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PAGE FOUR
' The Dawson News
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BY E. L. RAINEY
e
CLEM E. RAINEY, Business Manager.
__———‘_._—____:___._—————~————-——_———'——‘_——'—_———__
DAWSON, GA., FEBRUARY 1, 1921,
One comfort about being old i® that the
insurance agents leave one alone.
—_————————
Mrs. Poor Chicken died in South Dakota
the other day. She is not the only one.
That Mississippi wild man says he caught
his wife in a steel trap. Civilized methods are
easier on the women.
Atlanta is to have a music week again this
spring. It should be a success, as Atlanta al
ways has been able to hit the high notes.
Democrats high up in the councils of the
-party are looking for a leader. In the philoso
phy of Ham Bone, “’Taint leaders, but fol
lowers, we need.” {
A single jury granted three hundred di
vorces in Fulton superior court in one day
last week. It is just like Atlanta, which
claims to excel in everything.
——eee
An era of great prosperity is just around
the corner. Let us talk success, not failure.
The man who tries to make two complaints
grow where one grew before should be under
strict quarantine.”
The Fal] River, Mass., cotton mills have.
declared an average dividend of 29.148 per
cent on a capitalization of $36,000,000. It must
take real moral courage for stockholders to
make such an admission for 1920.
Governor-elect Hardwick has added his con
demnation to the alleged “mansion” owned by
the state as a home for its chief executives.
The condition of both that building and the
capitol is a disgrace to Georgia.
More than 1,000 clergymen are asked to
suggest - designs for milady’s wardrobe. If
there was a reasonable probability of the
adoption of any of them the women quite
likely would take to the tall timber.
The Savannah Press is of the opinion that
‘the South Georgia farmer who, when asked
what crops he intended to plant this year, re
plied- that he proposed “to put in a general
mixture,” will make no serious mistake.
MADE IN DAWSON. 1
Some of the Dawson guests at the recent
Kiwanis banquet who were so impressed with
the quality of the rolls served at the dinner
were greatly surprised to learn that they
were a product of a Dawson bakery; and, best
of all, the four hundred used at the spread
were without solicitation donated by the
generous proprietor. There are lots of good
things in Dawson that could be made better|
if the people who live here would get rid of
the idea that something further on is more
desirable. We ‘are sending a lot of good mon
ey out of Dawson for things which can be
found right at our door.
WHICH IS IT?
President-elect Harding has consulted with
more than a hundred leading minds of the
country concerning the policies of his ad
ministration and the men who are to become
.members of his cabinet. The question is
-whether he has brought the majority of
these minds to his way of thinking so that
when he acts they will approve, or whether
he has heard their views and gathered a
medley of ideas out of which he will formulate
his policy and choose his cabinet. If, he has
brought a majority of the visitors to Marion
to his view of public affairs, or has secured
‘assurance from them that they will support
his policies though they may not be in full
accord with them, he has accomplished that
which no other president-elect ever did.
If- the information he has gathered is to
form the groundwork of his own views modi
fied by such advice as fits into his general
plan he has a grasp on public sentiment that
few others in his position have had. The time
of the president-elect between his election
and inauguration has been occupied in the
past with the selection of a cabinet and other
public officials. It must be conceded that
whether Senator Harding has brought his
visitors’ minds to his view or whether he has
gathered information to be used by him in
outlining his administrative policy he has a
new and stronger grip on public sentiment
than would have been possible without these
consultations. The next administration, it
seems, will be an American rather than a
Harding one.
DEPORTATION OF MARTENS.
The deportation of Martens, soviet agent
©of Russia, ends a controversy not wholly
creditable to this country. Martens was not
merely a representative of bolshevik Russia,
but a promoter of bolshevism in the United
States. To all intents and purposes he was
‘an enemy to our government from which he
:sought recognition.
Martens’ case emphasizes the conflict be
tween the state and the labor departments
of our government. These departments have
not worked in harmony, even when there was
evidence of sedition. The result has been a
clash of authority, which has made a farce
of laws and permitted undesirables to do
pretty much as they pleased.
