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PUBLISHED MONDAY, WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY Official Organ City of Fitzgerald Chamber of Commerce Presi dent’s Withdrawal Is Final DREW PAULK ANNOUNCES Former Mayor of City Formally Enters Name in’ Lists J. H. Mayes, president of the Fitz gerald Chamber of Commerce and mentioned frequently as a prospec tive mayoralty candidate, today an mounced positively that he will not make the race. Burden of other du ties and the earnest wish to see no factignal fight in the coming race. are Mr. Mayes’ reasons for refusing to run. : Simultaneously with Mr. Mayes an nouncement of withdrawal comes the formal entrance into the race of Drew W. Paulk, for several terms mayor of Fitzgerald at various periods of itg history. Mr. Paulk’s hat was pitched into the ring several weeks ago by his friends and without his consent. Several other names have been prominently mentioned as possible candidates for mayor but no farmal announcement has been. made up to this afternoon save by Mr. Paulk. Mr. Mayes’ card, explaining his re fusal to run, follows: Mayes Explains Refusal TO THE CITIZENS I wish to thank my friends who have offered me their suppert should I become a candidate for Mayor, and while I had considered becoming a candidate for this place and had promised some of you that I would, I have carefully considered every Phase of the situation and have come to the conclusion that the sacrifice would be too great for me to make at this time. I therefore, ask that you release me from my promise, The duties of the Mayorality, when properly administered, requires much more time than the average person realizes, and since my duties with the Fitzgerald and Cochran Cotton Mills require all my time I feel that I would not be treating my employers just right to allow a political office to interfere with those duties. Then, too, I have decided that I can do the city a greater service by discourag ing political fights and devoting what extra time I might have to the Cham ber of Commerce work, and I believe that you will agree with me that it is very essential that we keep politics out of this organization, which I as President, would plunge it into were I to become a candidate for Mayor. In conclusion I wish to say that in withdrawing my name from fur ther consideration, I am actuated by no other motive than of loyalty to my employers and in justice to the citizens of Fitzgerald. I withdraw in no mans- favor and I have no candi date to take my place. There are plenty of good men in the city, in cluding those already mentioned and some who have not been mentioned in connection with the office. The only thing I am interested in is the welfare of the city, and I trust that whoever is finally selected will be a man who is honored and respected by all the people and who can and will guide us in the path that we should go to the end that Fitzgerald may be a bigger and better place in which to live. Let us all adopt the best motto I have ever seen: “Pull for Fitzgerald or Pull Out.” Faithfully yours, J. H. MAYES. POLITICAL ANNOUNCEMENT FOR MAYOR To the Citizens of Fitzgerald: | Recognizing the importance of the. changes made through the addition of the Women voters for the election of officers of the city, and appreci ating fully their laudable aim to help to make Fitzgerald a bigger and better city in conjunction with the former voters of the city, I have consented to become a candidate for Mayor at the solicitation of numerous friends among the men and women of the city. who have the wellfare of the commun ity at heart. | . Should the voters honor me with this office, it shall be my purpose to administer the affairs of the city in the interest of all of the people, without prejudice or favor, to the end that the moral and material welfare of the city may be properly advanced with due regard to the tax burden from which the tax-payers are entitled to reasonable relief. It shall be my aim to enforce rigidly all ordinances lead ing to a higher morality and to the pro tection of life and property. Assuring you of my fullest appre ciation of your careful consideration of my candidacy, I am,, Drew W. Paulk. FOR ALDERMAN AT LARGE At the solicitation of many friends I hereby announce myself a candi date for re-election as Alderman at Large, subject to the choice of the wvoters at the coming primary. GEO. L. KILCREASE. FOR ALDERMAN AT LARGE After careful consideration I here by announce my candidacy for Alder THE LEADER-ENTERPRISE ‘ ° Georgia Magnet Is ° o Again In Public Annie Abbott, Whose Powers Once Astonished World, Gives Exhibition ATLANTA, Feb. 7—Miss Annie Abbott, known throughout the world as “The Georgia Magnet” is back in public eye after years of retirement, according to news just received here. She has just given an exhibition at Hotel Astor, New