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National Political Fences Rocking and
Reeling as They Have Not In Fifty Years,
Says Barrett, Make Straddling Almost Impos¬
sible. Best Chance Ever for Farmer to
Paralyze Squirmers and Get Results.
To the Officers and Members of the Farmers Lnion:
If the great American farmer does not get his rights from
the great American politician in this year of grace, 1912, ne will voi-
untarily throw away the best opportunity he has had for fifty years.
Every political condition and indication fights on our side as it
has not done in the memory of the oldest member of the union. Hie
field is plowed and fertilized. II the larmer does not piant and reap
a bumper harvest of those leforms for which he has these years been
contending, he will come near confessing himself a political cipher,
It is not alone that a president and congiess aie to be elected, and
prospective and actual candidates giKcd with keener healing than
usual. Peculiar conditions in all parties create a wagon-load of
ings for the American citizen with sense enough to see them and cour-
age enough to use them.
Factionalism tears all of the parties to pieces today. He leader,
no member of the rank and file of any political organization, knows
where he stands or where the country stands. I he politician is going
accourting as he has not since the civil war. He is humble and anx-
10US and on the mourners’ bench as lie has not been since Appomat-
tir. He can see individual votes or state delegations farther than a
poor man can see a dollar on a cloudy nay. He is feverish to concil-
iate, eager to concede, staying awake nights to frame np ways in
which he can save his fences from storm which is bound to break, but
he doesn’t know from which quarter.
With leaders and privates alike fighting for their political
the farmer has a chance for his day in court. It is up to him to take
it. Such an opportunity may not recur in five or ten or twenty years.
What may come tomorrow, is a matter of speculation. We had bet-
ter grasp what we can get today. If every American farmer will,
therefore, urge action on specific measures upon his congressman or
his senator, he will find both gctleraen as receptive as the receiving
teller of a new bank.
In legislation interesting the farmer and now pending before con¬
gress, the thing to do is to push results and ignore exeusses, You
have the whip-hand. Keep it! Don’t swallow the old song and
dance your congressman may hand you that, personally, he favors
this or that bill, but that he is in the minority. The minority that
can’t make itself felt is not fit to be made a majority. There never
was yet a few men in congress, or in the legislatures, who, by agree¬
ing upon a definite program and prosecuting it, couldn’t achieve sub¬
stantial progress .
What fence is it that gets things done in a legislative or any other
way in this country 1 ? Is it the big, unwiedly mass, swaying hither
and thither without a leader and not knowing just what it wants, or
if it does, how to go about getting it? No. It is the intelligent,
skillful, faithful few, who cling together, who never get off the job,
who are awake when the majority is asleep, who remember when the
majority forgets. Just remind your congressman or senator of these
principals of human nature, when next they tell you that they’re dy¬
ing to enact measures that would prove them the farmers’ friend, but
that they’re in a minority.
Just let any representative or senator believe in a farmers’ meas-
O e strong enough today, and get up on the floor of the house and
senate and talk loud enough and long enough about it—and I guaran¬
tee his colleagues, with an eye on their own re-election, and on the
chaotic national political situation, will be scared so they’ll listen and
get busy.
In legislation in which we are interested, or in issues in the pend
ing campaign, hold candidates to a personal accountability! Don’t
let them squirm. Don’t let them blind you with excusses, paralyze
the squirmers and the excuse-givers. Trim the hedgers, In this
critical political year, they’ve got to take a stand-fiat-footed, one way
-ov the other, The fences Of every party are reeling and rocking.
They won’t support straddlers.
Merely as an illustration, take the parcels post. Every farmer
wants it, and so agitated are both parties, and all factions, about cor-
raling the farmers’ vote, that we’re likely to get a parcels post, not
because the politician wants specially to give it, but because he’s
afraid not to givo it. We know we’re right in our demand for this as
for other reforms. Press the demand, while the men who must grant
it are in a position where they can’t put a wall behind their backs.
At the recent state convention of the union in Georgia, a resolution
was unanimously passed calling upon every member of the Georgia
congressional delegation to say where he stood regarding a parcels
post. If he opposed it, he is to be invited to a joint debate with some
one of our members who may be qualified to unmask tricksters.
That’s the way to nail the politician. They call themselves “prac¬
tical politicians” and thev adopt ‘ practical” means to stay in office.
Its up to the farmer to indulge in “practical politics” himself, if he is
going to get what’s coming to him. We’ve forgotten that our votes
are tangible assets, to be exchanged onlv in return for tangible ser¬
vices.
1912 is tne time par excellence for the farmer to capitalize his
voting power, to the end of securing his rights as an American citi-
zen.
Charles S. Barrett.
Washington, D. C., March 21st, 1912.
