Newspaper Page Text
FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 1907.
THE TWICE-A-WEEK TELE GRAPE
FEDERAL FUNDS FOR ELECTION
EXPENSES.
Among the v»rl«ui alld tor-r“.-.r
efforts of the President.
to regulate natloca! eiec-
> appropriate funds .from
Treasury to cover all the
such elections.* This, the
it- declares. Is the
the crazy Ideas conceived
Executive's mind.
central!
tlons, and to «■
the Federal Tr<
expenses of sut
New Orleans P
craziest of all t?
in' the Chi
I would r»-a': :
Crum appointme
remind Southern
idem 1
record
the Ini
i. and I
>p!e that
We have none of the details of the
proposed plan, but, of course. It relates
only fc the election of Presidential
electors and member.* of the House of
Representatives, but -the greatest dan
ger of such & method lies in the fact
that it might be construed to cover in
some way the election of legislators
who choose the United States Senators.
But what are election expenses? For
what purpose are our large campaign
funds raised? Until some publicity is
given to the expenditures of such funds
wo have no means of knowing how.
where or for what purpose they are
needed, Much of the literature sent
out by both the Democratic and Repub
lican parties is furnished by Senators
and Representatives through the Gov
ernment Printing Office at Washington,
and is mailed under frank by these
same gentlemen. Heretofore speakers
could, especially officeholders, travel on
passes and their only expenses were
those of a hotel or a personal charac
ter. Brass bands, fireworks and
thousand and one other novel' apd in
terest-stirring devices of course draw
heavily on the campaign war-chests in
the larger cities and closely contested
States. Experience has shown that
most ot the money la spent for speak
ers. When these are candidates them
selves there is no allowance made for
them, and many of the leaders of both
or all political organizations give their
time and talent for the "good of the
cause," but many more of the spell
binders are paid, and hansomely, too,
It is said that Carl Schurz. in the
Hnyes-TIIden contest of 1876, received
$500 per night for speeches In Pennsyl
vanla, and In the end received the In
terior Department portfolio. Yet Col
A. K. McClure, who was chairman of
the Pennsylvania State Central com
mittee during the Lincoln campaign of
1860, says the total expenses in that
campaign In that State were only
$2,000! With printing bills and speak
ers' expenses eliminated, the balance
may bo divided between clerical ex
penses and the corruption <or vote
buying fund. The four sources of ex
penditure enmernted are the principal
uses for campaign funds. How much
Is apportioned to each it is difficult
to sny, and we perhaps would bo sur
prised If wo were to know. The great
est evil of the campaign fund Is in Its
collection, not dispersion.
As to the novelty of the Idea, under
tho laws of many of the States and
municipalities,‘all the expenses of the
elections, including the printing of tick
ets (the only legal ones) are borne by
tho public treasury. One of the most
advanced forms or this method Is that
prevailing in one of the Dakotas, where
nhe initiative and referendum are used.
When either of these are resorted to to
6ecuro new or approve existing legis
lation, the Secretary of State Is author
ized to have printed at the State's ex
pense a pamphlet containing the pro
posed law and the arguments for and
against it Each campaign committee
is authorized to have five articles pre
pared presenting its side of the case.
These pamphlets are mailed within a
certain number of days of the election
to every qualified voter in the State,
and nlso furnished to such other per
sons a$ the committee may direct
Whether tho President's idea carried
mt in detail would prove a success Is
extremely doubtful. To secure abso
lute purity of elections It is only neces
sary to know how the funds are raised
and expended. Appropriations from
the national Treasury, if turned over
to the campaign managers, would not
secure the latter aim, and if expended
by Government officials would be linbie
tb be used to the advantage ot the
party In power.
It may be necessary after a'.l for the
young giant of Democracy to take a
lesson In tho matter of honest and pure
elections from the "effete monarchies”
of Europe or from Australia, where
publicity Is the law, and where a vio
lation of It means the nullification of
tho election.
o' the
llaaola
would
: Pres-
,-elt at Arlington ceme-
Confederate soldiers'
graves in sight of him. had con
demned Southern soldiers to exe
cration by describing them as no
better than anarchists. Of all Dem
ocrat.- to suggest the nomination of
Roosevelt in the Democratic na
tional convention a Southern Dem
ocrat ought to be the last”
A little dirt that the Georgian throws
at The Telegraph is unworthy of no
tice.
Eng- I
HITCHCOCK’8 SOUTHERN MISSION
First Assistant Postmaster-General
Hitchcock was surprised on his return
to Washington to learn that the news
papers had given a "political signifi
cance" to his trip South and that some
of the Northern papers had gone so far
as to say that "he was on a mission
for the President to ascertain at first
hand regarding any new direction in
the Republican sentiment of the
South." “Mr. Hitchcock denied with
emphasis that the President directed
his movements,” says the Associated
Press dispatch. However, he admits
that in his flying trip through South
Carolina, Georgia and Florida, he did
find that "the Republicans are In
hearty accord with the Administra
tion:” that "they are Roosevelt men
through and through." At all events,
we may fairly assume from this report
that Senator Foraker did not direct
Mr. Hitchcock’s "movements.