In Martens’ case, too, there were certain
trade and commercial influences endeavoring
‘to prévent disturbance of trade prospects with
Russia. Such interference, selfish and in
-considerate, ought to have received a quietus
long before it did. It was as un-American as
Martens was undesirable. -
THE WINTER FIRMAMENT.
Time may be profitably occupied these win
ter nights in thoughtful contemplation of the
glory and the mystery of the firmament. Such
contemplation from time to time contributes
to reverence and humility., Owing to the
greater clarity of the atmosphere in the win
ter time the spectacle of the firmament is
more brilliant now than in any other seasons
of the year. A number of the constellations
i:ire in position for favorable observation dur
ing the early evening, among them being
Orion and the Pleiades. During the last week
Venus and Mars have been in close proximi
ty just after sunset in the southwestern sky,
Venus shining with resplendence that is re
gal. Aldebaran will.be found near the Pleiates
in the zenith, with splendid Capella not far
distant. Castor and Pollux are in the eastern
sky area. These are but a few of the more
prominent and better known constellations
and stars.
Men have been contemplating the firma
ment since the earliest dawn of human intelli
gence. The beauty, the majesty and the mys
tery of ‘the heavens have appealed to the soul
of man since unrecorded time. The stars and
the constellations were named by men who
have been dust many thousands of years. An
astronomist of the Mt. Wilson observatory
recently challenged interest by some deduc
tions concerning the size of Betelgeuse, a
star in the constellation Orion. This constel
lation is one of the most beautiful in the
heavens. It ‘was known to and referred to by
the writer of the book of Job, which is be
lieved to be one of the oldest writings extant.
Job also knew the Hyades and the Pleiades.
The men of old doubtless had more time for
looking at the stars than we are willing to
spare in the present day, and their manner
of living gave them more abundant opportuni
ty and greater familiarity with the wonder of
the heavens. Ancient literature is filled with
the wonderment and the mystery that was
impressed upon their minds by the heavenly
spectacle.
We are told by the astronomers that change
is in progress in the outer space as constant
ly as it is in progress in our own little world.
The heavenly bodies that we call stars and
planets, though they appear to us to be fixed
in their places, are in constant motion. Stars
die, and new stars are created to take their
places. The universe is so vast, and space is
so immense, and time is so inconsequential
and so limitless that our lifetime is far too
brief to observe any changes that may take
place. These changes are to be measured
not in days, nor years, nor centuries, but in
ages. ?
Our sun is vastly greater in bulk than the
earth, and yet Prof. Michelson calculates that
the red star in Orion, Betelgeuse, which to
the naked eye appears as no more than a point
of light, is equal to 27,000,000 suns—is 300
times larger than the sun. Accepting the as
tronomer’s calculations as approximately ex
act, the tremendous immensity of space is ap
iparent. This is an immensity so great as to
stagger the mind. No human mind is capa
}ble of thinking in the terms of distance so
vast or of bodies so large. Compared to Betel
‘gcuse‘ and considering the immeasurable vast
ness of space, the earth is something less than
ia speck of dust. .
Truly the heavens declare the glory of
‘God. Who is able to contemplate the firma
‘ment and not confess consciousness of the
existence in the universe, of a power so great
as to be beyond the capacity of the human
mind to comprehend? How puny the human
mind becomes by contrast.
What wonder is it that David of old should
have exclaimed: “When I behold thy heavens,
the sun and the moon and the stars that thou
hast made what is man that thou art mindful
of him?”
TERRELL COUNTY AND THE TAX
COMMISSIONER,
In a communication printed elsewhere on
this page the state tax commissioner, for fear
we had not been informed as to how the com
missioners of Tift county reduced the tax rate
there, votunteers the information that “they
did it as a result of increasing their tax values
in accordance with the equalization program
outlined by the state tax commissioner,” and
adds: “You need not be reminded of Terrell’s
attitude in this matter.” Of course, The News
is duly appreciative of this thoughtfulness on
the part of the commissioner, but our good
friend, Editor Herring, had already given the
information to us through the Tifton Gazette.
