Newspaper Page Text
THE BULLOCH TIMES *' •
VOL. VI. NO. 24.
GOY. ATKINSON’S
MESSAGE
Governor Atkinson, in his message,
which was sent to the legislature yester¬
day, makes a sensational arraignment of
tnab and lynch law.
He dflfea not hesitate to declare that
Ihhocent men have been lynched during
his administration and as one of the
remedies for mob violence asserts that a
prisoner when assailed by a mob should
Toe given a weapon by the officer in
charge, be unshackeled, and be allowed
to defend himself.
The governor's comments are at consid¬
erable length and are extremely striking.
He says that any woman can have a
man murdered by a mob by simply de¬
claring that he had assaulted her and
that under mob rule life cannot be safe.
He makes a strong plea for law and or¬
der and asks the passage of an act un¬
der which counties may be sued and
verdicts of not less than $1,000 be obtained
by the heirs of any man killed by a mob.
The governor sets forth his views on the
convict question as already printed in
full in The Journal.
Among other things he advocates put¬
ting street railway companies under con¬
trol of the railroad commission.
Stripped of purely routine matters, the
message is as follows; •
. NORTHEASTERN RAILROAD.
On the 28th day of May, 1896, after ad¬
vertising for bids as directed in act au¬
thorizing a lease, the Northeastern rail¬
road was leased to E. A, Richards & Co.
at the sum of $18,600 per annum, payable
quarterly, for a term of 20 years, from the
first day of June, 1896, and a bond taken
In conformity to law.
The rent was paid for two quarters.
When the rent for the third quarter fell
due on the first day of March, 1897, it was
not paid, and when two months’ time,
in which they were permitted under the
law to pay this, had expired, the rent was
still unpaid.
By virtue of authority vested in me I
then seized the road and have since oper¬
ated it for the state under the direct
management of Hon. R. K. Reeves, who
was appointed by me state agent.
I submit herewith a statement showing
the net earnings for each month for which
report has been made to me:
May........ ? 742 98
June........ 751 50
July........ 1,143 43
August...... 1,374 47
September.. . 2,000 00
Total $6,012 44
The months covered by these reports
are the hardest of the year, but it is grat¬
ifying to be able to state thal they show
an increase over the earnings in the same
period when previously operated by the
state.
Under present Conditions we can safely
rely upon (the net earnings of) the road
earning a good income ort the sum at
which it was purchased by the state, to
wit, $100,000, and Jt will of bonds more than issued pay In¬
terest on the series to re¬
tire the $287,000 of bonds on said road, up¬
on which the state of Georgia fras en-
As this is a short and dependent
and in view of possible changes in
rarlipoa d sit ua tion which might impair and
L^jpossibly destroy"its passed value, I
} that an act be authorizing
governor, at his discretion, to offer it
S cale whenever. In his opinion, it can be
~ sold for the amount of the bonds issued
by the state to cancel the series above
mentioned.
RAILROAD COMMISSION.
Your special attention is called to that
part’of the report of the railroad c.opnmls
siou€j*s in which legislation la recommend¬
ed to ehl&rge their powers, and to better
enable them to enforce their decrees.
These recommendations, briefly stated,
are:
C(y6troVol issuance of stocks and bonds
of railroads.
oomVnission Removal of all doubt of authority of the
to require the erection of de¬
pots, and additional power to require the
construction of sidetracks.
Power to regulate the interchange of
freights and cars in order to secure to
shippers the right to route their goods
a,n<f to prevent discriminations.
Speedier methods of enforcing the or¬
ders of the commission to compel rail¬
roads „to immediately accord to the public
rights'which are due them.
A ft#? asking for this legislation the
commission adds:
“We have exercised, and are now exer¬
cising, all the authority that has been
granted us. Our experience, and the com¬
plaints cdntinually received from the peo¬
ple* clearly Indicate that the additional
authority recommended is necessary to
their protection. If they expect relief in
the'sA particulars they must look, not first
ito this commission, but to their senators
and representatives whom they elect to
the the general to assembly, authorize and the who commission alone havs t®
power
correct the ills complained of.”
You cannot be too careful in legislating
upon the subject of railroad control. A
wise and rigid control of these properties
is <Tf the utmost Importance to our people,
and is essential to tho growth of our com¬
merce.
STREET RAILROADS. '
I advise that the authority of the rail¬
road commission be so extended as to give
them power to regulate charges on street
railroads, and exercise such control over
them as may be needed to give good'ser^
vice to the.public, and adjust disputes be¬
tween them and -the public when made
by any party Interested, or by the author¬
ities of the city in which such street rail
roqd may be operated.
The sole power to determine those
questions should not vest in the street
railroad corporations. The authority to
pass upon them should be vested in some
tribunal, and that tribunal should not be
in the control of, or created by, those
directly interested in the questions to be
submitted to It.
TELEPHONE -SYSTEMS.
The railroad commission now has juris¬
diction over railroad, telegraph and ex¬
press' companies.
The s-ame reasons which induced the
stable to’ give them authority over these,
demand that their power be so extended
as *to bring under their control all tele¬
phone companies.
The charges shouid made by telephone com¬
panies be fixed by the commission.
In ffir'S&TS
ference of the state ln behalf of the citi¬
zens.
Ea-cfeof these companies are what are
•usually termed natural monopolies, and
should be controlled by the government.
, ; jr,jt>yCATIONAL INTERESTS.
There has been a constant and marked
improvement fn our common schools.
Ttve steady and graduai increase ia the
appropriations for their maintenance h.s
permanent schools, arousing greater ln
tefsssf among the people In education,
improving the character of schpol bulid
ings *nd increasing the efficiency of
teachers i« * ■ *
J&is*campaign against ignorance our
columns should not retreat, but move
at easily to the front, until the enemy is
vanquished and the banner of light.
knowledge and virtue floats tn triumph
ovef tfhp fipjji
UNIVERSITY OF OEOROIA..
. TS«:e«os--» *f tt# fi»ta %r# te D
gratulated tipoh the eVet* ihefeasing pros¬
perity and Usefulness bt theif university,
With the increased boom ahd facilities
furnished by your late appropriation
thereto, and the purchase of the new
farm, if assured of permanency of its
income* its still greater uaefuihess can
not to be doubted.
