Newspaper Page Text
Wise Advertiser
Never Whispers—
He Shouts.
1 ;TZ’.TZ_ <75;
4,.» ‘MF. 1‘! NI’MBI‘H:
Hoke Smith for President
(EDITORIAL.'
decision of United States Senator Hoke Smith to enter the
HF preferential primary in Georgia relieved an em
pres idential thousands
barrassiag itnation that win fast becoming obnoxious to
- )-itriotie Georgians whose democracy has never been challenged.
" 1>a lu> ref to endorse every act of the present ad¬
ministration, thpre , m . w 4 .se
while admitting that it has been highly satisfactory
fr tav points of view. These men have no desire to repudiate
ua a Reed, do they
ident Wilson hv voting for Senator James A. nor
Pr, ^ approval the implicit obedience of Attorney
to vote their on
d V Mitchell Palmer to the powers that be and desire to con
(’ iu i
tinU<? red-blooded American has constitutional right
An intelligent, a
t
oppose the ratitieation of the League of Nations without (lie dot¬
t„ of “t,” and four-ply thirty-third de
ting of an “i” or the crossing a
Demoerats do not consider that they are the slaves of Presi
^,ree other To many it seems that the League
Jeiit Wilson or any man.
of Nations is un-American and un democratic, and they are no liars,
hypocrites, scoundrels and anarchists.
It is no longer treason to differ with President Wilson or to ex
ss ont \ personal opinion above a silent whisper, and there can
he no doubt that the people of Georgia are going to talk out long on
April 20th. if prevailing conditions forecast impending events.
Georgia Democrats are not hell-bent upon ratifying the League of
Nations without reservations and they do not consider it their patri
ntic duty to place hteir faces upon the floor and expose their necks
to the foot of any man, be be president, king or private citizen. They
do not believe that the world war, fought for the purpose of perpetu¬
ating international democracy, should result in the establishment of
a monarchial form of government in the United States, generally
supposed to he the “home of the brave and the land of the free.”
The candidacy of Senator Smith was imperative for the purpose
of preventing a choice between the adoption of two evils and right
nobly did he respond to t lie timely call. The newspaper or person
who fails to recognize I he middle position of American ideals are
wilfully blind and heroic methods should be employed for the res¬
toration of their failing vision. There must be some ground for a
person to occupy who does not believe in the ranting of Reed and
the servility of Palmer, and upon that spot The News shall stand
until the battle of ballots on April 20th.
The line-up of newspapers against Senator Smith shows few
new recruits. Any newspaper man in Georgia can close Ids eyes,
deafen his ears, stand on his head and recite the entire list back¬
wards. The few new additions doubtless consider it their duty to
respond to the crack of the Presidential whip, but a vast majority
are actuated by reasons long familiar to every 7 person in Georgia
who possesses sufficient intelligence to empty water out of a dish
pan.
These unfriendly papers are endeavoring to create the impres¬
sion that the people of Georgia are for ratification of the League of
Nations without reservations and are rearing to indorse the Demo¬
cratic Administration, but the two should be disassociated, for the
League of Nations is a one-man and not a party issue. The anti
Smith newspapers will not succeed in their attempt to deceive the
people. The voters have not forgotten the campaigns in I90(>, 1910.
1911 and the campaign before the Georgia Legislature in 1911.
In 1906, opposed by the editor of the Atlanta Constitution and
other distinguished gentlemen, Hoke Smith, in his first race for Gov¬
ernor, carried 122 out of a possible 145 counties; in 1908 he was
defeated by the little gourd farmer from Cobb and Cherokee coun¬
ties; in 1910, he defeated the same person twice; in 1914, opposed
by the same unconverted politician, Senator Smith carried 141 coun¬
ties out of a possible 150, The people of Georgia are not unmind¬
ful of the persistent efforts that remnants of the old Georgia political
Gag, discredited in 190(5, have made to re-establish conditions in
this State that can never again prevail, and they 7 will vote right in
the coming primary.