But how did he learn so much about
Southern politics in a brief trip which
was "prlmarfly an Inspection tour of
Southern postoffices” and without "po
litical significance.. "It Is true," he ad
mitted, "that while the visit was pri
marily one of Inspection and which I
had planned months ago, I discussed
politics to some extent. This was only
natural as I was called on by many
Southern Republicans officially con
nected -with the Government and oth
erwise interested. I saw no evidence
to justify published reports of disaf
fection in the ranks of some of the Re
publicans In the South, such as organ
ization of opposing movements and
that sort of thing which we have been
hearing about for some time.”
The first assistant postmaster-gen
eral must have been looking for these
things since he tells us he did not see
any "evidence" of them. But a doubt
suggests itself, of the value of his re
port, in view of Mr. Hitchcock’s pub
lished itinerary and the confinement
of his observation to the po3toffices
and to representations from "Southern
Republicans officially connected with
the (government.” The disaffection that
is talked of In the South, if It exists
at all. Is to be found in the ranks of
the negroes, who constitute the voters
of the Republican party In this sec
tion, while Mr. Hitchcock, in so far as
we could observe, failed to connect
with any of the representatives of the
race in or out of office down this way.
He skirted South Carolina without
calling on Collector Crum, and tarried
just long enough in Greenville to rein
state John G. Capers, the deposed
white Republican referee, or "boss,” in
that State. He was not reported as
calling on any negro officeholder In
Georgia and we don’t know of any ne
gro postmasters at the points in Flor
ida he touched in his tour.
That Republican officialdom in tho
outh should be solid for the Admin-
tration goes without saying. But
what we would like to know is what
ure, if any. the Brownsville "shoot-
up” will cut in sending Republican del
egates to the next Republican national
convention. The Southern people are
everlastingly grateful to President
Roosevelt for his stand in that matter
every element of th" people of
land lent its aid. The point seized on
the Che-ap.-ake was so strategic that
every important revolution that
come since that day has been fought
out there.
"On the 20th day of December. 1606. |
after many prayers; and sermons in va
rious churches, three small vessels,
the Sarah Constant (of ’ one hundred |
tons). Captain Christopher Newport,
admiral; the Good Speed (forty tons),
Captain 'Bartholomew Gosnold, vice-
admiral; and a pinnace, the Discovery
(twenty tons). Captain RatcUffe,
dropped down the river from London,
with sixscore souls on board, besides]
some fifty -odd mariners, on their way
to southern Virginia. They carried j
with them the destinies of nations.
"On the ISth of February they were j
still in sight of the English coa.-t, hav
ing spent the intermediate time blown
up and down the channel, or anchored
in the Downs just off the coast where |
lay their homes, where their courage
was sustained by "Worthy Master i
HunL* the first Protestant clergyman |
who ever set foot on these shores.
"On the 26th of April, battered and
worn, with at least one of their coun
cil under arrest for mutiny, they sailed J
into the Chesapeake, and dropped an
chor in the Virginia waters. How rav
ished they were by the spring verdure j structure of our dual form of State
and the clear streams running through an< * Federal J3o\ eminent, to obliterate
the woods, their earliest reports re- ^UU e lines and form a consolidated re
cord. Even an attack by Indians, in Public, at a single stroke, is to adopt
which two of their company were se- I an< * carry out the initiative and
riously wounded, could not damp their referendum scheme. The powerful
ardor. Their instructions were to find J States and the t\ eaker. States, New
some commodious river running up into J an d Delaware for example, are
the land where the^ might readily en- now CQual In the United States Senate,
trench themselves, and so prevent tho but under the direct ’ popular Gov-
Spaniards from pulling them out, as ernm ent of the initiative and referen-
Menendez, the Butcher of Florida, had I dum Delaware would be equal only to
done the Huguenots. And having dis- I s * n £* e New York county of AI
the American good nature in the
matter of sighing petitions. For in
stance. the W. C. T. U. gets 13 per
cent of the voters to petition Con
gress for a national prohibitory
law and draws up that law. Con
gress must submit that law to the
people. That Is the inlfiative. Con
gress passes a law for the Federal
ownership of the railroads. If that
and every other law passed * by
Congress has to be submitted to
the voters you have the "obliga
tory” or required referendum. If
a petition of a certain per cent of
the voters is required to secure
submission of a law to the voters
you have the "optional” or elective
referendum.
As the Federal judges themselves
will be elected—this is part of Mr.
Bryan’s dream, we believe; at any
rate, it is indispensable for a really
“direct" popular Government—laws
will be made directly by the “peo
ple.” that is. by powerful Individu
als, coteries, “interests” working
upon the people. Congress and the
Supreme Court will have lost their
powers. Theoretically a popular
majority will make the laws. Ini
tiative and referendum will be com
moner than cranks or mosquitoes.
The people, voting in comparatively
smnll numbers now on such rare
and important referendum.* ns con
stitutional amendments, will nat
urally come to take a very list
less Interest in these perpetual
votings. A lovely scheme for pre
venting “popular” Government, for
putting the community at the mer
cy of demagogues and bosses, for
bringing "popular” Government
into confusion and contempt.