On the 7th of October last two hun¬
dred and sixty-seven students had been
registered. Of theiti sixty-five per cent,
are members of various churches, to wit:
one hundred Methodists, Presbyterians, eighty-one Bap¬
tists, thirty-eight Catholics, thirty
Episcopalians, five six Jews,
three Christians, one Lutheran and one
Unitarian. Of the fathers of those stu¬
dents. seventy-eight are farmers, forty
four lawyers, forty-two merchants, nine¬
teen doctors of medicine, nine bankers,
six teachers, six preac-hers, and eight In¬
surance men, besides various other oc¬
cupations.
For further details you are referred to
the annual report cf the chairman of the
board of trustees, submitted according
to law.
GEORGIA SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY.
I am pleased to note the increased at¬
tendance at the school of technology. The
two hundred and twenty-five students now
there give evidence that practical educa¬
tion is receiving serious attention of our
people. The school offers scientific
courses of high grade In mechanical, elec¬
trical and civil engineering.
The new dormitory is filled with stu¬
dents who are under wholesome regula¬
tions and protected from evil influences
by the supervision of the authorities. A
high standard in scholarship and skill in
shopwork is required, and the school
takes rank with the best technical Insti¬
tutions in the country.
Georgia, being near the center of the
cotton growing area of the Union, should
provide for the instruction of her sons in
the manufacture of cotton gdods. New
England has takefi steps in this direc¬
tion for the protection and advancement
of her manufactures. The textile schools
which have been established at the north
are bound to militate to the detriment of
our own cotton industries unless they
are met with similar institutions in the
south. A department of textiles should
be added to the School of Technology tor
the purpose of giving our young men the
opportunity of becoming experts in the
manufacture of cotton goods. I am as¬
sured that such a measure would re¬
ceive substantial aid from many promi¬
nent firms and citizens, and on account of
the present excellent equipment of the
school, the first cost would be reduced to
a minimum.
NORMAL-INDUSTRIAL COLLEGE.
This institution, whose curriculum em¬
braces a literary, a normal and an indus¬
trial course, is doing a great work for
the state by supplying its schools with
well educated, trained teachers, develop¬
ing the brain and increasing the culture
of her daughters, and rendering them
capable of being, when necessary, self
sustaining and independent.
So great Is the popularity of this col¬
lege that had Its accommodations been
adequate it would have in attendance 600
st udents.
Several hundred applicants were un¬
able to gain admission at this term on ac¬
count of the limited accommodations.
The course of study in the normal de¬
partment is considerably in advance of
the examinations given applicants for
first grade license in our common schools.
Under existing laws the graduates of
the North Georgia Agricultural and Me¬
chanical college at Dahlonega, State Nor¬
mal school at Athens, Middle Georgia
Agricultural apd Mechanical college at
Mliledgevibe, Gordon institute at Barnes
ville, schools are permitted to teach in the com¬
mon without further examination.
I therefore recommend that the same
right be acoorded. the graduates of the
Georgia Normal g,nd Jndtfsfrlaf college.
STATE k6 MAL SCHOOL.
This school has 'become a ver ry valuable
part of our educatjonal system and is
worthy of your aid and encouragement.
In the management of various public
institutions It has been'found of great
advantage to the institutions and a relief
to the officers in charge to have some of
the trustees located so as to be accessible
to the institution. It is not advisable to
cnange the personnel of the present ex¬
cellent board of commissioners who are
charged with the Immediate control of
die institution, and as their present num¬
ber, five, Is rather small, I recommend
that the governor be authorized to ap
point, from the county of Clarke, two ad¬
ditional members to said board.
DAHLONEGA COLLEGE.
I enjoyed the pleasure of attending the
commencement exercises of this very ex¬
cellent Institution, and gladly testify to
its usefulness. It is doing a magnificent
work for North Georgia, and deserves the
encouragement which it has received at
tne hands of the general assembly.
The governor recommends the appoint¬
ment of a state penitentiary agent and
that bids be received for all the state's
purchases.
He recommends that the state treasurer
be authorized to lend out the sinking
fund of $100,000 on the state’s bonds.
The governor makes war on bucket
shoals. He says:
“The evi'l that Is bedng inflicted on the
State by the operation of what is known
as bucket shops is incalculably great.
The possibilities of great wealth with
which these places allure their victims
are well calculated to mislead and en¬
trap imen eager to grow rich, and is a
tempting bait especially to young men.
Lives are -being constantly wrecked and
fortunes squandered by these tempters.
The material and moral welfare of the
state demand that the bucket shops be
suppressed.”
On election laws the governor says:
Daws regulating elections should effect¬
ually prevent fraud, and so guard the
right of the elective franchise thtat the
destiny of our state will be entrusted only
to those citizens whose toaHot is unpur
chasaible. • * * The amount of money
which can be used by a candidate before
the general assembly should be limited,
the purpose specified by law, and the
successful candidate should be required,
before he assumes the duties of his office,
to exhibit land file a sworn itemised state¬
ment of expenses which should not ex¬
ceed the amount allowed by law.
For a violation of this law he should
forfeit his right to the office to which he
is elected.
The proposed measure should be suf¬
ficiently comprehensive to specify the
purposes for which money can be used
in a campaign in a party primary or final
election, and free officials from that obli¬
gation, which is Incurred by personally
receiving from others a contribution to
aid in securing an election.
If, for instance, candidates for the office
of solicitor general. Judge and United
States senator are permitted, by direct
contributions. «to place candidates and the
party authorities. In the respective coun¬
ties, under direct obligation to them by
contribution to campaign fund, it will de¬
grade political life, put capacity and
worth at a discount, and make money
t'he test of merit. The influence of money
in politics is already too great, and should
be promptly reduced to a minimum.
All contributions for political campaign#
should be made direct to the party offic¬
ials, and no man, not a resident of a
county, should be permitted to contribute
to the county election. To prevent undue
Influences of money from this source,
such contributions should. In congression¬
al campaigns, be given to the district
committee, anff to atoto empaton* to to.
state committee, to be by them expended
where they think best.
THE INCREASE OF CRIME.
The Increase of our prison population is
a matter for serious consideration. In 1*3
there were only 39S convicts In our peni
tentlary; 10 1871 ' ^ in H6: and ”° W
there are 2,357. TMs, of course, does not
numbering about T.860.