The explanation confirms the opinion we had
formed. The rate was reduced by increasing
the assessments, but wherein the taxpayer
is benefited thereby is not explained. The in
creased assessments offset the reduction in
rate, and the tax burden is as heavy, if not
heavier, than before. Now that the tax levies
—state, county and municipal—have reached
the limits allowed by law this camouflage
is being generally resorted to in the belief
that the poor taxpayer will be made to be
lieve the load is being partly lifted when
in reality they are digging deeper into his
his pocket. A
j As to “the attitude of Terrell county,” re
ferred to by the commissioner, the people of
this county have never objected to paying
their just share of all taxes. Moreover, they
have always done so, as the tax records dis
close. They did, however, object emphatical
ly and successfully to an order by the com
‘missioner that the tax values of Terrell coun
ty be increased 40 per cent when no demand
ifor increased assessments was made by him
upon the adjoining counties of Dougherty,
Randolph, Lee, Calhoun and Webster. The
‘demand was made upon the property owners
;of Terrell county, too, in face of the fact that
land was returned at a higher average valua
tion per acre than in the counties above men
tioned. The people of Terrell, who returned
their land at a valuation of $9.60 per acre,
‘thought it was unjust that they should be
il'cqnircd to pay an additional 40 per cent,
iwhcn valuations were accepted for Stewart
jcounty at $6.51 per acre, Randolph at $6.90,
Calhoun at $6.82, Lee at $7.12 and Webster
lat $B.OB. They demanded arbitration, and
were sustained by a board of arbitzators se-
lected and appointed by the state tax author-}
ities. Instead of an increase of 40 per cent, as
demanded by the state tax commissioner, in- |
creases of only 17 per cent on land and 20 per!
cent on merchandise were allowed. No other |
items were increased, and the total increase |
by the arbitrators in the tax values of|
the county amounted to only about SI
per cent. The people of Terrell county have!
no quarrel with the tax commissioner and |
commend him for his zeal in administeringi
his office. They believe, however, that he'
was badly advised and misinformed, and a|
board of prominent Georgians, men of affairs |
and well-informed, who came here to oflficial-%
ly inquire into the matter found that view to
be correct. !
l As The News has said before, it is time
for some statesman to take a short cat to
fame by proposing economy or a reduction
of expenditures instead of seeking to raise
tax levies and to invent new forms of taxa
tion. The concern of nearly every one who has
anything to do with taxes seems to be how
to get more money. Taxes and more taxes,
revenue and more revenue, is the cry and
urge. All the ingenuity and cunning of man
is brought into play to find means to impose
taxes. How long can the dear people stand
the upward trend of taxation? How long can
they endure the existing burdensome taxes?
There must be a limit somewhere beyond
which it will not be safe to go.
In this connection we reproduce below a
timely utterance from Hon. Jacob Phinizy, the
well-known banker of Augusta, who is season
ed in business and recognized as one of the
best financial brains in Georgia. It is an extract
from an interview given the Macon Tele
graph, which has recently printed the views
of a number of Georgia's foremost men of
affairs concerning present conditions and the
needs of the state. It is worthy of far more
than passing attention, for no man has had
better opportunity to know and weigh con
ditions as he has analyzed them. Mr. Phinizy
says:
“In Georgia in my opinion the reason for
outside investment not coming is due to the
fact of some weak laws that have been
passed in recent years in addition to high
taxes. We are over-ridden with taxes, and
the money in my opinion is not judiciously
and wisely spent. The result is that the ap
propriations every year are being increas
ed. Georgia’s population does not grow suf
ficiently to warrant these increases, and our
people cannot prosper and outside capital
will not be attracted to this state under
these circumstances.”
Why should not all governments, of high
and low degree, shorten their programs a bit,
or at least hold them in abeyance, and give
the humble taxpayer a chance to catch up
with the procession?
ROCKEFELLER'S GENEROSITY.
