Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

EDITORIAL PAGE J THEATLANTA GEORGIAN Published Every Afternoon Except Sunday By THE GEORGIAN COMPANY At 20 East Alabama St., Atlanta, Ga Entered as second-class matter at postoftice at Atlanta, under act of March S. 1573 Subscription Price—Delivered by carrier. 10 cents a week. By mall, >5,00 a year. Payable In advance The Shame of Atlanta | ». ». * She Excels in Many Things, But She Can Not Hide Her Streets. “By its highways ye shall know the city.” True or untrue, this paraphrase, made long ago. contains a bitter arraignment of Atlanta. The streets of the metropolis of the South are as much in keeping with the rest of the city as a team of oxen would be with a 60-horse power automobile truck. To the stranger five points in aui city are uppermost: The climate, the natural advantages, the shipping facilities, the build ing development and the condition of the streets. There is no fault to be found with an\ of these conditions except two. One of these will be discussed later. The other is the shame of Atlanta it> streets. From day to day The Georgian "ill give facts and figures about the streets If the people's money is being thrown away while the citt is being disgraced, the people will know it. Ts the amount appropriated is insiiffivient to finish respectable highways, the people will know that, If incompetence is responsible for the thousands of mud holes, the people will know that. The time has come when there must boa remedy. Il is all very well for Atlantans to point with pride Io their city's su premacy in a hundred things, because in at least a hundred things she excels; but she can not hide her streets. Atlanta deserves the best, and she Ml ST and WILL have it. The Duty of “Instructed” Delegates How long does a state's “ instructions” bind its delegates in a national convention? This was a question frequently discussed and variously eon strued at Chicago and at Baltimore. The answer should be plain When the people of a state in free consideration of several presidential candidates come to the primary polls and give a ma .jnrity vote for one of these candidates it ought to he perfectly clear that the man so voted for is distinctly and definitely the choice and preference of the people, whose wishes arc sovereign and conclusive. Il is a matter of common sense and common loy alt.v that delegates so chosen should expend every effort of advo cacy and endurance to put into execution the wishes of the people whose servants and messengers they are. And this advocacy and effort are by no means discharged as an obligation when some designing politician or some scheming interest may urge that the choice of the people is hopeless. No candidate can be honorably deserted by “instructed delegates” so long as he is in the lead, certainly not while he has a majority as the votes, and not even while he leads a loyal and undismayed minority with a hope of Ins success. There was more than one delegation which violated and for swore its “instructions” at Baltimore and at Chicago. If the states that “ instructed for Clark ” had been loyally obeyed by their delegates “as long as there was a reasonable hope for Clark's success” Clark would have been the nominee on the fourth day of the convention. , ' ■ • Os course, all “state instructions” should provide some dis cretion for the delegates who represent it. The absurdity of rob bing delegates, of all discretion was illustrated at Baltimore in the ridiculous case of Georgia bound bv an ironclad instruction to vote for I nderwood “CNTILIIIS ELECTION IS SECI RED ” Ender this foolish resolution the Georgians really had no right to vote to make Wilson's nomination unanimous. The man who wrote that resolution ought to have his head put under cold water and be retired from further duty as an instructor of dele gations. The Tariff: Platform Com ment Il is regrettable that the Baltimore convention committed itself to the abstract theory that “the Federal Government nn der the Constitution has no right to impose or collect tariff duties except for the purpose of revenue.” This notion that the protective principle is unconstitutional • is a theory of closet philosophers. Its falsity is a matter of history. The Democratic party will never attempt to put it into practice. It is. therefore, not dangerous to the country. But it stains an honest platform with a touch of insincerity This newspaper stands, with the mass of the American peo ple. tor the effectual protection of American industries trom the competition of foreign countries having a low standard of living. The Georgian voices the nearly unanimous sentiment of the country in demanding a rigorous downward revision of the