In other words, the way to destroy
The initiative and the referendum is j the sacrifice is no longer a question
the latest "Ism” Mr. Bryan has chucked for discussion. We leave that for na-
| tions to decide In the future. That it
demanded—that they fought nobly
into the political caldron. That man i v . as
can cut out more trouble in a minute
for Democracy than the party can
patch together in a generation.
covered a noble river pouring its wa
ters into the inland sea, they sailed up
the stream with the title until the 13th
day of May.
"The manner of their going is inter-
bany, their populations being about the
! same.
The States of the South would be
[ shorn even of the limited power In the
[ nation that Is now theirs, and certain
esting enough, told in the quaint and more powerful Northern States,
virile Elizabethan English: ‘Leaving with theIr Immense foreign and for-
ten men as centinel at tho river's 1 eign-born populations would virtually
mouth,’ ‘after much, and weary search control everything. To illustrate—In
(with their barge coasting still before, t * le four States of New York,
as Virgil writeth Aeneas did, arriving Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinois ^ cast
in the region of Italy called Latium, *'935,000 votes, or more than half as
upon the banks of the River Tyber) in many as the other forty-ono States,
the country of a Warrawance called] "'hid 1 cast 8,588,518 votes. These
Wowonchapuncha (a ditionary to | ^ our States would thus have more than
Powhatan) within this faire River of one_third ° r the Power, and to secure
Pasplheigh, which we have called the j more than one-half, or complete con-
King's River, they selected an ex- j * ro '‘ ^ would be necessary to add only
tended Plalne and spot of earth which I *wo or three more populous Northern
thrust out Into the depth and middest ® tates t0 the combination,
of the channel making a kinde of | initiative and referendum
chersonesus or Peninsula. The Trum- j sc bemes jg i n a sense democratic but In
pets' sounding, the Admiral strooke j no senso Democratic. Tho historic
salle and before the same the rest of | P a ri>' ot Thomas Jefferson has ever
the Fleet came to an anchor, and here j s ^ ood f° r fbe people, but always for
to loose no farther time the colony | t * le P e °Pl e ln *bis organized capacity as
disimbarked.' ’And thereupon a cer- States as the best and surest means
tain canton and quantity of that little I of secur * n £ lmme rule, self-government
half island of ground was measured J and individual liberty. These inesti
which they began to fortifle, and there- j mable blessings. would in a large
on in the name of God to raise a For- I measure disappear under the inltla'
tresse with tho ablest and ■ speediest tiv ® and referendum scheme, which
meanes they could.’ [ would put the controlling influence ln
"The landing on this spot that day of the han ds of a small group of populous
that little band of no less than six- I Northern States,
score seawora men (not counting fifty
or sixty seamen), and the planting of
tho British flag, was the true date of
the capture of this continent for the
English-speaking people. To employ
their own phrase, they ‘brake the ice
and beat the paths,’ and all who came
after them found it easier. For, as
Lord Bacon says: 'In kingdoms the
first foundation or plantation is of
more noble dignity and merit than all
that followeth.’
"Time falls to go into the vicissitudes
and struggles of this' little colony,
which, like the Spartan band, held the
Mrs. Hetty Green, the richest woman
ln the world, who has always had her
office rent free, is kicking because she
is now required to pay rent. If she
were a man now she could carrv her
office in her hat. Women's hats are not
built that way.
Col. Henry Watterson says he has
placed away a “Paris Mutual” at 100
to 1 that Governor Hughes will be the
nexff President. The colonel h.-e been
abread so much that he now does his
betting in French.
Secretary Taft declines to get ex
cited over Ohio “machine” politics.
That man has some of the dignity a
President ought to have.
nnd fell holy sacri.T t upon th( ;r
country’s altar, and ave entitled to the
country's gratitude, none will deny.
“The proud banner under which thov
rallied in defense of the holiest and
noble’t cause for which heroes fought,
or trusting women prayed, has been
furled forever. The country for which
they suffered and died, has now no
name or place among the nations of the
earth. Legislative enactments mav not
be made to do honor'to their memories
but the veriest rndfical that over
traced genealogy back to the deck of
the May Flower, could not refuse us
the siple privilege of paying honor to
those who died defending the life, hon
or and happiness of the Southern wo
men.”
A writer says. "The proposal of Mrs.
Williams found favor with the Northern
ns well as the Southern people, and
the ceremony, if not tho date, is now
observed in every State of the Union.
In the South the occasion is known
as Memorial Day. nnd ih the North it
is railed Decoration Day. Out of Mrs.
Williams' suggestion have grown La
dies' Memorial Association throughout
— I the entire South. This glorious South-
President Roosevelt believes in pub- ern woman "also conceived and start-
>« h. „ no. „ *,!-
demand that Cortelyou and Bliss open
the books of his last campaign fund.
If that Pullman porter who tackled
Tom Watson was looking for a tip
he'must have been more than satisfied
when he got a slug.