Passing Of The
Tin Awnings
Another Much Needed
Improvement for the
Business Section
With the advent of paved streets
and the “white way”, Pine and
Grant street merchants are discard¬
ing their unsightly tin and wooden
awnings, which is an improvement
that has long been needed. The
merchants have been gradually
doing ’way with their tin awrings
for the past year but it was to
such & limited extent that the gen¬
eral appearance of the business
»
THE FITZGERALD LEADER. FRIDAY MARCH 22, 1912.
section was not improved.
The displacement of these untidy
“comforts” in favor of the neat
canvass awning is indeed a move in
the right direction and is in keep¬
ing with the other changes for the
better, which have been a very
noticeable characteristic in the
affairs of the city during the past
few months.
Notice To The Public
It is a violation of the Law to
ride upon a Bicycle upon any side
walk in this City, this Law will be
strictly enforced, hereafter ull of¬
fenders will be dealt with accord¬
ingly.
Herman Smith,
20-iw. Chief of Police.
D, B, Mull Writes from
Washington.
The Fitzgerald Leader,
Fitzgerald, Ga.,
Dear Leader and Friends:—
It gives me pleasure to again
write to my home paper. I am
having a very pleasant time now
since the weather has moderated,
and Mrs _ Mull and j have been on
a number of sight-seeiD<- r expedi-
tions since rnv j ast letter. Only
recently we visited the Treasury
Department and a friend of mine
showed us throngh the auditing
and disbursing department where
^he treasurer pays out about three
million dollars a day and where
t,he department destroys about
t he same amount. They throw
Q] d money nto a vat and grind it
up; the n sell it to a New York
fi rm at §28 per ton.
Then w T e went into the money
department where all the money
is .kept. I handled $10,000 in
gold, four’hundred then the clerk handed me
thousand in bills,
f was out la t evening at the
Champ Clark birthday party, given
by ‘.he Champ Clark Clubs. It
was sa j d be j ar g es t political
meeting ever held in the District,
I see politics are warming up in
Ben Hill County and the thing I
ca n say is that I hope the voters
w ill elect the man best fitted for
the several offices. I would cer¬
tainly like to be in dear old Fitz¬
gerald to help out my friends, but
of course my interests are here
now and this is the place for me.
I notice that my friend, O. H.
Elkins, is going to be a candidate
for the State Senate. I hope the
people will elect him for he will
make the District a good Senator.
I will come down to Macon in
May, to attend the Reunion, and
while I am in the South, I expect
to run down to Fitzgerald and
stay a few days with my friends.
Yours truly,
D. B. Mull,
Confederate Veteran.
Proclamatiorv.
In co-operation with the “Wo¬
men’s Club” I, A. B. Cook, May¬
or of the City of Fitzgerald, here¬
by proclaim Saturday March 30th.
1912, as “Cleaning Up Day,” and
designate said day for all residents
to clean up their premises and lots,
and have rubbish in Alleys so
same can be hauled away by teams
especially fired for their purpose.
All premises ana YUOfUit lots not
cleaned np by March 3Cth, will be
so done by the City, and the ex-
pense of same be charged against
said property.
The “Women’s Club” will have
full charge of all matters pertain¬
ing to said “CLEANING UP
DAY.”
A. B. Cook, Mayor.
Geo. W. Brown Clerk.
Muscogee Will Form
Club For Underwood
Columbus, Ga., March 19. —An
Underwood Club will be organized
here Thursday night at a mass
meeting at the courthouse. Dr.
John M. Crook, a prominent phy¬
sician, is heading the movement.
A strong Underwood sentiment is
developing here.
Notice to the Public.
The 1912 Assessment Roll of
the City of Fitzgerald is now in
the Office of the City Clerk, sub¬
ject to the inspection of the Tax¬
payers: The Equalization Board
will meet the first Monday in
April, for the purpose of hearing
any aggrieved Tax-payer, this is
in accordance with Section No.
103 of the City Charter,
Geo. W. Brown, Clerk.
Lost—last Friday night, on
Grant street between Jessamine
and Pine, a lady's size gold watch,
Finder will be rewarded if watch
is returned to Miss Vessie Jones,
315 south Grant street. It.
The Important Deta.il
There is a little rhyme
has come down through the ages.
It reads
“Little drops of water
Little grains of sand
Make the mighty ocean
And the pleasant land.”
In speaking of transmitters re¬
cently, a Western Electric Com¬
pany man, familiar with the manu¬
facture of that all-important factor
of telephony, suggested that the
verse might well be changed a bit
to read
“Big and little details
Made with wondrous skill
Help to make transmitters
Send your speech at will.”
During the pastdecade, the pub¬
lic has come to accept the telephoe
as an every day sort of thing,
good for talking to some one else
miles awav; but owing to the
familiarity which such continued
speaking acquaintance has bred,
has probably never given a thought
to the delicate workmanship neces¬
sary to turn out a transmitter
which will really talk well.
The transmitter, which is found
on the great majority of telephones
is made up of fifty-nine details or
parts, not including over fifty
thousand granules of carbon, which
are encased in a closed cup and
form what might be termed the
“dynamo” of the instrument.