York, and appar ently her powers over the natural laws of weight resistance and the force of gravitation are undiminished, for those who saw her, it is stated, were as much impressed as were her audiences thirty years ago, and as ‘many explanations are offered as to the source of strength of this frail woman. y Away back in 1890, Miss Annie Ab bott, who shared with Lula Hurst th: title of the “Georgia Magnet.” astan ished the world with remarkable exhi bitions of strength from some un known power. Miss Abbott claimed that it came from prayer, while Miss Hurst’s friends said her power was due to personal magnetism. At any rate, either of the women could hold down a table that five men could not raise, and raise a table that five men could not hold down; resist the strength o ffive men exerted to push her from a standing position, and raise a table and hold it in the air by touching it with the tips of her fin gers, and otherwise perform feats that were marvelous. Both women toured Europe and the Continent and gave wonderful exhibi tions. Miss Hurst was the pioneer in the movement, but Miss Abbott, it is stated, was a worthy lieutenant, and resisted the best efforts of Sandow and Flanchott, famous strong men, and defeated the wrestlers of China and Japan who called her “The Evi] One.” But Miss Hurst and Miss Abbott passed from the publir view and tho the majority of the people in Georgia forgot all about them. Now Miss Abbott has appeared once more. | It is remarkable that Georgia should produce two such women as Miss Ab- | bott and Miss Hurst, and that thcyi should have no successful imitators. | ATLANTIANS ENJOYING HUNT IN COUNTY Messrs. G. S. Willcox, and Red Jones have as their guest Messrs. Homer Forester, John Crane, N. G. Pharr, Geo. P. Freeman, E. C. Bea cham and T. P. Hunnicutt prominent citizens from Atlanta who will spend a few days in the county shooting quail. : ‘RHODES-ASH Miss Essie Ash and Mr. George Rhodes were married last Sunday at Spectile Church by the pastor Rev. David B. Nicholson, of Fitzgerald. Both are prominent young people of the Browning section of the county. —Atlanta Journal. Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Swain an nounce the birth of a ten pound son this morning at their home on West Suwanee Street. | MRS. TURNER IS HOSTESS A delightful informal affair of Sat urday afternoon was the “At Home” given by Mrs. James E. Turner at her attractive home on South Main street complimentary to her charming house guests Mesdames Jamse N. Brawner and Lewis N. Gaines of At lanta. Lovely vases and baskets filled with narcissi, violets and jonquils added greatly to the attractiveness of the parlors where the guests were as sembled. Delicioys wafers and punch were served all during the afternoon. About twenty-five guests called be tween four and six o’clock. ‘ Miss Josephine Manning who at tends Weslyan College in Macon is spending a few days with her Darentsi Mr. and Mrs. J. Percy Manning on South Main Street . | man at Large, subject to the prim ary to be called by the executive com mittee. E. J. DORMINEY. FOR ALDERMAN AT LARGE At the request of a large number of citizens, I hereby announce for Alder man at Large. If elected I shall serve the city to the best of my abil ity. JOHN B. RUSSELL. FOR ALDERMAN AT LARGE After conferring with my friends I have decided to be a candidate for Alderman at Large in the coming primary to be held for the election of city officers and will appreciate the support of all the voters. A. H. THURMOND. FOR ALDERMAN AT LARGE My friends having requested that I be a candidate in the coming prim ary for re-election as Alderman at Large, I hereby announce myself a candidate and will appreciate the support of the voters. W. R: PAULK. FITZGERALD, BEN HILL COUNTY GEORGIA, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1921 M FARM BUREAUJNEEDS' Officers Urge Attendance at Meeting Next Thursday MUST FILL ORDERS Failure of Farmers to List Prod ucts Causes Loss Chairman Marion Dickson and Sec retary C. T. Owens of the Ben Hill county farm bureau federation is sued a call today to all members of the bureau to attend the meeting of the advisory board here Thusday af ternoon. The need for more active cooperation is stressed in the call, which follows: Dear Farm Bureau Members:- All Farm Bureau Members, es pecially the Advisory Board Mem bers, which includes the officers of different Community Councils are urgently requested to attend the next regular meeting of the Ben Hill County Farm Bureau which meets Thursday, the 10th, at 2:30 p. m. This will be a very important meet ing at which time we expect to dis cuss the growing need of water mel ons and make fertilizer contracts in order to buy in bulk, thereby saving several dollars per ton to all who buy in this way. The establishing of a Curb Mar ket in Fitzgerald will be passed upon at