Whales may come and whales may
go. .but “the Charleston shrimp crop
never falls.”
If there are any Jonahs in Charles
ton they may now come out of their
holes.
Certainly, a Southern candidate for
the Presidency could not make a worse
mess of it than we have now.
The "Old Dominion” Is several
notches ahead under tho "unwritten
law.”
■f-I-W-l-I-'H-I-H-I'-I-'I-l-H-l-I-I";-!' I'H'I.
Caught on |
the Wing I
•i-H-i-M-I-t"!' I-I-I ■l"I"H-i-i--H-H-I"H"i'
By JOHN T. BOIFEUILLET.
April 26 is observed as Confederate
Memorial Day in the States of Ala
bama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi.
The occasion Is commemorated on May
10 in North Carolina'and South Car
olina; In Tennessee on the second Fri
day in May; In Virginia on May 30; in
Louisiana on June 3, Jefferson Davis’
birthday. The only secession states not
included in the above enumeration are
Texas and Arkansas; I do not know
when they observe Memorial Day. The
beautiful idea of a Memorial Day for
the Confederate dead was conceived by
Mrs. Mary Ann Williams, of Columbus,
‘Wayside Homes’ for soldiers, that did
so much good during the war." On
April 15. 1874 Mrs. Williams died in
Columbus. She now "among the angels
dwells Inform so pure that she appears
a living star.”
In accordance with Mrs. Williams*
proposition a Ladies’ Memorial Asso
ciation was formed in Macon in 1868.
Mrs. Thomas Hardeman was president.
On April 26, 1S67, occurred the first
decoration m this city of tho graves of
Confederate soldiers. The Ladies' Me
morial Association was permanentlv
organized in 1S6S. with Mrs. Isaac Win-
ship as president and Miss Kate Fort,
secretary. Mrs. Winshlp was noted
for her loving and unceasing labors In
behalf of the Confederate cause, and
when the war was over she rendered
noble service in caring for tho graves
of the fallen heroes. She was verv
instrumental ln helping to have erect
ed more than one monument In the
South to the Confc-dernto dead. She
left a precious memory.
The Legislature of 1866, Thomas
Hardeman, of Bibb, Speaker of the
House, appropriated $5,000 for the pur
pose of gathering together tho bodies
of Confederate soldiers that were scat
tered about and properly marking their
last resting place. This action on the
part of the General Assembly was tak
en at the request of the women of
Georgia, headed by Mrs. Ann Wiliams,
of Columbus, and Miss Mary A. Green,
of Resaca. Several very eloquent and
patriotic speeches were delivered by
members of the Legislature in support
Of the proposition.
There arc 603 graves of Confederate
soldiers In Rose Hill cemetery In this
city, all of which will be beautifully
decorated today by loving and patrio
tic hands.
lion dr
slderati
lous s.
($1,000,000).
hen a ?on-
t is derived from vnr-
hich Is added to the
schoo! fund. p< rhap;
of a million dollars mo
there is half of th
Railroad, amount
tax. hire of convb
tax, fees of oil inspet tors and some
other taxes. There are between ten
and leven thousand teachers, and more
than a half million pupils.
rental
o-qr
[0 000'
shot
Previous to the Civil War there was
no public school system in Georgia. In
some cities there were free schools, nnd
private schools and academies abound
ed. In 1783 “the poor school" systenl'
was established. The Cyclopedia of
Georgia thus explains it: It gave the
Governor the power to grant upon
proper application. 1.000 net '' of land
in each county for the support of free
schools. iBy the act of December 21.
1821, an equal .division of $500,000 was
made between tho academies and p” >r
schools. Two years later provision was
made for the permanent investment of
the poor school fund and the income
was to bo distributed among tho cotm>
ties in proportion to the white popu
lation, for the education of poor chil
dren. This system placed within the
reach of every child ln the State tho
means of obtaining the rudiments of
an English education, although It con
tained many defects and was open to
:evere criticism. Pride on the part of
the poor parents frequently Impelled
them to keep their children out of
school, rather than to be regarded as
objects of charity.
Concerning the Educational Society
Doctor Wilson said: "The most Im
portant enterprise ever entered Into by
any ecclesiastical body in the State had
its inception at the session of Hope-
well Presbytery at Thyatlra Church, in
the spring of 1823. This was the f >r-
mation of the Georgia Educational So
ciety. Out of this enterprise arose
tho whole movement of denominational
education in the State. To it wo trace
the existence of Oglethorpe University.
Emory College and Mercer University."