The number 4n the penltenttery would
be even larger but for legislation by your
predecessors, under ih f J provisions of
w " hkrh a large 'wn number who were convict
^ cf . f fek>ny ha * ^%ent %ent to to <*e tfce county county
ehalngangs. '
.
In 1871, 15 per c-/nt. y of lhe convicts were
whKe, and lo rm * per cent. *re *Mte.
STATESBORO, GA., FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5,1897.
During this period the blacks in the
penitentiary haVe increased flOO pet cent.
While the increase in White convicts
has been small, our penitentiary the ranks has of been the
rapidly replenished from number of
colored population. The con¬
victs in recent years is touch larger Phan
just after they were given their freedom.
More were received into the penitentiary
in the year 1896 than In the years 1869,
1S7G and 18?i combined. The whole num¬
ber of convicts received from the estab¬
lishment of the penitentiary, March 10,
1S17, to October 26, i860, a period of 49
deceived and 7 months, was 2,029; total Hum
brr during the fohr years, 1894-6-
6-7. was 2.307. show the
The following table will com
mitments to th< e penitentiary for tne last
eighteen (18) years:
COMMITMENTS FROM 1878 TO 1896.
Two years, Oct., 1878, to Oct., Oct., 1880...... 1882.. ^33 r.sf
Two years, Oct., 1880. to
Two years, Oct., 1882, to Oct., 1884.. . 696
Two years, Oct., 1884, to Oct., 1886.. 777
Two years, Oct., 1886, to Oct., 1888.. 775
Two year3, Oct., 1888. to Oct., 1890.. 966
Two years, Oct., 1S9.3, to Oct., 1892.. 1,090
One year, Oct., 1892, to Oct., 1893.. 711
One year, Oct., 1893, to Oct., 1894.. 638
One year, Oct., 1894, to Oct., 1895.. 635
One year, Oct., 1905, to Oct., 1896.. 628
Total tor 18 years......... ....... 7,747
This result lias been reached In spite
of the fact that in addition to what has
been done by towns and cities support¬
ing local school systems, we have spent
within that time about four million dol¬
lars in nn effort to educate the colored
people that they may become better citi
ZCTJS.
The governor adds:
The best of the race Intellectually axid
morally should be selected to teach in
public schools. The law should require
the school authorities to look closely into
the conduct and character of each ap¬
plicant before license Is granted to teach.
This provision should apply alike to
white a.nd black, tn every Way possible
we should endeavof to improve the morals
of the people by imparting, through the
school room, correct principles and pure
morality. The teacher should not only
train the mind, but build noble charac¬
ters.
CRIME AND LYNCHING.
The gxaveT crimes are of alarmin-g fre¬
quency and more seriously affect that
portion of our population who reside out¬
side the towns and cities. In these sec¬
tions, frh* crime of burglary, arson and
rape have become more frequent than in
the years of disorder which followed the
civil war.
The frequency of the offense of rape
htas become alarming in the extreme, and
seriously interferes with the security and
oocGifort of living in the country. There
are now dn the penitentiary 78 convicts
for assault to rape, and 81 for rape.
Of all crimes known to our law these
two are the most villainous. Their fre¬
quency has terrorized the people residing;
in rural districts, and so aroused their
fear and resentment that it has been Im
poasdble 4n many of these cases to induce
them to await the action of the courts.
Since November 1, 1894, there have been
12 negroes lynched who were charged
with rape and assault with intent to
rape, and one white man who was charg¬
ed with nape.
In addition to these, there have been
seven negro men, one neg;ro woman and
one white man lynched who were charg¬
ed with other offenses. Total tor three
years 22, or a little more than 7 per year.
These occurred in the following counties:
Appling, CMnch, Dooly, Habersham. Mon¬
roe, Montgomery, Muscogee, Talbot, Col¬
quitt, Twiggs, Jasper, Calhoun and Bibb.
It is the duty of government to protect
Its citizens, and to.ck* all that can pos¬
sibly be done to prevent the commission
c»f not only the offenses which have pro¬
voked the people to resort to such a rep¬
rehensible remedy, but afll offenses, charged aqd
to guarantee to every citfzen
jwith a crime a trial before an impartial
tribunal, as guaranteed by the oonstttu
/
In the discussion of lynching, let it be
clearly understood that It Is not a ques¬
tion as to whether or not those guilty of
crime shall be punished, but whether or
.not the Innocent shall escape. Not a ques¬
tion as to whether tho gulky shall be
punished, but whether or not the act of
punishing shall multiply criminals.
In a free government'like ours there is
no excuse (for lynching. If there ?s evi¬
dence to convict the courts will punish; if
there is not, punishment should not be In¬
flicted. The courts of our state can be
trusted to punish the guilty and protect
our property, our persons, and the honor
and virtue of our women.
I am deeply concerned for a remedy for
this evil that we may save from guilt the
men Who engage In it, and protect the In¬
nocent, who are too often sacrificed.
TRIAL BY MO$.
The mob is not a safe tribunal to Justly
determine any cause.
Not long since in this state it is said
• hat a mob, which had gathered, failed to
take action because of a division in their
own ranks . . one portion wishing to
hang a man who had not been tried and
the other, to liberate one who had been
tried, heard In all the courts and sentenc¬
ed to be hanged for murder.
The mob Judges without a full and con
pi ete hearing from both sides. Its mem¬
bers are not the most capable C(f Judging.
It decides in passion and, too often, in
whisky. How can it fail to make mis¬
takes and sacrifice the lives of the inno¬
cent?
I feel the more deeply upon this ques¬
tion because from the best information I
can secure, I believe that during my ad¬
ministration there have been in this state
several men lynched who were not guilty
of the crimes with which they were
charged. How many, can never be
known, for their tongues are hushed, and
they are denied an opportunity to prove
•sheir Innocence. I am informed that one
man, whom the mob believed to be guilty,
was shot down. A question then arose as
to his identity and he was salted down
like a hog, Shipped to the location of the
crime and found to be the wrong man—an
innocent man.
When an Innocent man is lynched for a
crime it serves to protect the guilty. The
members of the mob. their friends, and
sympathizers seek to impress it upon the
community 'that the right one haa been
punished and the guilty goes unsought
and unsuspected. Even during this year,
evidence has come ,o HSM showing that
in several states vict.ms of the mob have
been innocent men. During my term of
office one man, who was rescued from
the mob, was accorded a trial which re
suited in showing that he was not guilty
of the offense with which he was charged.