tariff in all the schedules touching the common necessaries of life. The trouble with the Payne-Aldrich tariff is that it stretches out its arms to smite the weak and defend the strong. It pro tects no poverty, but piracy Even in the Republican platform and in spite of Taft's atrocious vetoes of the farmers' free list and the reforms of the woolen, cotton ami chemical schedules attempted by the Democratic House—it is admitted that the tariff on nceessaifes ought to be sealed down. But the Republicans want to have this scaling down done very gingerly by those who have a parental affection for the tariff as it stands those who believe, with Mr. Winona Taft, that if is “tlw best tariff eve; enacted by a Republican Congress." The Georgian, on the other hand, will continue to insist that the tariff should be scaled down not by “the friends of the tariff.” but by the friends of the people; and that Ulis reform should be accomplished not gingerly, but with ginger. The people will not commit the incredible folly of giving Mr. Taft and the interests represented by him a fresh mandate to go on after their own fashion with the "reform” of Uie tariff. The people will not set wolves to tend the sheep. The words uttered by Senator James on taking the gavel at Balti more will be remembered : "President Taft has the lone and singular distinction of being the only President in tlw life of this Republic who ever vetoed bills cheapening clothing to the people, lumber to the homeless, meat and oread to the hungry Americans ami tree farm ing implements to the toiling farmer measures that would have saved to the eonsiinimi; public thr< > buwlred ami tiltv an i.U.uuk, a tear.” The Atlanta Georgian The First View of the Ocean By HAL CO FEM AN. ~~ r~Z-2r~— ~ r—T I - A' “ —T **“ OS T- LOO* SiwMlt- W ' - FULL OF /“Zlßy 7 A, S* J MILLS - "■ 't* ~ '~~ ''Ta 2ZZ =. xx. - / - V ) - A - -x— '' — , _ nt . c -.4 . '- ■* DOROTHY DIX WRITES Both Sides of the Amusement Problem 9 PROBABLY there is no other one question that gives rise to more arguments and dis- putes in tlie average well-to-do family than the amusement prob lem. The wife wants to go out to piaees of entertainment. The hus band wants to stay home and read the newspapers. Result: Domestic tireworks. The wife says: "I am a good wife and mother, and a competent housekeeper. I am thrifty industrious and frugal, and I am busy all day doing house hold tasks that can make my fam ily comfortable, and trying to make my husband's money go as far as possible. Ry the time night comes I am weary of performing monotonous domestic duties, and 1 would like some change. I would like to do something that would give a different turn to my thoughts, and that would stimu late me. and brighten me up. "I love society. I like to dance I like a good game of cards. I like people. I am devoted to the thca ,tei. I enjoy going occasionally to a restaurant for dinner or suppei. I like to see and be seen, but be fore I can go atty where of an even ing I have to have a battle royal with my husband that takes all of Ihv pleasure out of it. To get him to go to a dinner party is--like dragging him to an execution. To induce bin* to take me to the thea ter requires a week of hints ant! pi t suasion and jollying, and then he sits up with a kill-joy face and knocks the actors in the play and yawns in my face until I get so mad I vow I’ll never ask him to take me anywhere again "We actually have a row over every invitation we get and he puts on his evening clothes w ith as many groanings and mutterings as if he were an early Christian mar tyi dressing himself to be led out to the stake Wife Wants Some Os the Diversions. "He acts as if being married to him w ptt nic enough for any waVt.' and that she ought not to expect or desire any other diver sion. while I contend that a wife w ho does* het duty, as I do. is enti tled to at hast a few of the treats aftii ma t'iage that a man was ready enough to give her before mairiag. When In- was courting >w.- m\ husband warn* too tired of THURSDAY, JULY 11, 1912. By DOROTHY DIX. an evening to take me to places or meet me at parties. "Besides al! this, my husband needs to go out some for his own sake. A man gets so narrow who sees nobody but his business asso ciates and heats-- nothing talked about but business and. in addition, we have children for--w hom it is ouraluty to make as good a social position as we can. So it sdbnis it. me. that my husband 1s unreason able not to be willing to go.about with me more." Husband Says He Needs Rest. The man say's: "I work all day under a pressure that my wife does not even under stand. I am giving every Ounce of strength and vitality that is in me to my business so thatT can give my