this meeting. Many other things will be taken up, one thing in partic ular a more active co-operation on the part of the members. The mar keting of farm products is becoming very burdensome on the Secretary on account of the members failing to list through the proper channel such things as. the members have for sale. We now have oders for syrup, sweet potatoes, corn, velvet beans, hogs and hay. On account of de lays, which is being caused by not knowing where to get these commod ities in due time, we are losing some orders. Parties who wish to purchase any kind of seed for planting, such as peas. cotton seed, corn, and water melon seed should make their re quests known at this meeting or earlier. If you are interested in the success of your Farm Bureau you should attend this meeting. j Youse very truly, M. Dickson, Chairman, C. T. Owens, Secretary. ° Live Stock Decrease 2 In Georgia Last Year ATLANTA, Feb. 7.—There were 4,993,000 domestic animals on Georgia farms January 1 this year, with a total farm valuation of $140,445,900, as against 5,005,000 animals one year ago wiht an aggregate valuation of $201.- 840,000, a decrease of slightly less than two per cent in numbers and of thirty per cent in value. This is the announcement made to-day by John S. Dennee, agricultural statistician for the United States Bureau of Crop Es timates co-operating with the Geor gia Department of Agriculture . divis ion of agricultural statistics. } He bases his conclusions on hun dreds of reports received by him re cently direct from the farmes of the State. All kinds of farm animals, ex- | cepting milk cows, show a falling off in numbers. The increase in milk! cows is about two per cent, and he‘ places the number of dairy cattle‘ at about 470,000 head. But as there are 310,737 farms in Georgia, it is plain to see, he says, that there are not near enough milk cows in the State to supply the population , and that the farmers should get buisy and increase the number of dairy cattle. He figures out that if a pro ‘rata dis tribution of the cows were made, it would give to each farm only a cow and a half. Sheep is the really distressing fea ture of his report, he points out. Ac cording to Mr. Dennee the number continues to decline steadily and at present there are only 119,000 as com pared with 125.000 a year ago and 135,000 two years ago. This splen did industry is fading out in Georgia, he says, due in part to the lack of per manent pastures, the settling up of the range counties, vagrant dogs, and the low prices of wool and mutton. Every farm should grow some sheep he believes. They are not costly to maintain, and they serve admirably to keep the weeds down and the farm revenues up. WILLIS M. McCORMICK, Chicago Mr, William M. McCormick re ceived a wire this noon informing him of the death of his son Willis M. McCormick, presumable in an ac cident, particulars of which were not stated. The deceased leaves a wife and two children. / Mr. Preston €. Collins, Jr., has re turned to Fitzgerald after an exten sive trip through the Southeast. He has resumed his duties with the cir culation department of the Leader- Enterprise. The party, who cagried off my white and browxébobrfail Setter Dog will please return him at once. H. Waters. |A R T * - Auto Prohi Ruling ® Hits Gwners Hard Enforcement Officers Declare Auto ists Be More Careful in Future ATLANTA, Feb.—Auto owners in Atlanta and other sections of the state, in commenting today upon a ecent de cision of the United States Supreme Court, declare that the ruling has placed a new and important respon sibility on them. The decision, ren dered in connection with prohibition enforcement, holds that the owner of a motor vehicle is responsible for the use of it in transporting booze to the extent that the vehicle may be confis cated if thus engaged, whether the owner consents, or even knows it is so used., A business man or a social leader may leave a car standing and without the knowledge or consent of the owner it may be borrowed to do a little trans porting and if caught in the act it may be confiscated, without recourse. Joy riders, with or without permission, seeking to enliven the joy-ride with contraband, may cause the kind and accomadating owner of the car to lose it. Hard isn’t it? And appar ently, it is claimed. a cruel and unjust invasion of the right of private owner ship. J. C. Thompson, of Atlanta, was caught with liquor in a car. He had bought the car, on the installment plan, from an automobile dealer in Atlanta. At the instance of the other automobile dealers .in Atlanta, this automobile dealer carried the case to the court of last resort, showing that Thompson had paid but few install ments on the automobile and that title rested in the automobile dealer. The high court, however, declared the car forfeited. . Justice McKenna, of the U. S. Su preme Court, reading the majority opinion, indicated the belief that should the court hold that the right of confiscation extend only to the inter est of the offending purchaser, it} would be aiding violation of the pro hibition law. Bootleggers could al-‘ ways buy a car ‘on time’ and thus run risk of very small losses. 