Another fled from the mob o the execu
live office and M..eu for protection and a
trial it developed by Jury- that Thjsjr be was w r not s gutlty of • the
ch “ r «®. for whlch tl)e m b endeavored to
itake ms lire* .
or To wi what be used ''*■ ^ for purposes n “ J her than *?*”
the aii;,god reason gLV cn to .he public,
will never be known. In one Instance,
not long ago. it was stated and accred
Ited that a man who had been charged
h r pe nnw'rf
n-u When ,a the truth , became known u it i brought
to j'shf the f “t that tl e p rpo e in
preferring the charge was to have him
lynched in otter « U PP™» >'«
the prohibition law. In another Instance
'seaped The »oh “which JS?to
pursuit and established thj fact that
feat'the^UartlOB pa " iC 9 ^ e " ^ C ^ Jf lt • debt Had the
. hc !d haV e been oues
importonre "d? adhering to tew.'and of
r so iegrdatlng as t,, suppress this
ev iJ ; an f guarantee lo € j ' ^ ®
Wlth , crime a fair ar.a impartial trial.
Responsibility tor the crime
rests not on»y up® * p< i_
the crime co . mmun and ^ y ^mita a^ t^erat^ oar _ a it it
an <* W>n legislators wno reruse io enact
laws to suppress It.
ii can and will be stopped when the
ter element Mo deprecate mob tow af-
gressively condemn and determine to sup¬
press the practice. that the north¬
It is no excuse to say
ern people, who have less to provoke
them to it. lynch. Get us not take their
as a standard; but rather show a higher
type of <ov5' ! T**Hr»n in f ””‘ «**'** “r- ♦
here a standard to which they may as¬
pire. »
LYNCH FOR WHAT CRIMES.
Lynch law has not been restricted to
cases where the charge was an outrage
upon a female. In Texas a man was
lynched simply to suppress his evidence;
In Kentucky because he was objectionable
to the neighborhood, and in Indiana five
men were lynched for burglary. In our
state, in the last three years, seven men
have been lynched for murder, and one
man and ohe woman because they were
suspected of arson.
WHEN CHARGE IS RARE,
Even had It been confined to offenses
committed upon females it could not be
justified.
To adopt It, in these cases, is to put the
life of every man in the power of any
woman who might for any reason desire
his death, When such crimes are
charged the passion of the people is more
deeply stirred than by any other, and the
mob is quick to act.
Yet viewed from the standpoint of rea¬
son and not of passion, there is less ex¬
cuse for lynching ih such cases than in
any other. Delay cannot be given as a
reason, nor a fear that Justice will be de¬
feated. At Monllcello and Columbus the
men were taken out of the court room
during the trial and lynched. In most
cases they are taken from the custody of
officers of the law, when they know that
court will convene and give a speedy
trial. For this offense, above all others,
the courts are quick to try, and if guilty,
the juries certain to convict.
It is not then that they fear delay or
the acquittal of the guilty, but It Is a de¬
fiance of law. It is a desire to substi¬
tute passion for evidence and vengeance
for Justice.
There being no excuse to be found for
fear cf either delay or failure of justice,
but one reason is left, and that i9 the ob¬
jection to the outraged victim having to
go into court and relate the horrible
story. That this is a terrible ordeal,
every one must concede, but human life
must be valued even above thi3 trial. She
would undergo this trial, not as a sacri¬
fice to the guilty, but to conform to the
rules of law, which centuries of experi¬
ence have demonstrated to be absolutely
essential tor the protection of tne inno¬
cent. The truth cannot be had save by
having both sides heard before an im¬
partial tribunal.
To remove this objection, however, our
law provides that, on such occasions, the
judge may order the courtroom cleared
of all save the jurors and lawyers en¬
gaged in the case on trial.
There is, therefore, no Justification nor
excuse for a resort to lynching, even in
.his class of cases, when the defendant
is charged with the most dastardly and
horrible of crimes. No man doubts in
these cases that the law will punish the
guilty, and if he did, he could not find a
remedy by making a murderer of himself.
The remarkable (act exists that In a ma
jorlty cf Instances the party lynched Is
taken from the custody of officers. I can
understand how a near relative of -hhe
victim of the lust of a human brute who
see, before h!tn the man whom he be
I!eves has comm tied the outrage, and in
the heat of passion, ^ay, h.rn, can enlist
the interest and sympathy of a oomraan.
Ity: but how any one can fall to condemn
x-xr -f j’S’Xp 2EK
comprehension.
EFFInCT OF LYNCHING.
and worthy
■ places where taw Is sdptnuu chofStw." ,
quent occurrences of lynching will ad
vtrlise ours as a lawless state ahd ajs a
balf-civilizod people.
It sacrifices the Innocent, brings law
into disrepute, creates lawlessness, im
pedes material growth, ’ and in the eyes of
all ,, tne .. world ,, , lowers the a.andard . . . of .
our
civilization and degrades the character of
our people.
This barbarous practice does not de
crease, but increases crime. Having
stained their hands In blood, its perpetra
tors are more easily led to again violate
law. Recently a man tried on the charge
of murder and convicted of shooting a
citizen through t-he window, as he sat by
his own -hearthstone at night, confessed
also that he it was who tied the rope
around the necks of the two men who
were lynched In Columbus In 1896. Icon
demn it and will not apologize tor such
lawlessness. To exlerminaie the practice
it must be made odious and dangerous,
The penalty should be the scorn ctf the
people and the punishment of the law.
DUT\ Ob DEMOCRATS.
There is no room for debate upon this
question. If there is, there is none for
Democrats. With them the question is
settled. There is bu‘ one position the
members of that party can take.
In the campaign in which the members
of this general assembly were elected, the
Democratic party went to the people up7
on a platform adopted by the state con
van Hon In which this declaration Is found ,
to.vrlt:
“Resolved, That we deplore and de
nounce Jynchings and favor the en¬
actment of such laws as will effectually
prevent the same."
I now’ ask the men who were elected
upon this platform to enact Into law pro¬
visions which will in good faith meet the
requirements of this declaration. I do
not believe that you will daily with this
question, or pass laws which will be In¬
effectual.