family every possible luxury and indulgence, and when night comes 1 am utterly spent, sou) and body and brain, I am so tired that I don't care to talk, nor to be talk ed to, and so nervous that I feel that J would scream if I had to lis ten to the inane chatter -of some foolish woman to whom I was ex pected to make myself agreable at dinner. All I want to do is to eat my own dinner in my own .house, and sink down in my own particuia" chait in the library, and doze along over the evening paper. More than that. I must have this rest if I am to hold up my end in the strenuous business competition of today. "if I go to bed at 10 o'clock and get a good night's sleep 1 attack my problems with a clean, clear brain the next morning, but if I've been out to 1 or 2 o'clock, and eaten a lot of Indigestible stuff, and drunk and smoked too much, my mind is in as upset a state as my tomach is. My judgment is clouded; my tamper is on edge and I'm literally not fit for business. "Heaven knows I want my wife to have every possible pleasure. It's for her sake and the kids that* 1 toil like a dray horse Let her go to all the matinees, and teas and luncheons ami hen parties she wants to. but why (an t she be reasonable and !«' me have my evenings at home in peace instead of dragging me about to places that bore me stiff, and where every other married man looks I*k «■ St tn! bony on the gridiron" And there you are. And -■« the argument goes on over every in vitation. and ends with tears on one side, and a banging door on the other and the queer part of it all is that: each side is perfectly right from his or her point of view\ 'file solution of the problem' is only; to be found in compromise, and. undoubtedly, it would make for peace in most families if the wife would Establish the house maid's inalienable right to a night out once a week on which her hus band would accompany her whith ersoever she chose to go without protest. The balance of the titne she could take her pleesuies with out him at the various afternoon diversions that women have de vised to meet this very contingency . It is unfortunate that the very difference of their fields of labor makes men and women look at this question from opposite angles. The husband, who is seeing new faces every minute of the day. and talk ing to new people, longs for quiet and rest in the evening. The woman who lias been shut up in tlie house all day . often w ith no one to speak to. longs for fresh faces and fresh interests. This being true, why should they not figure out together a working schedule by which the man should go cheerfully abroad with his wife a certain number of nights •( week, while the balance site may tebniin at home without feeling herself a persecuted domes tic slave? One Reason Why Americans Lead. One of the chief reasons why this country leads the world in divorce is becau.s> Americans so often settle this question in the wrong way by the wife and husband each going his or Iter own way—the wife going in for society, and the husband go ing in for business, and both land ing in Reno When you ‘meet a married woman traveling alone, or going to balls and theaters with friends, instead of her husband, you don't need any other tip as to the state of affairs in that family. 'if course men sty that they have.to work so hard they haven't time to go about with their wives, but if husbands gave their wives more of their time and personal at tention and less money it would be better for both After all. it's the people <hat w - play with w hi> are m-'Si a,- c-sirv to us. THE HOME PAPER Dr. Parkhurst’s Article Conservation of Human |TJ|n| Race as an Urgent Need —and— I Development of Deserv ing Men and Women Written For The Georgian By the Rev. Dr. C. H. Parkhurst THERE is one need of the times that the generosity of our large givers seems not quite to have touched, but a need which, if handsomely met. would go far toward the conservation of valuable material that is now run ning to waste We have latterly learned to realize that our wealth in forests, water power and minerals lias been dealt with so carelessly and extravagantly as seriously to im pair our resources, and to cause mischief that only the prolonged pursuance of a more cautious pol icy will avail to repair. But our new policy of conserva tion will not be complete till it also extends itself outside the region of our material assets. Very much of the humanitarian work that is be ing done is done in pursuance of the conservation idea, and is an at tempt to prevent values in human bodies, minds and characters from being wasteful!?