1 This, it is stated here. is indeed a very dangerous law from the car own-‘ ers point of view, but, as pointed out, it should emphasize the need of being careful. “Don’t lend your cars to irresponsi ble persons and be sure it is locked when you leave it on the street” say prohibition enforcement officers. The number of losses from thefts of cars, added to the number of wrecked cars resulting from irresponsible joy riders, should have taught carefulness long ago. Owners have learned, in deed, that if they wish to keep their cars they must be constantly oni guard. The ruling of the Supreme Court admits another hazard to the owner and every possible precaution should be taken against it. Peach Growers Urge Need of Pest Probe Legislation Proposed To Aid Both Peach Men and Tobacco Planters ATLANTA, Feb.—Both peach growers aid tobacco growers in Geor gia, a number of whom are in the city, today expressed considerable interest in legislation proposed by U. S. Sen ator Harris of Georgia looking to ward investigations affecting the growth of their products. The peach growers particularly are interested in having the government appropriation bill proving for $lO,OOO to continue in vestigation of peach pests and $5.000 to carry on investigation of tobacco production and handling in the state. Both amendments, according to news received here today, will be con sidered by the senate agriculture com-‘ mittee when they take up the bill in the next few days. ‘ The failure to receive the amount of $lO,OOO, estimated by the Depart ment as essential for the peach inves tigations, will, it is stated here, jeop ordize the entire Georgia peach crop which is the largest in the country. Already much loss has been sustained, and reports have been sent to Wash ington that the government work was showing results, - Under a temporary emergency fund the department of agriculture at Washington has been carrying on the work. following the efforts of Sena tor Harris and Congressman Larsen, Repots eceived hee show the whole section of Fort Valley peach growers together with the Georgia Fruit Ex change, are aroused over the possibil ity of losing the government work deemed essential. The other amendment of Senator Harris providing for money to carry on tobacco investigations was also re quested by the Georgia department of agriculture. The Georgia State Col lege of Agriculture has informed Senator Harris that it is anxious to begin the work, but the lack of funds has shut off the department, Messrs. Sam Kassewitz and Stew art F. Gelders went to Macon Fri day to attend the play of the Thal ians at the Macon Opera House. | 9 WOMAN'’S CLUB TO Chamber of Commerce Hears Proposition Friday Night BLACKWELL EXPLAINS Chamber Authorizes Committee to Bid for College Miss Caroline Crawley of Brenau School of Expression addressed the call meeting of the Chamber of Com merce Friday night in the interest of a Pageant to be pat on under the auspices of the Woman’s Club. A committee was selected to cooperate with the ladies in securing the Opera House and otherwise assist the 'la dies in making the yageant a success, should they decide to have it. A matter of much Interest to the people of Fitzgerald was presented to the Chamber by Elder W. M. Black well of the Primitive Baptist church, whose denomination is contemplating establishing a College some where in South Georgia. Thomasville, Cordele and Macon are also under consideration for this college and a strong fight may be necessary to se cure this desired institution, Elder ‘Blackwell stated that his denomina tion expected to spend about two hundred thousand in a college plant and. asked Fitzgerald to present a proposition to the locating commit tee. The matter will be looked after by the educational committee of the Chamber of Commerce and may be brought to the attention of the city! council at its meeting Monday night. J. C. Petty, the famous breeder of rabbits. was “on the job” and exhib ited a varied selection of furs, made up to deceive the most expert, from rabbit skins, grown in his back yard. Mr. Petty requested the moral sup port of the Chamber of Commerce in behalf of Rabbit Clubs among boys of the town. . 