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HEARST’S SUNDAY AMERICAN, ATLANTA, GA., SUNDAY, JUNE 1. 1913. 3 E 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 <