The Democratic party owes It to the
people to live up to the pledges which It
made to induce them to entrust it with
power, or to come ooldly to the front
and admit that it wilfully and deliberate¬
ly deceived to secure votes, and is un¬
worthy the confidence of the people. Your
action Is to determine whether or not this
condemnation can be truthfully uttered.
To be honest Is as much the duty of a
political party as an individual.
Let the remedy which you apply be
heroic and severe.
THE REMEDY,
In murder cases the complaint 1s that
the oases can be too easily continued and
justice unnecessarily delayed. 1 am not
«n advocate of hasty trials, but of prompt
°” e ®* , No . ° ne ?^ 0U A^ be .MS rUs,iied into it a
whKe heat and a falr )Tlal impossible,
Th(J law shouid ln all oase5 perm i t the
fW , rl on motlon o{ the defendant, or on
jtg QWn mo .,on. or on motion of state at.
torney , to change the venue to any county
, n the gtate Ia determining whether or
n0( (Q ord< . r a chanr e of venue, the Judge
f . hould be aut h orlze d to exercise a very
broad discretion and act upon all knowl
edg{ , tha , he mlght poss ess bearing upon
the questiop If , ln hls opinion, a change
or venue is necessary to secure a fair and
impartial jury, ' he should order the
( . hange _ an decision should not be
rev!ewed by thc supr( . me court. The au-
1horSty o{ lhe flrc uit judge in such cases
ehouM be made plain and ample, and ali
douM removed to powcr of t . he gu .
preme court to review hls decision,
Thls change in our law i believe, Is the
flrst g ‘ necessary to secure, ln all cases,
nromn . nd , rla i,
in some Instances It is difficult to S€
th^irtnttr.rof'eontteua'nces.
,, KJtl ons to continue, denying to the »u
STn'ueged to grant a new
error in so
,loinK Th,! circu11 J,lrt * e who knows ,he
m^ion™",^ '*£&' ™ ’’fl"Ttey^onte ^, i '
a tr , lr u Just verdict
can be had without further delay than
«u Dr enu* court
Every practioneer knows that thc rigfrit
of continuance is the most abused of all
rl * ht * ******* ** the law in court pro
cedures aad ih my 0 p Jnlon the clrcutt
Judge wlll cotT€Ct ltie abuse if empower
tn <in *ur, “
-pj p W which gtees the defendant more
peremptory strikes than the state *hoqld
be >o amended as to give eacn party cue
same number. Under the existing law
power is given the defendant to object
without cause to so many jurors that he
can. in many cases, pack a Jury in his
own interest.
X have heretofore recommended to the
general assembly, and again urge upon
you. that the law be so amended as to
punish assault with intent to rape with
death unless the punishment be reduced
upon the recommendation of the jury
trying the case, just as it may be done
now when the charge is rape.
Those who commit these ofTenses de¬
serve to be punished under the same
law.
It has been insisted by some that the
way to stop lynching is to provide for
the prompt punishment of all who com¬
mit the crimes which provoke it.
Neither the Jaw’s delay nor the failure
of justice can be given as an excuse for
lynchihgs in rape oases.
In dealing with the offense of rape In
our courts there has been for the guilty
no delay and tio escape. Courts are
promptly called, trials had. and Justice
quickly administered. In stlch oases the
men whose names are in the Jury boxes
in Georgia can be relied upon to convict.
The evil will exist for a long time, if
not disturbed, until public opinion is ed¬
ucated to the point where the condemns-]
tion is sufficiently Intense and unanimous
to make it impossible.
It is therefore necessary that without
waiting for this slow process, the major¬
ity representing law, order, justice and
civilization, pass such legislation as will
repress the lawless element and secure,
the reign of law. The certainty of prompt
trials alone will not end lynchings. The but
delay of the law is a favorite excuse,
it Is not the real reason for its existence.
Other legislation is needed to aid in
checking it.
The arresting officer is now clothed with
authority to take the life of the assail¬
ants when resisting their efforts to take
a prisoner from his custody, and, and it
is his duty to take life if necessary to
protect the prisoner and retain him in
custody. This he should be required to do
at the hazard of his own life, or the
prisoner should be unshackled, armed and
given an opportunity to defend himself.
The knowledge on the part of the mob
that this would be done would deter it
from pursuing its lawless purpose, and
the law would be permitted to protect the
innocent and punish the guilty.
That it may be ascertained whether or
not the officer having the prisoner in cus¬
tody does his full duty in every instance,
I recommend the passage of a law re¬
quiring a thorough investigation in every
case and providing adequate punishment
when he falls short of the full measure of
his duty In protecting his prisoner. When
this is done he should be ineligible to elec¬
tion or appointment to any office until his
disabilities are removed by the general
assembly. The administrator or family
of a party taken from the custody of an
officer and killed should he authorized to
recover from the county the full value of
his life, which in no case should be less
lhan $1,000. This provision will not only,
by appea iinR to selMnteresta, make the
stronger influences In each community
active In opposition to lynchings, but up
on principle, Is but doing justice to the
( am ijy 0 f the v'etim When the state
takes char of a prls0 ner It Is Its duty
, 0 protect Wm agaln8t all dangers save
.y u , jwna |ty 0 f the law inflicted for the
wlth which he Is charged, and for
{ u Keils^vsw t d o#o. It Is just for damages to
? ssk
surrender him to those who seek his Ufa
n violation * '•,'Simation of law, without justly incur
to pay . 'jnages there-
THE CONVICT QUESTION,
The governor's message so far as It re
lates to the convict question ha* been al
reJ *dy published in full In The Journal,
The governor -holds that-the mlsdemea
nor convicts should remain under the con
trol of the counties and that the camps
ghould bc regular i y inspected by an officer
0 f t he state.
The governor reiterates his declaration
made to the Democratic convention when
he was nominated, that he would veto
re-establishing the present lease
jj e opposes working the convicts on the
county roads.
The governor proposes the creation of a
commission which shall be in full control,
He wants a tract of land on which the
^oya, women and men who are not able
, boiled A . , shal ... . be main alned.