1920 Library Report . Shows Large Service The muchly talked of “high cost of living” has been very keenly felt by the Fitzgerald Carnegie Library dur ing the year 1920. With no increase in income, a very decided increase in the cost of books, and a steadily growing membership, it has been at times impossible to meet the de mands. Y What is known in the world as a “popular copywright” has risen in price, from fifty cents to one dollar, and new issues of books, cards per iodicals and all other supplies, have shown a corresponding tendency to soar; so it has not been possible to add the usual number of books to stock and eight magazines had to be dropped from the list. Yet in spite of these handicaps the Library has placed in circulation 42,783 books, an average of 3527 per month and 130 per day. The largest issue for any one month was 3916 in June and the largest for a single day was 287 on the third of July. Special mention should be made of the gifts from the Woman’s Club and the U. D. C. Chapter, the check for $4.25 from the former being used for a reference book in the childrens room and $7.50 from the latter for a history of Georgia Women. Also to the “Unclesßemus Party” for a love ly collection of the books of this popular Georgia writer. The Library Float won the second prize in the Fourth of July parade, this prize was a check for $7.50, which on account of short finances had to be used for membership cards, Our Library is the firsi in Georgia to establish the pacels post system of sending the books back and forth to the County stations, this system was begun in February and has been most satisfactory. . Miss Charlotte Templeton. Secre tary of the Georgia Library Commis sion paid us two visits during the year and was very complimentary both, as to the work of the Library and the splendid spirit existing be tween the Library and the Fitzger ald citizens. Just figures tell very little of the real work but the following statistics will give an idea of what your Li brary and Librarian has been doing during 1920. Statistics for 1920 Number of books purchased:_____3B7 Number of books donated:._______24 Number of books circulated:__42,7B3 Number of periodicals circu- TRt S i 28 a 3 Total number of books cato- JORBGE: 00l liiii Lol Rl Total number of membership BREGE 18 nBe: Ll LlioLie i 201 e Reference helps given: __..____23,758 County School Library Number of Sub-stations:—_________l6 Number of books issued:...._._l,B6o Number of periodicals issued:..l,26s LOUISE SMITH, Librarian. Mr. Harold Kassewitz came down Sunday afternoon from Macon to spend the day with his parents, Har old is taking an active part with the Thalians of the University of Geor gia, who are now making several cities in the State. | ° No “Hard Times” . 2 * Shown In Georgia Atlanta Busine® Men Declare State Is as Prosperous as Ever U R ATLANTA, Feb. 7—Georgia is a Southern state, geographically and sentimentally, by traditions and by political inclination, but this not mean that Georgia deserves to be classed with the other Southern states apparently in the grasp of “hard times,” or at least laboring under such a hallucination, which is just as bad in spreading the impression to other sections of the country, accord ing to business leaders here. There are no “hard times” in Geor gia, say Atlanta business men. The state is as prosperous as ever. All industries are booming full blast. The way is being cleared for additional industries. “Business as usual” is the program which is being followed here and in other cities of the state to the minutest detail. There are a number of reasons for this condition, it is stated. the most important of which, it is pointed out, is the diversification of interests, and while the state, declares these same business men, should not “pat " itself on the back” at the expense of its neighbors, the existing normalcy should be advertised to the world. The Southern States that are in the throes of depression, according to business men, are unfortunate; but ' Georgia, they say, must not suffer by this generally bewailed depression when every phase of business is mov ing forward in the most consistent manner, : National houses, banking and the various otherwise, it is pointed out, consider the South as a whole, They study the Southern states from a sin gle viewpoint, and while in many in stances, say Atlanta business men, their deductions may be correct, they will make a mistake and do Georgia an injustice if this is done at the pres ent time. If “hard times” are in the South, Georgia is the grand excep tion, it is claimed here. QUARTERLY BIRTHDAY LUNCHEON The birthday dinner or luncheon of the Ist for members of the W. R. C. Hall was enjoyed by all that attended On account of some things and the weather there was not as many out as there should have been, all though the old adage proved true that “nfany a \da;‘k and dismal morning may turn to a, bright and sun-shiny day.” Satur 'day morning was sure enough dark ‘and dismal and rainy but noon found the weather charming so that at 4 o’clock it was bright and sunshiny in time for the luncheon, which was ex tra good The thirty that enjoyed it hoped that there would soon be a dinner planned for the second quar ter. Some of our members were sick, some caring for the sick, some ab sent, others indifferent, and still some that did not know in time, but we are hoping for a better turn-out next quarter. Of the thirty present there were only four that claimed the months of February and March as their birth-months, Thirteen years ago at the birthday for the same 3 months, there were thirty more than all present at the latter occasion but on the former occasion there were also thirty other guests, very few of the old crowd being here. Now they are scattered far and wide and a great many have passed on.