Each detail of the transmitter is
made as careful as the most deli¬
cate part of an expensive watch.
The average person, rarely deal¬
ing with dimensions less than one-
eight of an inch, will scarcely
realize what it means to manufac¬
ture very small parts whose di¬
mensions must notvary more than
one-thousandth of an inch either
way. The outside of the trans¬
mitter is compact appearing and
strongly built. This is necessary
on account of the fact that it is the
housing for the “details made with
wondrous skill.”
Through the medium of these
delicately manufactured Western
Electric instruments, it is now
possible to transmit speech from
New York to Denver, a distance
2050 miles. Less carefully made
transmitters would fail utterly in
such a project. In a short time
the line will be extended to San
Francisco, when, if the hopes of
the telephone engineers, who are
engaged in work, are realized, the
dream of trans-continental tele¬
phone communication will have
yome true.
Scientific Ba.sis
For Grading Cotton
Washington, March 19.—Dr.
B. T. Galloway, chiet of the ag¬
ricultural department’s bureau of
plant industry, believes that to
get a more scientific basis for grad¬
ing cotton than the present one,
which depends on the color and
the length of staple, the strength
of the fiber and its spinning qual¬
ities also should be taken into con¬
sideration, It a “community
type” of cotton can be raised the
farmers of the south will get more
money for their product, said Mr.
Galloway today, and the depart¬
ment of agriculture, through its
farmers’ co-operative wori, is
planning to make extensive elforts
to have groups of planters in var¬
ious sections raise exactly the
same grade of cotton. This would
help them all, it is pointed out,
because they could market their
product together and get higher
prices.
Presbyterian Church
Preaching by the pastor at the
morning and night service.
Morning theme: “Prayer-”
Evening Theme: “Four Pictures
in Christs Life.”
Special music will be rendered
by the best talent of our city at
both services.
night services; but
general assembly cause of pub
lication.
Free pews and a cordial wel¬
come awaits you.
Program.
Baptist Sunday School Convention Will Con*
vene Witli Rebecca Ba-ptist Church
March 30 And 31, 1912.
SATURDAY.
9:00 a. m. Devotional Exercises, E. F. Hancock.
9:30 a: m. Object of the Convention, A. J. Sword.
10:00 a. m. Sunday School and church relation, W. J. Barton,
11:00 a. m. Sermon, Rev. Thomas W. Calloway.
12:00 m. Dinner.
1:30 p. m. The Sunday School and how to Successfully run it.
Col. L. Kenedy.
2:00 p. m. How to get folks to Sunday school, and how to keep
them, Rev. J. A. Ansley.
2:30 p, m. The kind of superintendents and teachers to be used
in the Sunday school, C. A. Cozart.
3:00 p. m. How and when teacher should impress upon the
minds of the pupil, the importance of becoming a
Christian, Rev. R. A. Jessup.
7 p. m. Sermon, Rev. J. A. Ansley.
SUNDAY.
9:30 a. m. Devotional Exercises, J. R. Bussell.
10:00 a. m. Sunday School.
11:00 a. m. Sermon, Rev. W. J. Branton.
7:00 p. m. Sermon, F. R. Kersey.
Everyoody invited, don’t fail to attend,
J. A. Sword, and J. Bussell,
Committee.
Attention Veterans.
The Confederate Veterans will
hold a special meeting Saturday
afternoon at 2-30 o’clock at the
office of W. B. Moore. Business
.3E&2XE&I
Interstate Life & Accident"
— Company -
CHATTA N OOGA, :_TENNESSEE.
Capital $200,000.00
Surplus $ 125 , 000.00
Insure Against Loss of Time
From Sickness or Anoiden t
Claims Paid Promptly. Southern Company. Operating
Exclusively in the South. Claims Paid Every Week.
APPLY TO
Wm. F, Nipper, Gen'l Agt.
Thos. W. Stokes. Supervisor
Agents in Georgia and Alabama
Fitzgerald, G-eorgia.
COFFINS and CASKETS
All prices from the cheapest ?|Pi»f
to the best. All calls will re¬
ceive our immediate attention. H V'VffV.v' i?
Sandlin Furniture & Undertaking Company,
Day Phone 116, Night Phone 375.
f; t£L- ‘"Keep Tabs 99
flrayfip ii.'i II" on how often you send your,
shirts, collars, cuffs, etc., to
V this laundry until they’re no|
longer wearable. That will
convine you that we prolong
, «i4 tnszs the life of linen beyond most
i' 1 washers and ironers thereof.
Test our work—we can stand
VST it.
WHITE SWAN LAUNDRY
T. M. Hopper fj A
Harness Maker
and Rapairing
Old Harness Made Good as New, both in s;
Looks and Durability,
See me. Satisfaction Guaranteed
221 E. Pine Street.
of importance, bearing upon the
Reunion in Macon, May 7, 8 and
9th, will be discussed and it is
necessary that we have a full meet¬
ing.
Marcus Luke, Commander,