The annual meeting in this city to
day of the Georgia Educ-fion&l As
sociation brings to mind the fpet that
the present public school system of
this Slate was Ci.-nt-c' as |h- result
of the action of the Georgia Teachers’
Association at a meeting held in Ma
con in November. 1.869. As we all
know, the State constitution of 1868
provided “for a thorough system of
— v „ lulllu „ ai general education, to be forever free
widow of Colonel C. J. Williams, the to all children of the State." A eom-
gallant commander of the First Geor- I mittee was appointed in August,1869,
and it would no doubt help to swell the I £ atea 'ay of the sea against the seem-
chorus among the disaffected Southern ! Jn F ! J' overwhelming forces which ever
Democrats for a Roosevelt third term ] pressed on and on.
if the President should be unexpectedly
Discussing the consolidation scheme
entitled the initiative’ and referendum,
the Washington Post pertinently in
quires: "Where would the South
stand? She would be as powerless in
the grasp of the masses of the North
as she was under the bayonets of re
construction. Will the intelligence of
America' submit to the slums of our
great cities for review the statesman
ship that results from the deliberations
of the representatives of the people?”
One would not think so. but it begins
to look as though the masses of our
pople will do anything that a popular | j?f r ^ asb , an( ? ,vas at tbe troat ' battling
' OT liberty, iiome and her. she sent her
Roosevelt or ‘Bryan tells them to do. \ only son to the war at the tender age
of fourteen years. On the death of Col.
gia Regulars In the Confederate army.
He died in the early part of 1862 from
disease incurred while bravely serving
his country In Virginia. Colonel Wil
liams was very prominent in politi
cal affairs in Georgia, at one time be
ing Speaker of the House of Repre
sentatives. He saw service in the Mex
ican War of 1846, as Major of the
"Georgia Regiment of Volunteers," to
which command the Macon Guards.
Isaac Holmes, captain, belonged. This
regiment went to Mexico with 910 men
of whom 145 died during the one year’s
campaign, among this number being
the illustrious Maconite, Captain
Holmes. Death and sickness had so
depleted the ranks of tho regiment
that there were only 450 regularly mus
tered out of the service on leaving
Mexico. Just before the regiment left
Columbus for Mexico a beautiful Unit
ed States flag was presented to it by
Miss Mary Ann Howard, who was at
that time engaged to be married to
Major C. J. Williams, and whom she
wedded on his return from the Mexi
can War. She was the daughter of Maj.
John H. Howard, a well known railroad
president, and also noted in politics.
Mrs. Williams was a noble Southern
Voman, of sublime heroism and pat
riotism. She was devotedly attached
to the Confederate cause, and while
The Michigan Senate almost ri'es to I Williams, he was interred in the ceme-
"But on that May day three hundred j the J„.,„ Tcu.pto Oruv., .Uudurd | S i&filSgu,'
placed in the position of running again i > ears a &°. tthen the company of those when it “resolutes” that Mr. Roosevelt : the cemetery and placed flowers upon
or of denying the unanimous call of his ships disembarked and made their j is “the peerless leader and voung gi- i P 1 ? sleeping hero. It is
^ ri » . . .. - j ■” * rsistGu tticit, soon dttcr ttiG wdr ndu
final landing on American soil, they I an t of the Western world.” The New closed “one day tho little girl asked
faced every peril and danger that the j York Sun rises even higher when it ber mother's permission to put flowers
country to the post of patriotic duty.
But where does Mr. Taft come in? Ho
was perforco compelled to side with
tho President in that matter, if he did
human mind can imagine.
“This small band was the
"REPUTATION” AND NOTORIETY.
The editor of tho Atlanta Georgian
declares that The Telegraph should
"go and get a reputation" before it
talks baek at him any' more.
not naturally agree with him about it. ! hope of volunteers sent to seize a con-
But the vital question with him is j t,nent - They made the breach and held
whether Foraker or the Administration I i£ a £ ainst a H odds, and it is to the last-
shall control the negro delegates in the ins renown of the English race that.
Republican national convention, and we ; *l thou oh ot the first seven thousand
and odd settlers who came over In the
early years, more than six thousand
fear Mr. Hitchcock's report throws
no light on that question.
OPENING DAY AT 'JAMESTOWN.
Three hundred years ago it proved
„ _ * . on the graves of other soldiers burled
says: Why Western only? His near by and this incident suggested to
fame folds in this orb o' the earth. He tb e mother the idea of having one day
... .. ... ,, ... in the year devoted to decorating, with
i- t*-'— Giant of the whole world; and it • appropriate ceremonies, the graves of
is altogether too dwarfish for him. He ! the Confederate dead.” Accordingly,
needs more worlds in his business." sh f. a dressed the following communl-
. cation to the Columbus (Oa.) Times,
The Sun, however, is more merry than suggesting the memorial day custom.
Grave. I "Columbus, Ga.. March 12. 1866.
j “Mes-'rs. Editors:—The ladies are now
and have been for several days engag-
by the Georgia Teachers' Association
“to report upon a school system
adopted to the condition and wants of
Georgia." The committeemen were
Professor Gustavua J. Orr. of Emory
College; Bernard Mallon. superintend
ent of the Savannah public schools:
John M. Bonnell, president of Wesley
an Female College; Martin .T. Calvin,
of Augusta, and David W. Lewis,pres
ident of the North Georgia Agricultu
ral College. r„t Dahlonega. Chairman
Orr prepared the report and the same
was submitted to the executive com
mittee of the Georgia Teachers’ As
sociation, composed of H. H. Tucker,
president of Mercer University; Prof.
