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HEARST’S SUNDAY AMERICAN, ATLANTA, GA., SUNDAY, JUNE 1. 1913.
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GEORGIA, THE EMPIRE STATE OF THE SOUTH-By John M. Slaton
though, these refunding bonds will be taken
up right here in Georgia—-every one of them!
The ability of municipalities to contract
debts is tirmlv limited by the Constitution of
Georgia, thus further guaranteeing those who
come here to live, as well as those who al
ready live here, against excessive and oppres
sive taxation.
Georgia is magnificent in her good deeds
—she gives more for State pensions than any
other Southern State.
As the old Confederate soldiers grow more
and more grizzled and gray, as the weight of
years bears down upon them heavier and
heavier, Georgia remembers their heroic youth
and young manhood, and the great sacrifices
they made for the cause they believed to be .just
and right.
What Georgian, true of heart and noble of
Governor-Elect Enumerates the Things Which
Go to Make Up the Greatness of the Com
monwealth—He Treats of Her Vast Indus
trial Progress and Natural Resources, as
Well as the Civic Virtues of Her Sons, in
a Clear, Concise and Interesting Manner.
JOHN M. SLATON
Governor-Elect of Georgia.
EORGIA is known as “The Empire
State of the South,’’ and rightly so.
Georgia IS the Empire State of
the South—supreme in her leadership in
Dixie, secure in her future, great in her
present, and glorious is her past.
I love to think of the things Georgia
has done, and to picture in my mind the
great things she yet is to do.
To me, she ever has been an engaging
study, and contemplation of her history,
her people, her achievements and her pos
sibilities never has disappointed me. In
deed, the more I study Georgia, and Geor
gia folks, and Georgia w'ays, the better
and more patriotic Georgian I become.
In 1802, Georgia ceded to the United
States 88,000 square miles of territory.
She reserved to herself 59,479 square
miles, which is her present area.
The Empire State of the South now is
the largest State east of the Mississippi
River.
In 1911, the value of the agricultural
products of Georgia was fourth in the
Union. Illinois, Texas and Iowa alone
exceeded her in this.
Nowhere on earth is a more varied or
healthier climate to be found than Geor
gia boasts. She has every climate known
to man, save that of the frigid zones. And
1 think she can very well dispense with
the latter, even if she does^ therefore,
have to do without an annual crop of ice
bergs and polar bears.
I think every patriotic Georgian will do
well to study the State’s debt, and the
State's businesslike methods of financing
the same.
I believe I am abundantly warranted in
stating that no Commonwealth in the
Union gives such ample guarantee for the
payment of its debt.
Georgia, to begin with, has a clause in
her State Constitution forbidding any in
crease whatever in the State’s bonded
debt. Such debt as we have may be re
funded, if the State likes, but it can not
be added to.
Her debt is approximately $6,600,000,
while she owns outright the great West
ern and Atlantic Railroad, which is easily
worth $20,000,000.
This within itself is sufficient to pay the
bonded indebtedness of the State
three times over and more, and it is
pledged, together with all the State's
property, even including the Execu
tive Mansion, as security for the same.
I found in a recent trip East that
these facts have served to
give Georgia a quality of
credit among financiers
abroad second to no other
State in the nation, and
equaled by not more than
one or two.
Georgia has a clause in her
Constitution guaranteeing
the people against the impo
sition of a tax rate higher
than five mills. Taxation
therefore, can not become
excessively burdensome in
Georgia.
I believe that when we
come to refund $3,679,000 of
Georgia bonds, due in 1915,
we shall be able to dispose
of them most satisfactorily.
Georgia's splendid reputa
tion for financial soundness
will stand her in good stead
then.
1 find that Georgia’s will
ingness to back her bonds so substantially has
brought about a feeling of genuine and helpful
friendliness in the big money centers. I hope,
purpose, would have it otherwise?
But that is not all. Georgia, while ten
derly caring for her old soldiers, does not
neglect the boys and girls of the State,
upon whom rests the future greatness of
the State.
She gives more front the State treasury
than any other Southern State to her pub
lic schools. Indeed, very few States of
the Union give so much to the cause of
educating its children as does the Empire
State of the South.
The University of Georgia is the oldest
State university in the United States.
And as astonishing as that statement
may be to some, it is even more remark
able that. Wesleyan College, in Macon, is
the oldest female college in the world.
In the matter of good roads construc
tion, Georgia has performed wonderful
things. In 1911 she gave, including the
value of her convict labor, .Just about
$4,500,000 to the cause of good roads.
