issue complimentary
transportation to Mr. John A. Betje
man, of Albany, who is connected with
an Immigration movement which In
eluded Gov. Smith in Its train at
«ne time. The railroad commission
had apparently not made public all or
ders for the Issuance of free trans
portation. The order in regard to
Mr .Betjeman was unearthed by
newspaper correspondent, to whom the
SC■ infest~~i reluctantly ga%e a copy.
“Dead and Immigration agents, unless
Star are bona-fide actual employes
of fhe railroads," nays the Interstate
riminerffs commission, "are not with
in the class to wMch free or reduced
rate of transportation can be Is-fully
mowed." Why OuyM . ,
GOT HOKE OX THE RUX.
Mil. LEWIS AX EASY WIXXEB
Hoke Smith, who only a few short
eks ago announced that he would
treat the candidacy of Joe Brown with
silent contempt,” and that he would
not make any political speeches but
devote his remarks to the cause of
education, is now bellowing like a
stuck pig. He has given up-the Job
of Governor until after the election
and proposes to devote all of his
time not to the business of the state
but to making speeches in an en-
devor to bead off the wave that has
set in for Brown for Governor.
So strenuous has become the cam
paign, so large has become the hand
writing on the wall, that Smith has
been compelled to hire a whole floor
In an Atlanta office building and put
in* an extensive corps of stenographers
and typewriters, who are working
_ rertime in an effort to save the day.
In the meantime the Atlanta Journal,
chief screech owl for the Smith ad
ministration, Is tearing Its hair In
agony, using all the adjectives at Its
command, concocting all sorts of
diabolical schemes on the part of
the Brown people, and sweating
enough blood every day to ruin an
ordinary constitution.
Little Joe Brown has actually got
big Hoke Smith on the run, David Is
alter Goliath and the giant is scared
out of his boots. Smith had the
election methods of the state chang
ed. He thought he was so popular
that it would look fine to have him
self re-elected by the popular vote.
So the obedient State Democratic Ex
ecutive committee made the change.
Now that Hoke Smith finds the popu
lar tide setting in so strongly against
him he Is clamoring for a change.
He now wants the rights of the little
counties protected and the old sys
tem restored. Strange how he did
not think of that until It became ap
parent that the popular vote might be
with Joe Brown. And the governor
now also thinks - that a later
primary would he the right thing
so he calls for the reseting of the date
to the fall.
If there ever was a pitiful confes
sion of weakness It Is that made by
Hoke Smith. He Is grabbing at straws
and changing front on every pos'sibl,
question. But he can't fool all of
the people, or a majority of them
much longer. First he was for local
option. Then he was for prohibition.
Then he was for the use of beer and
light wines. Then he was tor the
amendment of the law by its friends.
Now he stands flat-footed for the
present law—until he changes front
again. Once he was red hot for im
migration, then he grew strangly sil
ent, now ho Is probably opposed
It In the open, while directing th
railroad commission to let Mr. Betje
man have passes refused to every
one else In the state, so that he (Bet
jeman) can work up Immigration.
Last Bummer Smith believed that the
old soldiers should only get their
pensions once a year. Then he dis
covered that the soldiers should be
paid more frequently, and now he Is
the best friend of quarterly pensions
the state ever had. A chameleon can
not change its color halt so quickly
as Hoke Smith can his views
Last summer Georgia was to have
the greatest cotton crop on record, so
Governu- Smith told the New York
peculator. And wucO the farmers
got after him about It the governor
d'lfo/- ted that hot winds had damag
ed the crop.. When June rolls around
this ytai Hoke Sml’h Is apt to dis
cover Jiat hot winds have also dam-
nurd the Sm.in crop t votes,
Haw have the mighty fallen! When
a politician gets scared he blunders
time after time. Hoke Smith Is badly
scared, judging by Ills actions and the
crazy angles of the Atlanta Journal.
THE PEACH CANXEBT.
Amerlcus Is most fortunate to se
cure the new canning factory for the
first season when there will be
large yield of peaches. While the
earlier and more choice peaches will
be shipped to foreign markets, there
will remain thousands of bushels
over-ripe or slightly under-grade
peaches which would otherwise have
to be practically wasted except for
the canning factory. Many thousands
of dollars will be saved by the pres
ence of this industry, not to mention
the large sums to b e ppaid out for la
bor.