Leroy Browne, of the University of
j Georgia: Prof. Alexander Means of
I Emory College; W T . D. Williams.yrin-
J clpal of the Georgia Academy for the
Blind; Professors Mallon and Orr.
Many hours were spent in considera
tion of the report and finally It was
adopted ns it came from the pen of
Chairman Orr. The report was then
submitted at the meeting of the Geor
gia Teachers' Association which was
held at Macon in November. 1869. as
already stated, and was diacuoscd at
length’ and adopted without a dis
senting vote. The first public school
law. passed by the Legislature in Oc
tober. 1870* and approved by Governor
Bullock, obtained its main provisions
from this report. Governor Bullock
appointed Gen. J. R. Lewis State
'School Commissioner, and general or
ganization xvas effected. The public
schools laws of Georgia have been
closely followed by numerous States
in framing their educational systems.
Macon has alawys been the seat of
learning in this State, and It was nat
ural that the public school system
should have been given Us start here.
And it will be noted that the heads
of three of her leading educational
institutions had an important part in
putting the movement under way,
namely: President John M. Bonnell of
Wesleyan Female College: President
Henry H. Tucker of Mercer University
and Principal W. D. Williams of the
Georgia Academy for the Blind. At
tention might also be drawn to the
fact that not only did the public school
system of Georgia get Its flrrit real
definite start In the city but there is
in oneratlon in Macon the best local
The annual meting of the Royal Arch
Masons of Georgia in Macon today sug
gests the interesting mention that Con
stantine Chapter, the first chapter of
Royal Arch Masons ever established
in Macon, commenced work under a
dispensation granted at Washington
City on June 21, 1838, by General Grand
High Priest Poinsett. On September
14, 1838, at ‘Boston, a charter was
granted by the General Grand Chapter
of the United States. The total mem
ber of the order- is about 270,000. It
may be information to some to hear
that the next triennial meeting of the
Arch Masons of the. United States will
bo held in 1909. at Savannah. The first
high priest of Constantine Chapter was
te late Dr. Ambrose Baber. This form-'
her eminent citizen was also the fl‘ : t
worshipful master of Macon Lodge. No.
5, of Free and Acceptt'd Masons, which
body commenced work under a dispen
sation granted on July 28, 1824, about
seven months after the incorporation
of Maoon as a town. The members o f
Macon Lodge participated in a recep
tion to Lafayette on his visit to this
city in 1825. Worshipful Master ‘Baber
delivered an eloquent address to which
the famous ‘French general made a
beautiful response. Tho large number
of Masons ln Macon today may be in
terested ln reading the following ex
tracts form the speeches of Baber and.
Lafayette, spoken elghty-two years ago.
I find the addresses recorded In Btn-
let’s history of Macon. In concluding
his remarks Baber said:
"Amidst this Jubilee of feeling, per
mit me to offer you again the grateful
rejoicings of my associates and breth
ren of the society of Free Masons in
beholding you among us. Royal tyran
ny may condemn, ignorance may re
proach and blaspheme the holy mys
teries of our institution, yet With La
fayette for her support, the sold ^ of
Masonry will con/’nue to illumine and
harmonize mankind to endless ages.
Gratitude must have fled from the
breast of man. ’humanity lose its seat
ere the virtuous deeds of the generous,
amiable, distinguished and exemplary
Lafayette shall ‘he forgotten.”
Lafayette replied as follows:
"The very grateful reception I have
met among my brethren demand- u’
me an expression of ray most sincere
and affectionate acknowledgement. Per
mit mo t-o derlnre to you particularly
and the brethren Of your ledge nnd un
feigned obligation for the very flrmc-
ing vvorda you have been pleased to
speak of me.
“The science of Free Masonry, to
which I have for many years been in
humble votary, is wonderfully calcu
lated to alleviate the many dlstreses
and calamities to which mankind nt-e
exposed in their variegted and mnl-
fold duties in society, and when t re- .
cur to those scenes to which y ui have
pleased so delicately to allude I.am
constrained to acknowledge how much
I have been cheered, sustained and ani
mated in the various vicissitudes of m;
life by the holy precepts and example:
of our institution. That you and you
lodge may be blessed with prosperity
and harmony, that the rising ar.d im
proving town of Macon may confirm'
In its successful advancement, that
Masonry man flourish, and the c.ilz
enjoy all the social and intellect
blessing- it so eminently inculcale.s, i,
pray you, sir, to accept as my most 5
sincere and ardent wish.”
There are
aonry, to-wit:
veral
The
ranch:
regular
if Mn-
order
Ancient
Free and .
iccep'.eri Masons:
Scottish
Rite Mas.
ns: Royal Areh
Masons:
Royal and
Select Masons:
Knights
Tem pin r:
Sovereign Sano-
tuary of
Ancient an
d Primitive Fr-e.
masonry
Nobles Of
the Mystic Shrine.