In this she was exceeded by one State
alone—New York, the Empire State of
the North.
Georgia's great port of Savannah
shipped more cotton in 1911 than any oth
er port in the United States, save one.
Not only has the State the magnificent
port of Savannah, but amazing work is
being done in and near Brunswick, and
at other points along her seaboard. If
her possibilities were exhausted along
that line of endeavor, the result would
astonish the world.
Georgia distributes her products with
prodigal hand in many directions.
Her factories are supplying overalls to
workmen in Panama. Her marble quar
ries furnished recently the material from
which was fashioned the beautiful new
capitol of Minnesota. A magnificent
municipal building in Philadelphia was
erected a short time ago, and into it went
Georgia material almost to the exclusion
of all other. The mountains of granite
are paving the streets of many cities of
the nation—paving them with material
that outlasts that to be found anywhere
else on earth.
Her kaolin mines are supplying crock
ery manufactories everywhere—it is of a
quality unsurpassed.
Georgia's cotton is a tremendous fac
tor in preserving the international balance
of trade in favor of “Uncle Sam,” and
with it she is clothing a tremendous pro
portion of the world’s people.
Her Sea Island cotton is unequaled in
quality, and is approached by that of
Egypt alone. It is utilized in producing
the finest of textile materials.
Georgia’s splendid agricultural colleges
constitute one of her greatest and most
thoroughly approved glories. They are
revealing, more surely every year, to the
farmers the possibilities of their all im
portant calling, and by means of their
scientific instruction they give promise of
multifold production in Georgia fields.
Her Technological School has rendered
Georgia independent of engineering and
scientific skill from other sections, and she
now can and does call upon her own to
solve those problems which heretofore
have required foreign talent.
In Georgia, in the city of Atlanta, is
located the second largest mule market
in the world. The one market that is
larger is that cf St. Louis.
Georgia believes in justice to her citi
zens. She accords them the rights of
property, life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness.
In her courts, no citizen, however hum
ble or poor, is denied the right of initial
justice or review on appeal.
But better and braver than all, perhaps,
is the spirit of optimism and hope that
prevails in Georgia hearts, and the de
termination and grit that continuously are
growing and expanding in Georgia minds.
Georgia is in heavy majority a State of
native-born population. Georgians have
been Georgians many, many years, and
they love their State with a love that can
come only of long residence, and for gen
erations.
In Georgia there breathes not “the man
with soul so dead, who never to himself
hath said, 'This is my own, my native
land!’”
Her people are sure of themselves, sure
of their past, sure of their future.
It is that feeling among Georgians
which has caused me to believe so firmly
and so unswervingly in her glorious des
tiny.
To me, Georgia’s scintillant star beams
ever more brightly than any in all Old
Glory’s constellation, for Georgia is my
native State, and Georgia’s way always
seems so eminently the right way.
Georgia constantly and rapidly is in
creasing and extending its railroads and
facilities of transportation.
Georgia's factories are multiplying by
leaps and bounds every year.
Georgia merchants are enlarging their
fields of activity and reaching out more
and more all the time.
Georgia has high ideals of citizenship,
and lives up to them.
Her social life, her business energy, her
foresight and prophetic confidences in her
self, her superb educational institutions,
her churches for every creed and every
kind, her every consideration of spiritual
helpfulness and worthy commercial ad
vancement—-these, and all the other things
I have set forth, warrant her abundantly
in accepting without question the title
conferred upon her by admiring sister
States, “The Empire State of the South !”
In Dixie, Georgia surely and in unfal
tering confidence leads the way!
'SHOW
tickets
home to you the last two hours. But that Chamber of Com
merce committee ”
Scornful laugh from her.
“Yes, yes, go on,” she said. “The last time it was the
Ad Men’s Club meeting. Well, let’s hear this new one.”
Again that lugubrious laugh from him.
“Now, dear, don’t talk like that. They’re the best fel
lows in the world.”
“Oh, sure, sure. Fine fellows. Good company. Better
company than your wife. More attractive than your dinner.”
She is a great mimic, that woman in the apartment across
the hall. This is what we heard from her (falsetto tones) :
“All right, boys. Let’s thave another drink. The old
lady’s at home keeping supper. No hurry. Why should I
worry.
lie protested.
‘‘Now, honey,” he wheedled. “You know it's nothing
like tiiat. You know I had to tight off six of them the other ;
evening.”