- sacrificed. Our thought just now is upon one particular class of people—men and women—whose embarrassed condi tion is making consistent appeal to any man w ho is know n to be at all interested in those who have abilities and ambition, but whose abilities are rendered unproductive and their ambitions disappointed by the imperious limitations of cir cumstances —people who could do something worth while, but wtfo are so hampered by adverse condi tions that they liave no chance to get a start. No Sensible Person Would Advise Pampering. •‘Der anfang ist imfner schwer.” say the Germans. It is comparatively easy to build a ship: th6 crisis comes at the launching. It takes more steam to start a locomotive than it docs to keep it running. Once a seed has begun to ger minate we can pretty confidently count on its becoming a shrub or tree. The same holds true of young humans as of ships, engines and flower seeds, that the rub comes at the beginning. No sensible person would advise tlie pampering of a fledgling. Things can be made too easy for the young aspirant as well as too hard. # An ambitious fellow can go up a pretty steep grade if he has grit, but he can not pull himself up a perpendicular. Enough- slant must ne put into the clintb to give him a scrambling chance to get to the top. And that chance is what a lot of young people—boys and girls—do not have. ::: ::: 'Together ::: ::: By ELLA WHEELER WILCOX. Copyright 1912. National News Association WE two in the fever and fervor and glow Os life's high tide have rejoiced together: We have looked out over the glittering snow. And known we were dwelling in summer weather, For the seasons are made by the heart I hold. And not hi outdoor heat or cold. We two. in the shadows of pain and wop. Have journeyed together in dim. dark places. Where black-robed Sorrow walked to and fro. And Fear and Trouble, with phantom faces. Peered out upon us and froze our blood, Though June's fair roses were all in bud. We two have measured all depths, all heights. We have bathed in tears, we have sunned in laughter; We have known all sorrows and delights— They never could keep us apart hereafter. Whether your spirit went, high or low. My own would follow, and find you. I know. If they took my soul into Paradise. And told me I must be content without you. I would weary them so with my lonesome cries. And the ceaseless questions • assed about you. They would open the gates and set me free. Or pI -p the.' would find you and bring you to tn*- We are thinking only of tho-? who have in them the makings nf something, who are aware of i fact and who are brave enough to do what they can themselves, bin who can not do it all. can not make opportunities when there Is noth ing to make opportunities of— young people who have an art Im pulse and want to cultivate ft: or a genius for mechanics or a pro nounced leaning toward teaching, journalism, preaching, no matfer what, but needing just enough :■> help get them on their feet and <o put them on the road. A Few Dollars Will < « J Conserve Human Effort. Not to give such ones an initial push means a waste of value, it i neglect to conserve resources more valuable than timber or wafer sup ply. Sometimes SSOO w ill do It. or even SIOO. if only it be enough to help the wheels to begin to turn. Or the need may be for mone’’ enough to buy a little farm, giving a mortgage on the land as securit' . Appeals for just that kind of as sistance are reporting theniselvr, ■constantly. Who now Is the man of large wealth that wants to create an en dowment. the income of which shall be applied in the manner proposed' We have had immense mone' 7 donated in the interest of advanced education, gifts that inure especial ly to the advantage of those who have already gotten quite away up the incline, money without stint for the construction of magnificent buildings. It is said that, if a man resident in Boston dies without leaving half a million in bequest to Harvard university it is considered suffi cient ground for breaking his will All these bequests are attracted to men and institutions that ar» already favored. but the poor, struggling, capable and ambitious boys and girls at the bottom of the ladder have, comparatively speak ing. very little done for their en couragement. If They Have Ability That’s Half the Fight. If the?' have ability and grit, they do not need much: but if the? have those qualifications, society, the state, the schools, the world's busi ness. the church, can not afford t n have their powers of effect wasted. Eine and competent humanne-' is more necessary to the world than crude oil and timber. Men and women, capable ind confident, are the best product of our civilization, and the recovery of such from helplessness to use fulness is one of the best euti r prises to which men of wealth • an give their hearts and apple ilwir m ea n s.