For the first year the factory will
be profitable both to the growers and
to the company, and tor succeeding
years It will become much more
profitable there Is every reason
to believe. New orchards will come
Into bearing, and at the Bame time
new trees will be set out. It requires
no very prophetic eye to see Amerl
cus the center of a peach industry
which will rival Ft. Valley, or even
surpass it. Its all a question of orch
ards, and II the present large orch
ards prove as profitable as they prom
ise, the peach raising Industry in this
section will receive an Impetus of
large proportions.
The hour and the peach cannery
seem to have reached Amerlcus on
the same train.
The indications all point to the
overwhelming return of Congressman
Lewis to the House of Representatives
tor another and last term.
Advices from all over the district
indicate that the great mass of the
people are well satisfied with the
work done by Mr. Lewis, feel that It
Is wise and proper to return him for
another two years in Congress, and
that the vote that will be given him
at the primary will he the largest he
has ever received.
While this will be very gratifying
to Mr. Lewis and his friends it is no
more than was to be expected. No
reasonable reason has been advanced
tor a change at this time in the repre
sentation of the Third District at
Washington. Mr. Hughes has signal
ly failed to give any reason why he
should replace Mr. Lewis, and the
reasons why he should not are ap
parent to all. Mr. Hughes idea that
because he stands tor a revision of
the tariff and tor the downing of the
trusts he should be elected to Con
gress is hardly worthy of considera
tion. Every Democrat in the District
stands tor these things. Mr. Lewis
has been a sincere believer in and
supporter of such democratic meas
ures during his entire public life. The
very fact that Mr. Hughes cannot
bring forward any better reasons than
he does is the cause of the weakness
his campaign is showing.
As far as can be learned absolute
ly no enthusiasm has been awakened
tor Mr. Hughes in this campaign.
The outlook is that his vote will be
ery much below what it was In his
last campaign. While he Is doing his
best in the handshaking way to se
cure votes the tide seems to have
set in very strongly against him. From
various parts of the' district comes
word that men who supported Mr.
Hughes two years ago are opposed
to him now, and believe that Mr.
Lewis should have another term to
round up his work at Washington.
It is a safe prediction that the vote
of Mr. Hughes will be much smaller
than when he ran before, and that
Mr. Lewis will go back to Congress
with a popular endorsement that
will testify to the fact that the voters
of the Third District have been satis
fied with his work there and are
more than willing for him to close
his public career by-two years more
of efforts In their behalf at the nat
ional capital.
President Harvle Jordan, of the
Southern Cotton Association, has
issued a signed statement, in which
he calls upon the farmers to cut
down their acreage of cotton one-
third. Unless this reduction Is
made, he predicts low prices tor
cotton next fall. _
At present prices of 10 cents for
good middling even at this_ late
stage of the season, cotton growers
will barely make expenses.'The cost
of carrying thus long has cut off the
margin of profit entirely, and unless
a rally comes, farmers who have not
sold will not fell any too cheerful.
It cotton cannot be sold on a basis
of 11 to 14 cents per pound, it is
an evidence that too much is being
grown. It would be unreasonable to
expect the farmers to raise cotton
to sell tor 8 to 10 cents In order that
a cotton mill may be able to make
a fraction of a cent a yard more on
cotton goods.
How much better it would be to
raise half the present crop of cotton
and make as much profit as on the
larger acreage which It has been cus
tomary to plant. Then the other half
of the area heretofore devoted to cot
ton can be devoted to producing food
stuffs which will make the grower
independent, leaving his cotton pro
fits as a net gain for the year s oper
ations.
In Kentucky some of the tobacco
growers have been taking summary
vengeance on those who sell to the
trust at a prices below that agreed
upon, and the new crop is being cut
down by the night riders by very
drastic measures. This is decreasing
the yield with a vengeance, hut - for
tunately Southern cotton planters do
not countenance such lawless acts.
It Is a campaign of reason and
common sense which is being waged,
and cotton growers are becoming
more and more convinced that
FIRST OCEAX-TO-OCEAX LIXE
On next Sunday the first Paciflc-to-
the Atlantic railroad line will be
completed under one management.
The three links in the chain will be
the Central ol Georgia, the Illinois
Central and the Union Pacific.