Able-bodied convicts he wants hired out
for a term of five years under control of
the state. Meanwhile he would with the
labor of the other convicts build a central
penitentiary. The final disposition of the
able-bodied convicts he would leave to be
aisposed ttf at th * expiration of five years,
pt nn provides for a reformatory for
hoys and girls.
^he governor also recommends the orea
jj on a tyjard 0 f pardons and urges some
j aw w nich will equalize the assessment of
taxes
He a i B0 urge s the return of $240 which
M,ss IJla , M M * J1 owe ‘ 1 nJlld P aI V fnr the ptate of °
Georgia as the state’s share toward , , the
Cowpens monument,
“BUD” FULLER ON TRIAL.
Charged With Attempting to Murder Ilia
Child by Starvation.
“Bud” Fuller was placed on trial -t
Atlanta Monday before Judge John S.
Candler in the superior court on the
charge of attempting to kill his little
son, Render Fnller.
The case is a very uiiffsual one, the
father being charged with leaving his
helpless child in the woods to die of
starvation.
Owing to the demurrer which was
filed by Fuller’s attorneys to the orig¬
inal bill of indictment Solicitor Hill
drew drew up another bill which was
approved by the grand jury a few day'
ago.
MUST CEDE TEN FEET.
government Having Trouble with I.enf
Owners »t Clllckninnuga Park.
The Chickamattga park commission¬
ers have been notified by the war de¬
partment that unless the property
owners in Walker county, Georgia,
abutting the proposed of government construc¬
road now in course
tion to Lafayette, cede thc govern¬
ment the additional ten feet required
to make the road forty feet, in uni¬
formity with all the other roads ap
pToaching the park, the work rannot
sneeeed. A large number of owners
have ceded the necessary right of way.
but many of them are holding hacl
•ad have declined to do so.
WON'T RECOGNIZE MERRY.
Uncle Sum*, Representative Beta Cold
Shoulder by Nicaraguans.
It is understood that tlie diet of the
Greater Repnblic of Central America
now in session at Managua, Nicaragua,
has refused to agree with the argn
me its put forward by Secretary Sher¬
man in support of the appointment of
Captain William L. Merry, of San
Francisco, as minister of the United
Stetcs to Nicaragua, Costa Rica and
Salvador, while partly recognising the
claimed in certain quarters
tP is step is taken in order to
M he United States government, if
e, to fully reeognixe the diet.
01)B LAW-MAKERS (JET DOWN TO
WORK IN EARNEST.
BILLS PROHIBITING FOOTBALL.
A Brief Summary of Kach Day’* Pro¬
ceedings In the Hour® and
the Senate.
Thursday's Proceeding*.
The second day’s session of the
house was a dull one, and the proceed¬
ings were in striking contrast with
those of Wednesday. The only dis¬
cussion of consequence was over a bill
to provide for thjp sale of equitable in¬
terests in property. This measure, by
Mr. Felder, was favorably reported by
the general judiciary committee, but
Mr. Fogarty objected to it until pro¬
vision was made for recording bonds
for title, and the bill was recommitted,
Mr. McCook’s bill to prevent the
hunting or catching of o’possums be¬
tween March 1st and October 1st, was
taken up with a favorable report from
the committee on agriculture and
passed l>y r a vote of 109 to 15.
Mr. Folder, chairman of the general
judiciary committee, submitted a fa¬
vorable report on the bill prohibiting
the reporter and stenographers of the
supreme court from practicing law.
This favorable report was adopted.
A few local bills were introduced in
the senate Thursday, and the follow¬
ing bills were taken up for a third
reading and laid on the table: A
bill to amend the constitution as to
the election of judges and solicitors
geueral of the superior court; bill to
enlarge the powers of the railroad
commission; bill to authorize the state
school commissioner to grant perma¬
nent licenses to graduetea of the Nor¬
mal aud industrial school of Milledge
ville.
Friday’* Proceeding*.
The majority of Georgia’s law-mak
era left Atlanta Friday for Nashville
and spent Saturday taking in the sights
at the Centennial. Both houses ad¬
journed at noon Friday.
The house met at 9 o’clock and be
gan the reading of bills for the first
time. Among them was a bill by Mr.
’Felder, of Fulton,, providing for nu¬
merous and important changes in the
city charter of Atlanta
Mr. Henderson, of DeKalb, intro¬
duced a bill calling for the changing of
the county site of DeKalb county from
Decatur to Stone Mountain. The
question that the county -site was es¬
tablished permanently at Decatur by
the act creating a comity site for De
Kallc county will bgsettled if the bill
is passed, as it provide#,/or the repeal
of all conflicting laws.
By Mr. Blalock, of bavetbe Fayett^ that the
state treasurer shall autno^mr
to draw upon any funds of the state
the 1st day of April of each yeafin the
mi the same to be -iwed
for the imyment of school teachers and
to be paid back by the school fund.
At 12° dock the house adjourned
until m o clock Monday morning.
* nday morning’s session of the sen
ate was short and devoid of interest
except the passage of Benator Grays
catt e steaUng bill.
Ihis bill was introduced early dur
ing last year’s session ami was report
ed adversely by the general judiciary
committee.
Benator Stewart, of tho Twenty
seventh, introduced a resolution tliata
joint committee of five from the sen¬
ate and ten from {lie house be appoint¬
ed io visit the state normal school at
Athens, to investigate the work that
is beine done, and to make such report
as they deem proper to promote tho
best interest of that institution,
Mmitlny’H I'roceediiig*.
Tho legislature took cognizance of
last Saturday’s football tragedy in At¬
lanta in two measures agaiust the
game, a bill‘in the senate and a reso¬
lution iu tho house. Mr. Awtry, of
Cobb, offered the following joint reso¬
lution:
“Resolved, That it is the sense of
the general assembly of Georgia that
the game of football should be prohib¬
ited from all schools and colleges re¬
ceiving financial aid from the state.
Resolved, further, That the trustees
of the Btate University be requested
to have said game of football prohibit¬
ed from the university at Athens and
from the various branches of the
same. ”
It was referred to the committee on
education.
The most important measures that
came before the bouse Monday were
Mr. Kevin’s new bill for a constitu¬
tional convention, explained in his in¬
terview, and Mr. Boynton’s bill to
make taxes due a month earlier, on
November 20. The latter came tip on
(bird reading lmt failed of a bouse ma¬
jority for the committee report and
was temporarily tabled after reconsid¬
eration by the house of its adverse
vote.