Senator Smith has hundreds of friends and supporters in New¬
ton county who have proved their patriotism by r their works. The
record of this county 7 is as spotless as God’s eternal sunshine, but
there are those among us who most respectfully decline to relin
rjuish our constitutional privilege and vote at the bidding of another.
Senator Smith has the right to make the race for any office from
bailiff to President and his friends have a right to support him,
h they shall do regardless of the operations of carping critics.
fb< people will not be-intimidated by the campaign of misrepre-
7
<ut.it ions and abuse. The voice of the demagogue lost its influence
" ^ ,f ' l,r giu with the passing of the old ring of peanut politicians.
e ' 1 M’uns may r he depended to cast vote for the’candidate
tl upon a
fij choice and respecting the results.
Have reason, moderation and justice lost their power in this
Has it come to pass that no man should dare to offer for
without first securing the approval of certain newspapers ed¬
ited h } representatives of the old ring who dead and don’t know
it? are
‘A'eral of these papers are edited by able men, but at times
the V srpm to be sorely afflicted, $nd from them is coming much of
! ' ,l7 e that is being heard throughout the State.
1 be Covington News is Democratic train running broad
a on a
& s c Lack. It believes in according unto the privilege
every 7 man
< r \»-d for itself, and rendering unto man square deal in
‘udertakings. every a
, t .Men who entertain views opposite to those of
itnr of this newspaper are merely exercising privileges guar
^ ^ Kni b. v the Constitution of the United States, and they do
7
not 11 r> ' bite the abuse that being from irresponsi
' ' is fired at them
sources.
7 ^ ni >tfi s record of achievement as Secretary of the Interior
)in ,
R)(-<i(lent Grover Cleveland, as Governor of Georgia, as a
^ ° '
Hon .. o p tided States Senate, form a mountain of eommenda
ocr which the small-bore guns of his enemies cannot precipi
1 No No has has accomplished for his country
man man a< more as
1 try of Interior, and for his State Gov
no man more as
Quick To'Gommend
COVINGTON, GEORGIA, THURSDAY
NEWTON COUNIV GBflfiU JURY BE CUBES (HE
OFFICE BE GOUNIY COMMISSIONER VAGANT III
PRESENCE OF COMMISSIONER I. III. MEADORS
for ___________ the
e can home but is short
b- Ip and no funds to aid in the work.
We recommend that the Chain Gang
1 main where it is until the roads are
Put in good condition in that district
a d then discontinue grading and
p rmanent road work until all the
reads can be scraped and nut in
p ssable condition.
! We wish to express our thanks to
his honor, Judge W. E. H. Searcy,
a<d Judge Jno. B. Hutcheson; also
our honorable and’able Solicitor,
M. Napier, for their valuable services,
j We recommend that these present
in ‘tits be published in the
N ws and that * the sum of $10.00
£or same
, E w FOWLER, Foreman.
.
’A. J. JOHNSON, Clerk.
C. A. CANON, Assistant.
Whereupon, it . is considered ., „, and ,
I dered ...... that the t foregoing General ,
01
Presentments be entered up.:n the
M.nutes ot the Court and , ,. that limy he
published as therein . recommended, , ,
Tlus March 24 ’ 1920 '
JOHN B. HUTCHESON,
i Judge Superior Court, St. Mt. Circuit.
j . By the Court;
j Geo. M. Napier, Sol. Gen'l.