Hitherto the division line in the
matter of ownership has been around
Chicago, this being due in large part
to the great value of the Eastern lines
which placed their owners In a very
Independent attitude regarding any
consolidation with western lines. So
It remained for a Southern road to
have the distinction of completing the
link in a through line from sea to sea.
While there has been some criticism
of Mr. Harriraan In hte railroad deals,
the South has no reason to feel other
than kindly for hts latest coup. It
It the entering wedge for making
South Georgia ports the center of
large export trade, covering almost
the entire country west of Chicago.
From the corn and wheat belts of
the west, to the cotton fields of the
South, will come increased ship
ments seeking an outlet from Savan
nah.
The Illinois Central for many years
has been making New Orleans its
chief shipping port, but as this port
is one to two days farther from
European ports than Savannah, the
latter has much to commend It. Dif
ficulties have also arisen in connec
tion with the dock facilities at New
Orleans which render a diversion of
Bbiupments from that port desirable.
As the highway of commerce from
the AVest, the whole state will bene
fit, while In the prosperity of Geor
gia's chief port there will be univer
sal satisfaction.
For many years the Central of
Georgia has been a trunk line, Its
ramifications extending Into three
states and sprpeading over . Geor
gia like a net, but now It Is to be a
part ' 1 a transcontinental line, with
all l W added prestige which such
com y ion gives It.
”.ie Central, under the efficient
management of Maj. J. F. Hanson,
has become one of the best roads
of the South, and as the third link In
a vast rati system of thousands of
miles, it will become even more pro-
fltnhia. The diversion of freight from
a Gulf port to a South Atlantic out
let will give the Central much more
business.
It is worth noting also that the
first actual transcontinental line
is a Southern one.
to
cut down the acreage is the only
solution of the problem.
In the South an enlightened public
sentiment may be made to take the
place of the lawless methods with
which the night riders seek to fight
the tobacco trusts. And this weapon
is one which will bring no collisions
with the law,
Cotton growers should talk reduc
tion of acreage and practice what
they preach. Those who are so sel
fish as to be willing to. profit by the
sacrifices of others made tor the pur
pose of raising the price of the
South’s great staple to a profitable
basis, will become known to their
neighbors. The pressure of public
sentiment could be depended upon to
rebuke those who had been guilty
of Such a violation of professional
ethics.
The farmers have their salvation in
their own hands. Cut down the cot
ton acreage and get living prices.
Plant to the full, and see cotton so
low as to entail an actual loss
the growers.
Through the medium of. the banquet
ou Thursday night, the Amerlcus
Board of Trade focuses public atten
tion on its plans and on Its Impor
tance to the progress ol the city. It
an advertisement of the most
effective type.
It was a gathering to he proud of,
representative of the business and
social life of the city. Coming at a
time when the revival of interest In
the organization Is in full swing, it
will be of more value on that ac
count.
The banquet was itself a social
event of importance, its broad scope
enabling the entertainment of a
much larger number than ordinarily
have the opportunity of gathering
around one board. As a promoter of
social acquaintance the event was
also of value. And on the truism that
whatever tends to unite and harmonize
will be tor the good of the city, much
importance is to be attached to such
a gathering of the social and business
life where the spirit of good fellow
ship ruled.
Though the labor put forth to make
the banquetfa success was heavy, the
promise of good to come to the organ
ization and city is a reward worthy
of the time and work entailed,
Personal to the Board of Trade, it-
showed to the city that it is a live,
militant organlaztlon, proud of the
city and of its future, and that this
faith sought an outlet for expression
In a public banquet where the utter
ances would find voice before
larger audience.
In attendance, enthusiasm and ora
tory the second annual banquet of
the Amerlcus Board of Trade was a
success of which the organization
may well be proud. As the voice of
the united business interests of the
city the organization has established
new high water mark tor itself.
Four Philadelphia policemen have
been sent up for seven years tor rob
bing stores on their beats. Seven Is
a lucky number for those who had
not been robbed.
MR. BROWX’S ADDRESS
Hon. Joseph M. Brown, candidate
tor Governor before the June prim
aries, has issued his address to the
voters -of Georgia. He devotes the
greater part of It to a review of the
administration of Gov. Smith. He
has certainly handled the record of
the "reform’’ Governor In Buch
manner as to disclose a very wide gap
between the promise and the deed.