A bill to make a roster of confeder¬
ate veterans in each county, after some
discussion, failed of a majority, but
notice to reconsider was given.
A number of minor bills were
passed.
Air. Felder, of Fulton, introduced a
resolution, which was passed, thank¬
ing the officials of the Western and
Atlantic railroad, the Pullman Palace
Car company and the Tennessee cen
tennia! for courtesies on the trip of
the legislative delegation. promised
A legislative sensation is
in the way of a bill for the election of
the state librarian by the legislature,
The bill has been prepared and will be
introduced.
President Berner and President Pro
Tem Gray both being absent Monday
morning, the senate was called to or
der by ,Secretary Clifton. SeDator
Battle was elected to preside. ’.his
A bill to prohibit football in
state was introduced by Senator Allen,
of the Forty-first district. The indi
eatious are that it will pass.
On motion of Mr. Comas, the bill
of the senate to prescribe the methods
of determining contests in elections
for removiug of county sites was with
drawn from the general judiciary com
wittee. It was redd the second time
and recommitted.
Tuesday's Proceedings,
Both houses of the legislature spent
a dull rooming Tuesday and both ad¬
journed before noon. In the house
the child labor bill, prohibiting chil¬
dren under 13 years of age from work¬
ing in factories and similar institu¬
tions, was the special order of the
morning. By request discussion of
the matter was postponed for one week.
The Boynton local dispensary bill,
which provides for the abolition of bar¬
rooms, was temporarily tabled at the
request of ex-Governor Boynton, who
introduced it, pending the argument
of the prohibitory saloon Bush Bill.
A resolution was adopted, after the
speaker had called three times for a
quorum, declaring it the sense of the
house of representatives of Georgia
that United States senators should be
elected by the people.
A resolution was introduced by
Mr. Oliver, of Burke, providing that
the third day of June—the anniversary
of Jeflerson Davis’ birth—be a legal
holiday, was temporarily tabled pend¬
ing action on a similar bill previously
introduced.
A bill was introduced by Mr Hen¬
derson, of Forsyth, providing for the
election of judges and eolicitors-gen*
eral of the superior court. It was re¬
ferred.
Mr. Nevin. of Floyd, introduced a
bill entitled, “A bill to protect labor¬
ers, mechanics, artisans and others
from blacklisting.” The bill is in¬
tended to protect wage-earners from
boycott and collecting concerns.
A resolution offered by Mr. West,
of Lowndes, asking Dr. Warren F.
Candler, president of Emory college,
to address the general assembly on
November 9th, was unanimously
adopted.
In the senate the Brin so q bill was
tabled temporarily.
Thanks w ere extended the people of
Nashville, the railway companies and
the pull man Car company for courte¬
sies extended senators who visited the
Nashville Centennial.
After the transaction of less impor¬
tant business, both houses adjourned.
RESULT IN MARYLAND.
Tlie Fnte of Senator Gorman Wu* In the
Italiiiico.
In Maryland the state contest was
over the election of two officers, the
state comptroller and the clerk of the
court of appeals. Tho nominees of
the republicans were: Comptroller,
Philip Goldsborough; clerk of the
court of appeals, Alan Rutherford.
The democratic nominees were: Comp¬
troller, Thomas A. Smith; clerk of tho
court of appeals, ,T. Frank Ford.
The returns so far received indicate
that the legislature will be democratic
on joint ballot. This means the re¬
turn of Gorman to tho United States
senate.
MUST NOT DISCRIMINATE.
IlltrrsBntion Agalnat Memphis
Charleston Granted.
^ petition of intervention was
; n the United States circuit court
W, Chattanooga Friday by the
^pi.J Cotton oi) comp anv
„j[|!lW!f‘~ r fWWW‘ fc 1 1 1 ■
J
M hiB and Chfet WiWWl
company pawners .
charge that the road is
discriminating against them and refus
. to han , their C ottou seed,
Ju(lge Clark issued an order to be
gin at onoe delivering the cotton seed
of the petitioners and to cease any dis
cr j m j Da ti 0 n in favor of any other
concern if tbey were engaged in such
j Jug j cesg ,
BLANCO TAKES CHARGE.
W>yler Galilly Welcomes ilia Successor to
Cuban Shores.
The Spanish cruiser Alfonso Ilf.
with Marshal Blanco, the new gover¬
nor general of Cuba on board, reached
Havana Bunday morning at 7 o’clock.
When the Alfonso entered the harbor
Lieutenant Genera! Weyler, the
Marquis Ahumada, Admiral Navarro
and other high military aud naval offi¬
cers went in a special steamer to meet
Geueral Blanco.
After a long and cordial conference
Lieutenant, General Weyler yielded up
iis command to his successor.
FEVER RECORD IN MISSISSIPPI.
Htate Hoard of Health U»uc* Its Usual
Dally 1 port.
The Mississippi board official of health is¬
sued the following statement
Friday night:
“Clinton, three new eases; Nitta
Yuma, no new cases; Cayuga, two new
cases; McHenry, one new ease and one
death;Edwards, four new colored cases
in town ami three white cases in the
country."
Biloxi, ten new cases, no deaths.
Total cases to date, 570; total deaths
to date, 25.
CAR THIEVES IN PENAL CAMP.
Men Convlrteil At Ilallon, tla., Now Ai
Cole City.
Deputy Warden Pearson, of the
Georgia penitentiary, reached Coal
City Tuesday, having in charge the
following members of the Dalton ear
thieves gang: Walter Bohannon, Bill
Long, Ben Painter, Thomas Kinne
uiau and Ed Morris, colored. In the
party also was old man Taylor Delk,
the murderer. Bohannon stated that
he had got it from pretty reliable
sources that Drew M. Peeples was in
hiding in north Georgia with relatives.
EVANS TO FOUND SCHOOLS.
Rich American in Fads Will Be a Phli
anthropi.t.
Announcement is made at New York
that Dr. Thomas W. Evans, the Amer
jean dentist of Paris, whose wealth is
variously estimated at from $30,000,
000 to $35,000,000, will spend a part
of that huge fortune in founding and
maintaining educational institutions in
different cities of this country,
Dr. Evans left for Paris on the
French liner La Touraiue, which sail
ed for Ha T re Saturday.