: We, the Grand Jury—
Acting under and by virtue of jte
Provisions of an Act of the
| Assembly ------- of the State of Georgia,
proved August 16th, 1913, page 430
j said Acts, section 18,—-after having
1 inquired into and received evidence
relative to the (Official acts of the Com¬
’ missioner Roads and Revenues of
of Ute^Honor
j Newton able I. W. County, Meadors, to-wit: by vote of
a
members iu the Grand Jury, we
as follows:—
(!)• That said Commissioner
wasteful and inefficient in that,—his
manner of handling labor is slow and
ineffective as to the keeping up
repair the roads and bridges of
j county; that ins custom ot keeping
| ihe convict periods camp time, at one place for long a
iong ot at nm: s as
as 12 months, results in much waste of
in transporting the men from
camp to the place ot wont, and back
i again to camp, when by moving the
j camp to place nearer the work in
hand, much and valuable time now ex
pended in travel could be utilized in
work on the roads and bridges, the
time spent in travel of the convicts
being worthless to the county and to
j the public:
j that,— (2) Inefficient after having and constructed wasteful, ,gnd in
builded a. good road, he neglects anu
tails in any manner to keep up and
maintain the same, periods as long as
them to fall in bad condition
and in many places to become im
uch roads, at small annual cost of
and cleaning the ditches
have been preserved in good
condition:—
(3) Inefficient, in that said Com
missioner expends the road funds
what he is pleased to call “perma
work,’ and which consists in
costly --------- and expensive ----^..... grading ^ of road
ways, in many places the same is not
necessary; also, in that, after having
graded and builded a good road, he
then neglects the same for years, al
lowing such road way to tall into bad
condition, becoming in many places
impassable, when such roads could be
kept in good condition by scraping
{nd clearing the ditches, at small an
nual «*“• cost, — and »»'• thus preserving —rvin, the tin
benefits of the initial cost, while un
tier the management of said Co minis
sioner, the initial cost of construction
of roads becomes a total loss in two
or three years time;
(4) That said Commissioner is in
efficient and incapaciated tor the du
.tics of his office, in that, after having
constructed a good mart road, at at great irreat cos. cos.
and expenses to the Treasury, he then
fails and neglects then to keep up the
same, and permits the same to fall in
Jo bad repair 1-.0 i i» and cn/t become hiw-nmo at at places nlacp« i im- in -
passable, by 7 allowing the ditches to
fill with earth and debris, by which
(OMGTFv/NS OF COUNTY WERE
FOUND TO BE SATISFACTORY
AND MANY RECOMMENDATIONS
W ERE MAI>K IN THE INTEREST
F THE CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY
GENERAL PRESENTMENTS.
We, tlie Grand Jury cliosen
sworn for the March, 1920, Term,
Newton Superior Court, beg Itavo to
.suliuiit tiie following General Pre¬
sentments*.
We vv,- recommend ,ewii.u.r.m that '“«• the County v
books be audited namely the books
of the County lYeasurer, lax Collcc
tor and County Commissioner.
We also recommend that E. W. Fon
ler, C. A. Cannon and C. D. Ramsey to
Auditing . Committee, ,, and . .
act as . is
hereby , , authorized , . , emulov , auditor ,
to 7 *
to audit the aforesaid books, , and . that ,
County Commissioner . he authorized , • 1
ot „ County funds. . .
ro pay same out
W e recommend that T. C. D xon
appointed N. P. ex-Off. J. P. for New¬
born District, G. M., Newton County.
We recommend that Dr. J. F. Pitts
and W. R. King be reappointed • a :
members of the board of education
Newton county for the ensuing term.
We recommend thac ali liquor
be tried and disposed of as
as possible.
We recommend that the Grand and
Traverse Jurors be paid $3.00 per
diem, and that Grand Jury clerk b •
paid $4.00 per diem: that Court
iffs be paid $4.00 per day and That
riding bailiffs be paid $5.00 per day
and 1 fiat automobile bailiff.; be paid
$7.50 per day.
The County School Commissioner
reports ihe schools in good
Money affairs much better. He says
that he will be able to pay all ihe
teachers their salaries as they become
due the next term. He also
the financial condition is in better
shape than it has b°er\ in 8 years. He
also reports tiny schools at the coun
ty, twenty-two white schools and
twenty-eight colored schools; one
dred and five teachers, sixty-three
white and forty-two colored.