The contribution eof $1,000,000 to the Eu
ropean relief fund by John D. Rockefeller, jr.,
is characteristic of Rockéfgller generosity.
When it comes to giving the Rockefellers,
father and son, do things in a large way.
It has ceased to be dangerous to speak
kindly of the Rockefellers. There was a time
when it was the fashion to berate them. But
by their good works they have been seen of
men, and it has been revealed that they have
sincere desire to use their wealth for the bene
fit of mankind. Few men have exhibited such
wisdom in the administration of large accu
mulations as has been shown' by the senior
Rockefeller. He has put his mitlions to work
for the benefit of humanity, and they will con
tinue to do work long after he has become
‘dust. He has made full confession of his
stewardship. He has recognized that he is
only the custodian of the funds that have
come into his hands, and that it is his duty
to return them to the people from whom they
}came for their use and benefit. And his son,
John D. Rockefeller, jr., is following in his
ffootsteps.
Camelias, better known by the old fashion
name of japonica, are blooming in profusion
out in the open, with no protection, in many
of the flower gardens of Dawson, to say noth
ing of the hyacinths, narcissi and violets that
furnish a wealth of bloom and make fragrant
the air.
Some days ago the newspaper correspond
ents had the Harding cabinet all completed
save one or two members. Now they have re
duced their selections to one, and they are
in grave doubt as to the certainty of this one.
Meanwhile, the president-elect is saying noth
ing.
Editor John W. McWhorter, recently of
the Vidalia Advance, is now editor of the
Winder News. McWhorter is a fine news
paper man, and our Winder contemporary is
showing new life and vigor. :
“Preacher Is Lost,” says a headline. Here
tofore the sinners have been the ones lost.
Moon Feast In China.
Even Poorest in Cathay Have Their
Moon Cake. .
The moon of falling leaves takes a prom
inent place in the mid-autumnal festival cele
brated in the flowery kingdom, according to
a writer in the North China Herald. Under
a resplendent moon, accompanied by offer
ings of fruit, the ceremony is widely celebrat
ed. There are feasts and rejoicing which reach
traditiona! height at midnight, the hour for
worshiping the moon. The very poorest have
their moon cake, a delicacy obtainable only
at this time of the year. There are lighted
lanterns attached to poles on the roofs, and
fire balloons with strings of crackers are dis
patched aloft.
The Chinesc owe their festival to the Em
peror Tung Ming-huang and his magician in
chief. It is reported that one evening this em
inent couple adjourned fo the palace yard to
view the full moon and the magician, cast
ing his rod, converted it into a bridge and”
bade the emperor cross, and so transported
him to the moon. Like a good tourist he
made haste to visit all places of interest, and
in due course arrived at the palace of the
moon. Here there was an entertainment in
progress, and the royal visitor gave himself
up to song and dance. Returning to the earth
he composed a poem in praise of the moon.
The fame of his visit spread, and to this day
the emperor’s nocturnal t;ip is an annual oc
casion for rejoicing in China. “
THE DAWSON NEWS
I Nothing to Do But Wait. I
e e e )
From the Albany Herald.
Dawson is more disappointed than the
average town over the announcement from
\Washington that there will be no public
building program for a few years. A gov
ernment building here was authorized some
vears ago and a site was purchased, but for
various reasons its erection has been de
layed. The present postoffice quarters are
not in keeping with the general develop
ment of the city. But we must keep wait
ing, it seems.—Dawson News.
Congréss seems to be in for a season of
economy “in spots,” and public building en
terprises form one of the spots. There are to
be no appropriations for beginning new build
ings just now, but the old familiar *“pork bar
rel” will come out of the closet again in time,
and the erection of public buildings will be
resumed. It is a pity for a town that really
needs a postoffice building not to have it pro
vided, but when a spasm of economy is on
there's nothing to do but wait, as The Daw
son News says. 4
| Those Facetious Senators. I
From the Congressional Record.