FUSIONISTS CARRY NEBRASKA,
_
Thev Arc Reported «o n.ire Secured a Big
Mejorlrr.
A gpec j a i f rom Lincoln says: Ne*
pj-gstg renewed her allegiance to fii
gion Tuesday by electing the three
oan didates on that ticket by plurali
lieg ran gi n2 from 10,000 to 23,000.
Nothing like complete returns have
been received, bnt enough are in to
measure the result and indicate a
greater fusion victory than in
deutial year.
BY TflOS. A- MCGREGOR. .
«6! ^Tr-.
DEATH OF T,
■ av
HE WAS-CANDIDA'P ID* XANOB
OP GREATER NEW TOOT. >• '
THE END'CAME VERY SUDDENLY..
t f
The Champion of Jeffersonian p.mcmrpar .. (
Falla Under Strain of a Vtgovona
Campaign—The Son Substituted.
> #•«
Henry George, and’eandldife author b! ‘ •Pr'bgfrbks
and Poverty,” of tlte'
Jeffersonian democracy for' tatfOr W' !
Greater New York, died suddenly at
4:45 o’clock Friday mornifig'at the
Union Square hotel in that' city of
cerebral apoplexy. '
In his great Cooper Union speech
accepting the nomination for mayor,-,
less than a month ago, he said i
“I’ll make this race if, it costs me
my life. This is a call to duty, and as
a good citizen I have no right to dis¬
regard it on account of mere personal
considerations. ”
Mr. George arrived at the hotel
about 1 o’clock in the morning. He
had just returned from several large
mass meetings in the boroughs of
Queens ami Brooklyn. The work of
the night seemed to have told on him.
He complained of being tired, bu.t his
frieudB and relatives who waited on
him thought it was only the natural
fatigue that follows such hard cam¬
paign work as Mr. George has been
doing. Not long after reaching the
hotel he was stricken down.
Thus the cheers of the campaign
workers were suddenly changed Henry to
sighs, for true to his word,
George, the apostle of the rights of
man, died as he wished to die—in
harness lighting for the cause—toward
the close campaign of the greatest the world municipal has
political ever
seen. died
The end was peaceful and he
without pain. physically frail and
Mr. George was campaign
the strain of an exciting re¬
quiring speech-making after at pointB night, many
miles apart, night was
more than, nature could stand.*
He spoke at Whitestone at 8 o’clock
and made speeches at College.J’oiqt New .
aud Flushing before returning to
York to Hpeak at the Central opera
house. Mrs. George went with him.
All the halls in which he spoke Flush¬ Were
filled and at College Point and
ing crowds were turned away. At
Whitestone he drove from the railroad
station to the meeting hall at a gallop.
To the cheering crowds he said:
“I believe that all needed reforms
are summed up in that eat, philoaopy—^ drink,
right of every men to to
speak as he sees fit, so long as he d<
not trench on the rights of any otl
mas. I believe that God. t hasfe siJ
can take care of Hi
is no need lor usJ 'm.
enforce them. If flf At _.j t»
believe that I will be elected, W#
enforce the law upon the rioh am
alike.”
Henry George was .fifty-eight
old, being born on September school 2,
He received a common t
tion 1881; ‘‘Social Problem*,’’
“Property in . Land," a. controversy 1884;'“The
with the Duke of Argyle,
Condition of Labor, ’’ an open letter to
Pope Leo Philosopher,” XIIL, 1801;- (Herbert and a “Per¬
plexed Spen¬
cer) 1892.
In 1886 Mr. George was nominated
by the United Labor- party-for 68^006 mayor
of New York, polling Abram votes,
against 90,000 for 8. Hewitt,
the democratic nominee, and 60,000
for Roosevelt, now assistant secretory
of the navy, repnblicau. - .
After his nomination for mayor" by
the Jeffersonian democrat* several
weeks ago, Mr. George made an ex¬
tremely active canvass, speaking Sev¬
ern! times every evening and working
from early to late at hiB headquarter*.
Th* Hon Substituted.
At 11 o’clock Friday morning the*
Thomas Jefferson democracy held-a
me etiiu' aird submitted the naipe of
Henry'George, Jr., for the candidate' name.of
his father, Henry GeCrge, as
for mayor of Greater- New York. The.
nomination was accepted. born
Henry. George, Jr., was in
Sacramento, Cal., in 1862. He wa*
educated in the public schools of San
Francisco.
COTTON OIL MILLS BCRN f
Georgia Cotton Oil Company Lose Theif
riant at Edgewood. S'
The Georgia Cotton Oil Mill com¬
pany bnildiiiga at Edgewood, a suburb
of Atlanta, were completely destroyed
by fire between 3 and. 5 o’clock Sun¬
day morning. .
Everything, with the exception of a
few of the smaller buildings, burned
to the ground, and the oil had safcurar
ted the buildings to such. an extent,
that no charred timbers were left*
The hull,and lint storage houses,
the pumphouse quick steam aud the boiler rfcfeffehons'e rodm, the \#&r& fire^
the ones saved. The loss is estimn&dT
at $117,000. ■ * s
HOPEFUL" AT
Only One Case and One Death Keported
Monday, f ’
.
Montgomery's b^IrtV of health* re¬
ported Bunday -six nfe^-'casesi and nd
deaths; Monday,' one new Case,
Yarbrough, 323 Herron sixeet;, o*£
death, R. H. Weathers, -909 .Sooth
Court. street. Th,is im*n InfeptUm^to wprkejf, i?»
tUe infected district.
licit spread out of the, western eihauited j>art'.of
town and material is about
‘ ' *' *'***!
there. ’
A heavy rain fell Sunday night «nd
the air promise was cold ol aud much bracing colder Monday, weather, ■
with
NEW YORK C AMPAIUN QTElt.
Th( , Lk.j of tha Ma<> Meetings XYemMeld
, Saturduj Ntght. ■ vj
The Greater New’York municipal
campaign practically ceased iwroll the
political ramps made Saturday. thorough There-^ere the tils
final appeals Sunday and Moirfiay. n
to the voters parkdjs Monday
There were ’a few
j night, but to all practical intents and
rmrposes- the campaign fended Satnr
day night, and the result jjssas left in
the hands of the 570,000 voters.