We find that the Convict Camp is in
fine shape. We find 32 men, 7 white
and 25 colored. We find 1 sick man
in car. We find 4 men not able to
hard workfl. We find 24 mules and
horses all in fine shape. We find
cow, 4 grown hogs, 10 shouts, 20 pigs,
all in good shape. We find 12 two
horse wagons, 12 wheelers, 2 dump
wagons, good shop and tools and all
necessary tools to work with. We find
the mules have a good tent to stand
We find that the books of the
ty are correct and neatly kept as far
as we can ascertain. The
Tt?
an indebtedness of $16,000.00 in notes.;
The Tax Collector • reports reports fut
not turned over to the Treasurer to
the amount of $3,000.00.
The Tax Receiver reports an in
crease of One Million dollars in tax re-!
turn for 1919.
We find 4 inmate at the
farm, until, 2 *5 colored UU1UICU men, llltril, 1 L LUlUlfU colored woman nuiuau
and 1 white* man all well treated; also
one mule and one wagdn, building in
fair shape with exception of the roofs
which is in bad repair and we recom
mend that this work be looked after
at once. j
We find that the Drug Stores com
ply with the law in keeping a record
of all poisons sold.
We find that the court house is in
need of repair; that the roof is
ing in many places. The county jail
is in very bad repair, the from porch
and side porch are in a dilapidated
condition. There are several leaks in
the roof, the interior needs painting
very badly Udllij as well W “H as do cages vithC* 1 and nu\i cells, ^ 1,4 7
We recommend that P. E. Middle
brooks . , be reappointed ...... N. P. E. Off. J. ,
P. for the 1261 District G. M Newtor
county.
We find that Reed Home, conducted
by Dinah ... , ^ Pace, fairly good ____j shape. ...... We
find 37 colored boys, well and in good
health. We think Dinah is doing whai
ernor.
The anti-Smith men admit that he is able, but charge him with
political dishonesty without reciting: a scintilla of evidence to sub
stantiate their case.
They charge him with all kinds of secret Kimball House con
ferenoes held for improper purposes, a charge that has been pre
ferred against candidates from time immemorial. No proof has
been submitted. They charge him with being selfish when they
know he is not pursuing the course of a selfish man.
Thev charge him with being a near-Republiean when he has
stood all the tests of genuine Democracy.
They charge him with practically e.ery political dereliction of
which they J are capable of investing, but they J prove 1 nothing, and—
The people vote right on.
voice in either the law or li ultimate
effects of the law, now, site* I am
working under the revoked law, 1 ask
that you with hold your ’decision un¬
til you see what 1 can do.
Pars. 3 and 4.—Are repetitions of
Par. 2, paraphrased slightly, and
the verba'ge added to—this I suppose
was done in order to lengthen the
reading matter—therefore, the denial
set up for paragraph 2 is to apply .to
paragraphs 3 and 4 respectively
Ptr. 5.—That said Commissioner is
Wrongfully and Fraudulently conduct¬
ing the affairs of the County, etc.
We will take up the charge of
•‘WRONGFULLY Conducting the af¬
fairs of the County first.” Under ms
Law as Commissioner, 1 aiu directed
b grade and fill with convict lr bor —
this I have been doing, grading Hie
Main load. fort. I have graPp 1 tj un
Coington 0 Rock, da if County line,
from Covington to Walton county line,
from Brick Store to Morgan county
line, fr.»ai Brick Store to NewBorn,
v here wt connected with a grade of
former Commissioners to Jasper coun¬
ty lin* 7 , tioni T. A. Perry farm to New-
11)111, and till the settlement r^ule Ir.
that community were put under good
mail' at that time—moat of the set¬
tlement roads leceived some grade
and fill work, from Covington to and
beyond Porterdale to N. H. Piper’s
farm where we now propose to con¬
nect the grade work being done at the
present time from South river to N. H.
Piper farm, thence te Porterdale and
Covington. From Covington to Sfarrs
I ville and on beyond ft. L. Middle
brooks farm, from Covington te South
River (Butts and Jasper county lines)
16 miles ol the mostly traveled road
in the county, that is traveled mostly
by the people of the county who trade
in Covington; also, largely by the gen¬
eral public to and front Indian Springs
—Now, as to Fraudulently conducting
the affairs of the county, Is it a fraud
to happen to live on the like of im¬
provement?