It is estimated there
are ah iut 7 300,nno
The Augusta Tribune takes issue cd ln the sad- but pleasant duty of I public"‘scooi system In the State," It
died in ‘the seasoning,’ as fast as their j with the statement of The Telegraph ! ornamenting and improving that por- j j s ideal system for a progressive
numbers failed they were replaced. On that Mr. Bryan's Initiative and refer- ‘ ^e^y^of^on/^llSt Ton^ed^lte I ° nd intelligent community,
their maintaining their position hung endum for the control of the National dead, but we feel that it is an unfln- j when the Legislature
the fate of North America, and possibly Government is “impractical and non
‘ of the world.”
INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM.
Col. Henry Watterson returns from
nations of the earth will populate with ! an absence of several months in Eu-
of 1870
ished work, unless a day be set apart j passed the public school law it nlso
. annually for its especial attention, appropriated $327,000 as a school fund
sensical. The tribune can see noth- we cannot raise monumental shafts 1 f 0r the first year, but this money was
ing “impractical or nonsensical” in it. and inscribe thereon their many deeds ) diverted for other purposes and at the
Does this not Drove eondnslveiv of heroism - but we can keep alive , c tose of the year 1871 there were no
t— not P oa conclusively vv.aat tbe mem ory of the debt we owe them. ! funds with which to pay teachers and
we said? j by dedicating at least one day in each j defray other expenses connected with
! year to embellishing their humble j the oneratlon of the schools. More
Senator Penrose's effort to get the 5. r f" s T ! 1 . crefore ', "' e I than $300,000 wore due to the school
a difficult matter to get one hundred
people located at Jamestown, Va., and
when they were they died off like flies
There is a difference betweon “rep- ,n wlnter - Today a magic city of pal-
utatlon” and notoriety. The Telegraph j accs cro ' vns th c peninsula which the
enjoys the one and the editor of the ! : ’ ations the carth wll > P°P uIate j an absence of ^’ eraI in Eu- Senator Penrose's effort to get the asslstance of the preS5 and the , ^cerVand teachers. The outlook was
G. orglan seeks the other. | un c° u ”-ted thousands while their na- rope to find with surprise, and not j Pennsylvania Legislature to indorse ladies throughout the- State to aid us exceedingly gloomy for tho public
The Telegraph enlnv* ih,> .vies ride at anchor in Hampton Roads, with pleasure, that Mr. Bryan is boom- : Roosevelt for a third term is spoken in *be effort to sVr apart a certain day i school system. It looked as if a death
■ . .. .njoy. -rn reputation . . ... . ^ , , t , , , . . , „ '.to be observed, from the Potomac to : blow had been given to the public
among sane people of being sensible j -t e ' en£ commemorated Is well wor- : mg the initiative and referendum, j of as a trick to embarrass the Pre-i- ; the Rio Grande, and be handed down schools at the very outset. As a result
an.l rational. This is worth more to a tay this s P !en did gathering. It is in : With reference to Mr. Bryan’s alleged I dent. Probably It would have been i through time as a religious custom of no schools were opened in 1S72. But
>cr-i,.- newspaper than all the noto- celebration of the first permanent foot- i threat to drive out of the Democratic much Jess embarrassing if it had sue- ] ^ SSSied®dSTB^^W^and ' Hghrdawned^nTh^East^Demoemey
riety uMr. John Temple Graves can ac- i ho!d secured on the shores of the New j party every man who is not willin ' ‘
- _ - ~ ' According to Col. Watterson, the
'r.gue and flippant
pen.
If.
tion”
idem llo,
drive out of the Democratic j much less embarrassing if it had suc-
^ ceeded. . - •;
World by an Anglo-Saxon people. From ; stand with him for this new imported
this settlement has grown a nation ot J “ism.” Mr. Watterson Is quoted as say-
'Democratic reputa- S£, ' 0CI() ' 00i) People, and the opening up ing that Mr. Eryan is a good driver.
is necessary to proclaim Pres- i of a hemisphere to the bursting popu- i as is shown by the thousands of Dem- ; conventlon nest yc3r ' for th e country
la tlons of the overcrowded lands of the ' ocrats whom his policy has forced out I wil1 refu3c to elect .Bryan and the por-
l Old World was thus succesfully begun, of the party during his career of lead- l * refuse tv nominate anybody
j A number of unsuccessful attempts • ership.
; Democratic party may as well hold no
a Democrat wort
a third-term nomination by the
national Democratic convention.
Telegraph will leap at the
Xprfelt that “reputation.”
emotive Hay. of
the Graves b
of
The
R. rr
t>ble
banco to 1 had bpen Previously made to plan
I English colony in the New World.
Virginia I eluding that of Governor White
a hen he I
“I w
• >ut!x
I’llO 'I
'u—a
IRoosev
United
tneir (
pa, .Iv
in tile
ould recall to them Tthe
rn poopU 1 that a negro
teach, r—Booker Washing*
- recognized by President
eli has superior claims of
it: .n as an adviser to the
Fli:cs Senator? acting in
vr.siitutional advisory ca
ns is shown conspicuously
cases of Alabama and Ohio.
which
set out for "Croatan" in the Governor’s
absence, and left not a trace behind
which, from that day to this, has ever
been discovered.