Of course it will not be proper to
give too much credit to Mr. Brown
for this service, for the task was
an easy one. The railroad question,
the Confederate pensions, port rates
or the railroad commission—on what
ever point the attack is made the de
fenses are weak.
On the subject of prohibition, where
the Atlanta Journal has been mak
ing a desperate stand to convince the
people that Mr. Brown is opposed to.
the new law, Mr. Brown completely an
swers the false charge and proves
himself a better prohibitionist that
Gov. Smith.
The statement of Mr. Brown will
be read with Interest over the state,
and In the ranks of the Smith faction
will most probably bring dismay.
Is a severe arraignment of the Gover
nor and his administration and
the facts given are known of
men, it will be hard to overcome
their effects.
Then too. Gov. Smith is handicap
ped by the results of his policy
corporation fighting, and a large
number of voters do not like the
results. It wll no do to say that
Gov. Smith has not had time
carry out his purposes. For this per
haps the voters will be duly thank
ful.
To the reading voter—and he
vastly In the majority In these days—
the address of Mr. Brown, we believe,
will appeal strongly. It will give his
opponent something to think about
at least. It will certainly arouse him
from that pipe dream of "silent con
tempt” as being the political prize
winner of this time.
Gov. Smith seems to be awakening
to the fact that a man named Brown
Is running against him.
FEDERAL BITLDIXG ASSURED
The late Lee County Journal, when
almost in the throes of dissolution,
with one toot in the grave and the
other in the Legislature, snatches a
few brief moments from the g r j m
destroyer to work Itself into a frenzy
over the alleged results If Joe Brown
were elected Governor.
In a hurst of prophetic vision, the
Lee County Journal sees Joe Brown
In the attitude of the Devli himself,
sending women and children to their
graves from drunken hands, with dog.
gerles at every cross-roads, totally
regardless of the three-mile limit
tor schools and churches. At the
close of this cataleptic state the
Journal, having metamorphosed it-
self Into the person of Joe Brown, thus
exclaims:
I, Joe Brown, say unto you, I
will not oppose the debauchery of
my state, I will not put a single stone
In the way of the beer wagon (note:
Hoke Smith favors the beer wagon
and ‘light wines’), and the besotted
dive—the millions of the whiskey as
sociation being my aid that I may fly
swift to my revenge. As a harpy will
I prey upon the heart of the tear
eyed woman, and the hungry children
of the helpless drunkard.”
It must have required all the arts
of a Svengal! to- awaken the Journal
Irom Buch a trance, but in some mys
terious manner the descent was made
to terra firms again.
Well, never mind. Though the rum
fiend will be deprived of the fierce
attacks of the Lee County Journal,
which has again departed this life,
Its editor has gone to a higher sta
tion—in other words he has been
elected a member of the Legislature.
What can Joe Brown do anyhow,
with Editor' Beazley perched upon
hts eyrie to give warning of the ap
proach of the whiskey demon. (He
will not of course notice the beer
and light wine advocate stealing up.)
Even if Joe Brown is elected, we
will still have Editor Beazley in his
legislative capacity to save us from
The action of the Senate committed
on public buildings in approving the
bill tor $25,000 for a new postoffice
building at Amerlcus, which was se
cured through the efforts of Senator
Clay, is highly gratifying to this
city. While It was not as much as
was hoped tor, the sum, added to
what is left from the first appropria
tion alter buying the ground, will- In
sure a handsome building.
No difficulty Is anticipated in .the
House, where Congressman E. B.
Lewis has been laboring to the same
end so faithfully. So It may be re
garded as assured that the additional
sum will be appropriated.
With the present somewhat reduc
ed price of building materials, the
$25,000 will really go as far as a
larger sum would have done In the
recent past It is to be hoped that no
time will be lost in getting to work,
both from the standpoint of economy
and that of the desirability of having ,
such a large enterprise under way.
Added to the sum already available
the new appropriation will permit an
expenditure or. the building of $40,-
000. This should be sufficient to
erect a splendid building for Uncle
Sam, which will be an ornament to
the city and worthy of the National
Goverdment. Its location . on one
of the most promtnent corners
in the business section will
be a valuable addition to the build
ings which show off the city to such
advantage.