Is it a fraud to own land «n a road
that is being, or has been improved?
There has been no neglect of any sec¬
tion of the county by reason of the
specific improvement that happened
to go through and by my farm, any
more so than it was to neglect some
other part of the county while esirryiiig
into execution the plans that carried
the work by tue homes of those Grand
Jury men who happen to own band on
the public highway that have been
improved. This charge is too puerile
to eminate from such a body of dis¬
tinguished men as compostyj the
Grand Jury. My past life has been so
spent as to make this charge 0» my
integrity appear to the public a* either
unthoughted on the part of the Grand
Jury, or else a bit of verbage gratu
I itously added for effect.
1 Par. 6 .—That said Commissioner is
j Inefficient - and Unqualified for the
j position in that many of th« bridges
in the county have been allowed to
fall into such bad condition as to be¬
come dangerous to the travelling pub
ilic, etc.—
On account of the dredging machine
that is to be operated on the creek at
Middlebrooks farm, I was asked by
Mr. R. L. Middlebrooks to leave the
bridge across the creek near his home
in its present condition, as it wgs riot
dangerous, though unsightly, he
would look after it until the dredging
machine passed the road, when t could
then build a new bridge. It is obvious
build a bridge now and have
torn up for the passing of a dvedff
er would be money foolishly expended,
unless perchance there was DANGER
ro the public in crossing this bridge,
which WllU.Il there U1U1C is 13 UUl. not.
Bridge between W. M. Harwell and
J. B. Spear also bridge in Bick Store
district, both reported to me a* bav
been fixed before this Grand Jury
met. Bridge over Gum Creek has been
There js an understaBdia§; be .
tween the Department of Good ROada
the U. S. Government and myself
to the effect that each party will bear
^ Qf ^ Hnd ^
CONCRETE BRIDGE where the (3)
bridges are on Alcovey river—
thl,s doing away with the Iron bridge
immediately over the Alcovey river,
It is my intention to take this iron
bnd S e and ‘ J ! ace 11 . the .. _ Brewn 3
bridge ut over Yellow * ujjuw river UYCI now is, thus Wll 3
utilizing the iron structure in lieu of
the covered ___. wooden ____ a ._ bridge which at'
present spans the Yellow river.
In view of the charge by the Grand
Jury that I am incompetent and uu
f ____»__.1. ' uahfied f ° r he „ Portion _________j and that ___ T I
am wasteful* , using the county’*
fu nds * >'« ur ^tentmn to the
above h statcment and respectfully act’ 7
™; 11 ' ^otnon of f the question.
Is it wasteful for me to get the L.
Is. Government to bear half th* ex
theiron wa bndge ° ton wastef^nejw removed from to ene utilize m
} er ’ over ano * e r nver - s a a
part of wisdom to do in this instance
a* I l»*ve done? And w 7 ould it nor he
best for a11 P arties concerned to bide
r and do ;hmgs ri*ht rathrn
than have to do ,bem ,wice? 1 rp3t
this part of ,uty case in your bauds
and do not fear your decision.
Par. 7.—Thai said 1. W. Meador* is
generally disqualify and unfUtad for
the duties of his office, because of age
.Ontinnod m page 8 Cohnaa *
11' i"t
means the water is forced into
| road way, washing and rearing away
the same, so that the road way, in
many places becomes lower than the
dittoes, when at a small annual cost
the ditches on such roads could be
kept open, thus carrying off the wa¬
ter and preserving such roads, and the
permanent expended thereon, by the
use of road machines and scrapes;
(5) That said Commissioner is
wrongfully and fraudulently conduet
the affairs of said office,—in that
j for tically a period kept the of 3 whole years, of he the has road prac- la¬
bor of said county at work in one sec
of tin county, that section being
the section wherein is situate the farm
and property of said Commissioner,
the while neglecting the roads of all
other portions of the county, many of
which are much more used roads than
the roads on which this long period of
time has been spent, and while many
of the much more traveled roads have
been totally neglected for years;
(6) That said Commissioner is in¬
efficient and not qualified for the po¬
sition. and is not Competent, in that
many of the. public bridges of the
county have been allowed to fall into
such bad condition as to become dan-1
gerous to the traveling public; to be!