—Hattie Nelson, Press Cor. SURPRISE PARTY FOR MRS. JOLLEY On Sunday morning, Feb. 6th, Mr, and Mrs, B. F. Mercer, Mr. and Mrs. French, Mr. and Mrs. O. S. Middle brooks and family, went up to Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Jolleys’ on East Altamaha Street and surprised them with a nice birthday dinner, it being Mr. Jolley’s and Master Homer Middlebrooks birthday. Everybody seemed to en joy the occasion fine, F 11"1!18 I'S! A Ton of “Fertilizer for A Ton of N Cotton Seed Fertilizer Prices this year are only $2.00 per Ton less than last year, while Cotton Seed are worth only around $20.00 per ton. We will exchange a Ton of Fertilizer (Meal and Acid Mixture) listed this year at $39.50 per ton for a Ton of good sound, dry Cotton Seed delivered at our Mill or we will make this same grade to you at $32.50 per ton cash and mix ture of our “12 and 8” at $34.50 per ton cash. We have some 16 per cent Acid brought over from last year that we are offering cheap for cash, OUR FEED MILL IS NOW IN OPERATION—BRING US YOUR VELVET BEANS, CORN, ETC., AND LET . US GRIND THEM UP. ® : » Fitzgerald Cotton oil C 0.,. FITZGERALD COTTON Good Middling _______l234c Ib. Friday Receipts ___.______None VOL. XXVI, NO. 16 John McCall and §. S. Fryer Kill Each Other Over Money McCALL DIED HERE Rushed to Fitzgerald Hospital After Shooting Friday ROCHELLE, GA., Feb. 4—S. S. Fryer, a prominent cit'zen of the sec tion, was shot and instantly killed in a pistol duel with John A McCall, another prominent citizen which tock place in the Bank of Rochelie this afternoon. : McCall, who was shot in the stom ach, died at the Fifzgerald Hospital at 9:30 o’clock Saturday morning. He 'was rushed to the hospital in an au tomobile immediately after the shoot ing but his injuries were too serious to respond to the best surgical at tention. There were several people in the bank at the time of the shooting and, it is said, that their lives were en dangered by one or two wild shots. Fryer was the first to fall, when Mc Call sent a bullet crashing through his head, it is alleged. However, be fore Fryer’s body hit the floor, Mc- Call crumpled and reeled with a bullet wound in his stomach. Each of the men fired their pistols five times, all but two of the bullets going wild. i Dispute Over Money Matters, It seems that a dispute arose be tween the twe men over the division of some insurance money that they had just received in settlement of a }claim of loss by fire of a cotton ware house at Owensboro recently. .~ The quarrel was first started in a private office of the banking institu tion. It was believed by officials that the men had reached a definite agree ment when they left the room. While argument was resumed and two min utes later both men were on the floor, one dead and one dying, Both Men of Families. Sheriff O. L. Smith, of Wilcox county, happened to be in Rochelle at the time the shooting occured. He took the wounded man in charge and rushed him to Fitzgerald. Both men resided in Owensboro district of this county. Fryer leaves a wife and three children. He was a prominent planter. and widely known throughout this section. McCall lost his wife by death last week, it i§ said. He has six children. in Wilcox. a cotton- buyer and is a director in one of the banks at Re becca, ' ° Average Attendance ® At Schools 1s High At the meeting of the City Board of education Friday night, Sup. Hall reported an average attendance of about 95 per cent in the various grades of the three ward schools, a remarkable fine showing for the standpoint of health of the commun ity. No businsss of importance was transacted at this meeting. Members present were President U, J. Bennett. Messrs. J. G. Jolly, Walker, Dickey and Superintendent Hall. WOULD BRING GEORGIA GLEE CLUB TO GRAND Fitzgerald Alumni of the University of Georgia will make an effort to bring the Georgia Glee and Mandolin Club to Fitzgerald in its annual tour next month. The club plays Ameri cus and Valdosta and an effort will be made to route them through this city. The club requires a cash guar antee of expenses in each town it plays and alumni are being asked to underwrite the guarantee. Miss Pauline Goldenberg of Griffin is spending a few days in the city the guest of her uncle and aunt Mr. and Mrs. J. Kassewitz.