To Congressman Lewis and Senator
Clay, who have secured the additional
sum, Amerlcus owes a debt of grati
tude which will no dojibt be repaid
In a measure when opportunity of
fers. Their good work will be a
monument to the city for a genera
tion.
The Benevolent Distributers of Wealth
all
(New York World.)
Those who look with apprehension
on “swollen fortunes” have their
fears set at rest by Chancellor Day.
The malefactors may pile up their
millions, but their “tool sons” are
seeing to It that the ill-gotten for
tunes are speedily returned to the
people. The sons are benevolent dis
tributers through whose expenditures
on “autos, yachts and great establish
ments” the public will “get It all back
by and by.”
Tried by this test It becomes a moot
question whether the highest pitch
of prosperity was not attained by
the people of France on the eve of
the Revolution or by the Romans In
the days of banquets of nightingale
tongues and pearls dissolved
wine.
According to the Syracuse school
of economics the King Louises and
the Neros had the right idea. Spend
thrifts are the real heroes of philan
thropy, and they are the true bene
factors who open two bottles of wine
where one was opened before. They
stimulate the healthful circulation
of idle money and keep the wolf from
the tenement house door by getting
rid of the surplus In the avenue man
sion. What Is a deed to a library build
ing by comparison with the re
ceipted bill tor a $5,000 dinner. The
Carnegles should take a back seat and
let the Coal-Oil Johnnies of all ranks
have a niche in the 1 temple of fame.
Why attempt the Federal regula
tion of fortunes when the conditions
complained of will readjust themsel
ves automatically within a generation?
The only danger to avoid la that of
race suicide -among -the rich.
the drink demon, and we are
afraid.
“Down With the Railroads.’
not
(Atlanta Constltuion.)
When we said “better let well
enough alone”—with everybody at
work, and at good wages, and the
state enjoying its high-water mark
of prosperity—the Herald echoed the
cry, "down with the railroads—they
are plundering the state and not giv
ing the people the right kind of ser
vice; let our policy prevail and we
will show you what we will do to
The demonstration has been made!
And What is the result?
No more double-tracking, and the
bonds authorized tor that purpose are
drugs on the market!
All terminal, shop and extension
work stopped!
Thousands of Idle laborers:
Nineteen thousand men on the Sou
thern system alone thrown out, and
the salary of every other employee,
'from president down, cut 10 per
cent.
And what in the way of better ser-
Up to two years ago the schedule
time between Atlanta and New Yorn
whs twenty-tour hours. Now It takes
two and a half hours longer to make
the trip. Slower schedules every-
W Scarcely a week has passed durinl
the past several months that applica
tion has not been made to entirely dis
continue exislting trains in all parts
of the state—and in most Instances
the railroad commission has 8t™
permission accordingly—one ratlroM
actually operating a tri-weekly ached-
Ul Train after train has been taken
off, or consolidated with others, ana
actual bankruptcy has stared some
of the companies In the lace!
• And yet not one cent has been sav
ed the people In freight rate reduc
tion! ,, ,,
If the railroads were stealing, m
Editor Phlnlzy’s policy held, the ros-
bery was permitted to continue o
cause the panic came on and umr
needed the money.” If they
not stealing, then his “policy
based on a foundation of sand.
No paper In the state has c rltic “,
the evils of railroad manegem®.
where criticism was deserved, mo
readily than The Constitution, ana
none stands more ready to do »»
now- ■' ,,
But even the Herald’s policy
had a tuck or two taken In It, *“
there are signs In the air that
the most radical of the "reform®
are coming to their senses, and »
willing to stop just this side of tea
Ing up the railroad tracks,
And the state has abundant rea-
to thank God tor that!
William R. Hearst has finally
his contest against McClellan
the Mayorship of New York bef0
the appelate division of the supre
court of that state. After two y® a
of contention, Hearst finally secur ..
an order to rthe opening of the ha
boxes In disputed districts. He c ^
ges that extensive frauds were I ierI ~‘
trated against him. The c0 “ e “ t
of independent opinion is that He
was really elected, but was cou
out. It will be Interesting to “
the question finally passed upon,
term of McClellan Is nearly over,
it would be hard to have t0
the office which he has held for
The Rome Tribune-Herald
that ”X” would look well 1“
of “Gov. Smith.” - • •'
^ -- grA-** ,