The history of the Jamestown colony
is treated by Thomas Nelson Page as
follows in Collier's for April 27:
"The time was ripe for their coming.
It was necessary to seize this country
to block Spain forever, and to the work
"What and why is 'initiative and
referendum’?" asks a correspondent of!,
an Independent contemporary, and re- j
ceives this illuminating reply:
j ty will refuse tv
j else. The colonel is unhappy and - has
I cause.
Down in Cuba the people are dis
cussing the prospects of “home rule"
we propose the twenty-sixth (26th) ; was once again
day of April as the day. Let every J Governor James M
city, town and village join in the
pleasant duty. Let a 5 ! alike be re
membered. from the heroes of Manas
sas to those who expired amicL the
death throes of our hallowed cause.
Well crown alike the honored resting
places of the immortal Jackson in Vir
ginia, Johnston at Shiloh. Cleburne, in
Tennessee, and the hosts of gallant
privates who adorned our ranks. All
did their duty, and to all we owe our
gratitude. Let the soldiers' graves, for
that day at least, be the Southern Mec
ca, to whose shrine her sorrowing wo-
the saddle, with
Smith riding at
the head of the rejoicing procession.
T>v the direction of the Logislatare of
3872 a tax;was levied for the payment
of the past due claims of the school
officers and teachers, and provision
was made for the operation of the
schools in 1873. ar.d from then until
now the common schools of Georgia
have been operated without interrup
tion and have steadily increased in
numbers, importance and influence.
Their growth has kept rare with the
w -nderful progress of the State along
i 'jlus trial, commercial and all ma-
Cite a case? We can cite only a
supposed case. Suppose that the
smaller States, now protected by
their equal representation in the
Senate, have waived that protec
tion; that Congress has been made
not a representative legislative
body, but the puppet of the ma
jority of the hour. A certain per
centage of the voters petition Con
gress to submit to the people a cer
tain measure. Everybody knows
I just like the Irish have done for a men like pilgrims, may annually bring terial lines. Under the administratl
, T . „ | their grateful hearts and floral offer- of the present State School Commfs-
hundr^d year.-, and Lncle Sam now , , ns?s s And when we re memher the sinner. W. B. Merritt, the system is
swells out with imperial proportions ; thousands who were buried “with their enjoying remarkable prosperity, and is
martini cloaks around them,” without in a condition of the highest excellence.
Christian ceremony of interment, we i I have not the exact figures by me,
would invoke the aid of the most thrill- hnnre cannot give accurately the total
ing eloquence throughout the land public fund for the current year, and
to inaugurate this custom, by deliver- for the same reason I am unable to
ing on the appointed day this year, a state positive number of teachers and
eulogy on the unburled dead of our | pupils in the system, but I can furnish
Southern army. They died a reasonable estimate. I know that
. for their country. Whether this eoun- ! the Legislature makes a direct appri--
'try had or had not the right to demand j priatlon from the treasury of one mll-
almost like John Bull himself.
Ambassador Bryce says Chicago Is
destined to be the m'ost beautiful city
in America. Those interested in Chi-.
cago’s purpose are cordially invited to 1 glorious
visit Macon and learn how.
Freemasons, The only fraternal or
ganization which exceeds too Masons
in number Is the Odd Follows. It is
stated there are more ;hnn 1.5 r| l,000
persons in iho ranks of Odd Fellow
ship. In Georgia It is believed there
are more Masons than Odd Fellows,
though there is not much difference.
There are over 25.000 Masons In this
State, and the Odd Fellows are not 1
far behind, if any. I learn from the
Cyclopedia of Georgia that the history
of Masonry In this S'ate dates from
the year 1735. when Lord Weymouth,
the grand master ot the Masons of
England, issued a warrant to Roger
Lacey :o open a “particu! m" !od:re fn
Savannah. This was named King
Solomon’s lodge, of which Lacey serv
ed as ma-'tor until 1757. Among Its
members were Noble Jones Grey El
liott and Gen. Samuel Elbert, who fig
ured prominently In the Revolution.
There is a story to the effect that the
first lodge of Me-'ons I" Georgia was
held under a large live o*k tree, at
Sunbury. and that Gen. James Ogle
thorpe presided as master. The tree
died about 1870 and from fh° *imber
Masonic tools were made and distri
buted among various lodgc-s. where
they are preserved ns relics. A chair
of iive oak made from this old tree is
in Solomon's Lodge at Savannah. At
the close of the Revolution two lodges.
King Solomon's and Hiram, held a
convention at Savannah, in December,
1787, and elected grand lodge officers.
Although these two lodgp? were char
tered by two different authorities, the
brmer by the grand lodge of England
and the iatfer by ‘he provincial grand
lodge of Pennsylvania there were no
dissensions between them, however,
and the grand lodge thus established
became the supreme Masonic authori
ty for the State.
It further recorded that in 3820
the lodge records were destroyed by
the great fire in Savannah and conse
quently but little is known of its
transactions. The proceedings from
3.820 to 3850 are out of print, with the
exception of three or four year*, and .