Mr. Harrison—The senator from Utah is
as strong and as high a protectionist as I
know of in the country. I do not like spotted
protectionists; neither have I any respect for
a peanut protectionist. I have no respect for
a democrat ~who will vote for protection on
something which is grown in his district and
at the same time expend his eloquence against
the principle of protection. I stand today
where I have always stood, and the way my
party has stood, against any protection of
any kind.
Mr. Smoot—The senator is consistent in
that position, and I respect him for it, but in
his remarks he referred to the fact that I only
had wool in sight all the time.
Mr. Harrison—That was facetious.
Mr. Smoot—Very well; that is all right.
Then I have nothing more to say.
Mr. Harrison—Yes; that was facetious.
l The Glory of Life. |
From the Cotton Planter.
“The crowning glory of life is character.”
It is the noblest possession in reach of man.
It is more powerful than wealth; it dignifies
every station.and exalts every position in so
ciety. “Character is human nature in its best
form.” In every well-governed state men of
character are its best motive power; for the
moral powers of man which rule the world.
Even in war Napoleon said: “The moral is
to the physical as ten is to one.” The strength,
the industry and the civilization of this na
tion all depend upon the individual character
of its citizens, and the foundations of civil
liberty rest upon it.
Self-help, self-respect, self-confidence, for
tified by application, industry and integrity,
are attributes well worth seeking. Young
men should strive to cultivate principles that
form character as well as good crops. Socie
ty, the state and the nation need men with
strong moral characters.
AND TERRELL IS FULL OF THEM.
From the Talbotton New Era. )
The farmers are speeding the plow down
~ here in Southwest Georgia. They have
bravely set out to make another crop and
«recoup their fortunes. No matter what mis
fortune overtakes them, they cannot be kept
down.—Dawson News. )
Most everything comes from the soil, and
you can’t get away from this fact to save your
life. Of course you can’t keep a good farmer
down.
WOULD LIKE TO KNOW.
From the Griffin News and Sun.
Editor John Herring wishes to know why
it is hogs sell at 8 cents and breakfast bacon
at 75 cents a pound, and corn at 75 cents and
meal at $2 a bushel. The editor of the Pitts
burg Gazette is equally curious to know how
it comes about that “Europe is able to ship
potatoes here and sell them at a less price
than it costs to grow them here.”
5 ° HANDSOMELY SAID.
From the Richland News.
“ If we had to lose a basket ball game to
anybody we are glad it was to Dawson. For
Dawson High has the finest set of boys and
girls that can be found anywhere. And they
are clean sportsmen.
AN URGENT NEED.
From the Savannah Press.
The Dawson News concludes that what
really is needed is a system for marketing the
products of the farm.
I Offer to Help Farmers. I
-~
From the Columbus Enquirer-Sun.
Andalusia, Alabama, bankers and merchants
have decided and devised a plan for the pur
pose to help the farmers of Covington coun
ty. One of the features of this plan is that if
the farmers agree to it—if they will adopt the
suggestion made to them—nothing will be
taken from them on last year’s debts and
their old notes will be renewed for this year.
This is a very liberal proposition, it seems,
and, inasmuch as those who are making it
are successful business men, it would appear
to be practical. '
The Enquirer-Sun several days ago pub
lished a synopsis of the plan or program pro
posed by these merchants and bankers, and
here are some of the features as outlined in
it, as to planting: Six acres to cotton, six
acres to peanuts (for marketing), twelve acres
to corn and velvet beans, two acres to fall
sown oats (followed by hay crops), one acre
to seed potatoes, one acre to sugar cane, two
brood sows for the first plow and one sow
for each additional plow (good breeding an
imals should be secured), three acres in graz
ing crops for each sow and litter, for which
an appended special plan of alternating and
planting is provided.
The proposal for pasfurage grazing has a
well conceived purpose behind it, and that is
to provide the market with hogs every month
in the year instead of rushing them to market
within a few weeks, and, possibly, when con
ditions for marketing them are not as favor
able as they would otherwise be. This matter
has been emphasized by the managers of the
Andalusia packing plant as of prime import
ance, as it would give the farmers a “money
crop” each month. It is pointed out that this
manager has demonstrated on his private ex
periment farm in Covington county that hogs
can be raised there at about one-third the cost
it takes to raise them in the east or middle
west.