“Committee meeting! Yes. Well, what did you do?
Nothing, I guess. You generally do. If we women could just
vote and run thiygs awhile.”
“Yes, if you could vote! Then I guess there’d be no sup
per at all, and no home to come to and get bawled out. Well,
maybe that would be the best thing.”
“I’ll have you know that home is just w T hat you men
make it. If you want to stay out all night, who’s fault is it?
You “
He had caught her scornful laugh by this time.
“GOOD NIGHT!” he said. “You sweet-tempered! You
amiable!”
And again:
“Good night!-”
The end was coming. Her voice trembled.
“Well, if you don’t like things around here, you can just
go back downtown to your club and your booze. After I’ve
If you had telephoned now—you will, next time, won't yout
Ilis laugh was relieved.
“Well, if that’s all the trouble ”
Kiss.
“Say, honey,” he said. “I’m hungry as a wolf. Ain’t
there something to eat around the house?”
“Well. There’s the Sunday American over there. Sit
down and read while I-fix you something. You’ll have to
hurry, though, if we’re going to the show.”
Billy Gould and Belle Ashlyn chunks oi chatter
Copyright. 1913, by the Star Company. Great Britain Rights Reserved.
B ILLY—All, good morning!
BELLE—Do you know anything else good?
BILLY—Yes, I’ve just sold my French bull dog.
BELLE—How much?
BILLY—Five thousand dollars.
BELLE—That’s some bull.
BILLY—And I have here a letter from father.
BELLE—What’s he say?
BILLY—Come home; the District Attorney’s dead.
BELLE—I hear that beards will be worn this season. Why don’t you
grow one?
BILLY—Well, I’d love to grow a beard, but I wouldn’t know what to
do with it at night.
BELLE—I don’t get you.
BILLY—I mean I wouldn’t know whether to leave it outside the
bed covers or tuck it underneath.
BELLE—You’re not supposed to worry about such a thing in New
York.
BILLY—Huh. Anybody can tell you're from Brooklyn.
BELLE—Oh, can they?
BILLY—Sure. You're always blowing about New York.
BELLE—Say, what’s your opinion about the bunny and the bear, and
ail T hose dances?
B1LJ.Y—I think they're bcasdly.
BELLE—Well, I’m writing a book about them and I just wanted to
get a few opinions.
BILLY—You're writing a book? Say, how old are you, anyway?
BELLE!—I’ve just arrived at eighteen.
BILLY—What detained you?
BELLE)—Can you tell me what make3 a man always give a woman a
diamond engagement ring?
BILLY—A woman.
BELLE:—I’m glad you admit It
BILLY—But I went into a department store this morning to buy some
stockings, and—
BELLE—And what?
BILLY—And the girl asked me if I wanted something for my wife or
something expensive.
BELLE—You have an awfully good memory.
BILLY—Thank you.
BELLEt—Because you know some of the oldest jokes I ever—
BILLY—Pardon me, how many grandchildren have you?
BELLEL—Now, my dear Harry— *
BILLY—Harry? You mean Billy, don’t you?
BELLE—Excuse me. I was thinking this was Thursday.
BILLY—I saw our maid Bridget pencilling her eyebrows the other
night.
BELLE—She’d better look out. She’ll be arrested.
BILLY—What for, assisting Nature?
BELLE—No. Changing the map of Ireland.
BILLY—1 went fishing the other day.
BELLE:—Catch anything?
BILLY—Don’t say that. This is a new fish story.
BELLE—Well, go ahead.
BILLY—But as the story goes, I didn’t catch anything anyhow. They
told me the fish were all asleep.
BELLE:—Asleep? Where do fish sleep?
BILLY—In the river beds.
BELLE:—Speaking of water and things, how do you like my new
bathing suit?
BILLY—I can’t see it.
BELLE—What!
BILLY—I mean it’s a peach. There’s nothin’ to It.
BELLE:—What do you think of my complexion?
BILLY—It’s the clearest I’ve ever seen.
BELUO—Really?
BILLY—I can see right through it.
BELLE:—Well, my hair is all my own anyway.
BILLY—It’s false.
BELLE—It's true. Didn’t I pay for it?
BILLY—There goes a man down the street who has a regular baseball
family.
BELLE—Greetings of the season.
BILLY—Yes. His wife is there with the curves. His son bats. The
baby bawls, and lie himself has to steal home every night.
{iELLE —Game’s over. T <