specific:, the following bridges are
named as dangerous: to-wit;—the
bridge across the creek near the resi
lenc€ of R. L. Middlebrooks, in Hays
District; the long covered bridge over
a slough, just west of the steel bridge
over the Alcovy river bridge, on the
road leading from Cpvington to So
Cial Ciracle; also, Brown bridge in bad
repa ir, Bridge between W. M. Har
welFs and j. B. Spears washed away,
Bridge across Mill Creek in Brick
Store District in bad shape,*- Bridge
over Gum Creek in bad shape, and
there may be others to the Grand Jury
unkn0 wn.
That % said Commissioner unqualified'and 1 W
genera „ y
unfitted for the duties of said office,
because of his age and general inef¬
ficiency.
Therefore, under the authority
af aid> aud after (iIulin „ Uie facts
hereinbefore hArflinh , lfnrp in 7 7 paragraphs nn ,. aS r P „ n hj5 set set out out,
tliis Grand Jury does hereby declare
the office of Commissioner ‘Newton' county”'to of Roads
ot
be vacant, basing said declaration on
ihe findings aforesaid.
COhMISSIONtR TVIEAQQBS
nLlLlLU gep! ICC Til III UllfinUL f-UApnC
the People ot Newton bounty: ,
Commissioner, they toundt.d the tecah
on G) seven Paragiaphic Counts.
It is with great pleasure that I, your
take those Para
tion, and r make x reply mdfr to same in a
ca^goncal Paragraph manner 1. that said ( omnns
sioner is Wasteful and Inelticient etc.
_ labor is 1 one d ’' ny of ; the Tnanner most approved, ° f han ^ h in
that it costs at least $100 per day to
move the Camp, and takes from-two
to three days to complete moving,
1U ^ c s ... MAri
^ r “ v \
^ H ieas v a f
’
,n l ‘ I, a .! * ', V ‘ !
iUU . 1 , ” 1 ‘ f ,/ th „
^ :
1 0 1 Xl j’ “ ’ ’
neatly m n . n and none A!11 v ayi
in ^ ™‘. d ' ' ‘,
■ h
al ''°! *‘ ’ J! . 1 . ‘ 1 , ’ , h t '
ted and in bed , by the , tj time nrescribedI ^escribedj
oy law. We lose no time on tlie* ,''
w "
‘ 1 ^ .J‘ ' , wasteful 7 i
a1 ’ ' .I
To this charge . V we enter snecific de !
nial—There is a law under which „i liP h I t
was forced to work, that gave eachl
rlictripi *3 Untnnii^^iflllPra * f
look * after ’ the roads , .* their , ■ districts, ii j t 1
in
» lter 1 na(1 ' uacea inp ,oao -' *>
order it was the duty ot these com
UKUthtl- l lie} llrfd me money t iu ecu
out the law. hut scarcity of labor j
caused some districts to fail in getting
the work done, since January 1st. the
roads have been under my care under i
revocation of the law above referred
It is known fact that this year t
to. a
so far has been unprecedented in bad. j
(ions and high priced lab0l , l hav el
been able to do a great *deal towards
travel—1 have spent NO MONEY in[
unnecessary labor, but have
near $7,000 in this work to date. and|
am continuing to carry forward this
branch of the work to completion—
which means, that every road in the
eventually receive the at
tention due it. I claim, no inefficiency
eafl ^ sb nwn, where a man has no
An Ad in The Nam II ,
Worth Fpnt an
,
The Fenca.
2;: :t;.::7:;a.i:4W . .— ‘
$1.50 Per. Yau Ii ”0