In its final analysis the Andalusia plan is
something in the nature of the bankers and
business men agreeing to furnish the plans
and the money; all the farmer has to do in
order to receive aid from them is to adopt
their plan, which appears to be a good one.
It ought to work out well, and, it segms, if
followed in detail, it would work out well.
I From State Tax Commissioner. I
Editor of The Dawson News: In your pa
per of January 4th you comment on the fact
that the tax rate had been reduced in some
counties, and make special mention of Tiit
county, besgeching them’ to pass the word
around as to how they wrought this miracle.
I am not advised as to whether your Tift
county neighbors have complied with this
request, but for fear they haven’t I wish to
volunteer the information. They did it as a
result of increasing their tax values in ac
cordance with the equalization program out
lined by the state tax commissioner and com
plied with by a number of counties in the
state, including Tift. You need not be remind
ed of Terrell’s attitude in this matter. Very
truly yours, H. J. FULLBRIGHT,
» State Tax Commissioner.
————————————— Ry
I John Wesley’s Broad Spirit. l
Editor of The Dawson News: In my hum
ble opinion the church people of Dawson
could do nothing better right now than to tgy
to catch the broad Christ-like spirit of John
Wesley as expressed in the following timely
article, which is of special significance in this
community at the present time: :
“I will not quarrel’with you about opinions.
Only see that your heart is right toward God;
that you know and love the Lord Jesus
Christ; that you love your neighbor, and
walk as your Master walked, and I desire no
more. .
“I am sick of opinions; I am weary to hear
them. Give me a solid, substantial religion;
give me a humble, gentle lover of God and
man, a man full of mercy and good fruits, a
man laying himeslf out in the work of faith,
the patience of hope, the labor of love.
“Let my soul be with these Christians,
wheresoever they are and whatesoever opin
ions they are of. Whosoever thus doeth the
will of my Father in Heaven the same is my
brother and sister.” METHODISY. .
Dawson, Ga.
e ———————————————————————————————————— "
| The Dawson News Almanac. l
e —— —————————————— e ——— —————————
Cuthbert Liberal-Enterprise: The Liberal-
Enterprise is the recipient of a neat 1921 al
manac gotten out by The Dawson News. It
contains about 40 or 50 pages, and besides the
calendar it contains much miscellaneous in
formation, and is worthy of a place in one’s
library. Thanks, Brother Rainey. -
Lyons Progress: We have been favored
with a copy of the 1921 almanac issued by
The Dawson News. It is a beautifully print
ed booklet of thirty-six pages, replete with
information relative to seasons, historical
events and things of general interest.
The Madisonian: No more appreciated pa
per comes to our desk than The Dawson
News. The mew year almanac issued by it is
not only useful, but is a credit to the enter
prise of that splendid paper. -
Cuthbert Leader: The Leader is in receipt
of an attractive almanac issued by The Daw
son News. In addition tb the calendar it con
tains a lot of useful information. It is a credit
to our excellent contemporary.
Early County News: The News_ is a little
late in acknowledging receipt of The Dawson
News’ almanac for 1921, a splendid little book
let full of-useful information -and nicely got
ten up. Thanks.
Many a politician with wheels thinks he
is the whole political machine.
MADE FRESH every day in our Candy
Kitchen by an expert candy maker.
Cobb’s Pecan Roll,
Peanut Brittle,
Coconut Brittle,
, Divinity, :
Caramels,
.- Nougats. |
These candies are as good, pure and high
class as can be made. Equal to the best in
fancy packages. Try them and you will have
no other.
' COBB’ CAFE
Main Street Dawson, Ga.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 197
Each Year From
~ Cranking Auto
- mobiles.
We speéialize in Re
charging, Rebuilding
and Rental Batteries.
When your Battery
loses its kick call around
or Phone 272 for ex
pert battery service.
LoCKE-MATHIS
MOTOR COMPANY
Phone 272. DAWSON, GA.