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Atlanta Georgian
n
—~— :
JOHN TEMPLE GRAVES, Editor.
P. L. SEELY, Pre»ldent.
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THE GEORGIAN COMES TO
GEORGIA AS THE SUNSHINE
God'a goodness hath been great to thee;
Let never day nor night unhallowed pass.
But still remember what the Lord hath done.
—Shakespeare.
Saturday Evening.
The apples ot Jatakhar were “all sweotnesa on one
, side, and all bitterness oa the other."
This real or fabulous fruit has been employed on many
occasions and In many ways to point a moral or adorn a
tale, and yet Its adaptability remains fresh and new. The
world Is full of men—and even gallantry cannot deny, of
women, too—whose dispositions are like the apples df Is-
tnlchar. In the politer circles of the outside world, where
they stand In the public gate, they are as sweet as the
honey bees of Hybta. The veneer of courtesy, the shadow
of urbanity mark every word and gesture. They stand
before the world as Admirable Crichtons.
They are “all sweetness on one aide.”
But it Is the other side ot this fruit of Iatakhar
that reveals Itself as soon as they cross the threshold
where. In reality, their very soul should unfold 'like a
lily with a heart ot flame.” That hypocrisy which vice
renders to virtue Is thrown off as a garment and the
Alclblades of courtliness becomes a very Caliban. All
tho pettiness and meanness In his nature rises to the
top, and we discover that the exemplary dtisen Is after
all a deception and a fraud.
The apple of Iatakhar Is “all bitterness” on the oth
er side.
And the experiences of human life—they, too, are
llho the apples of Istakhar, "all sweetness on one side and
all bitterness on the other.” We pity from our hearts the
pessimist who feels that all his days are spent In the
valley of the shadow, and yet who would deny that
“There's not a string attuned to mirth
But has lta cord In melancholy.”
We know that every highway Is Indifferently strewn
with thorns and roses, and yet on the other hand we aro
compelled to realtzo that toara endure for a night, but
Joy cometh with the morning. To no human heart Is such
security assured that the sunniest dreams may not be
overcast, nor yet has the Slough of Despond evor been so
wido and deep but beyond It stretched a smiling valley
of peaco and sweet content.
It Is after all In the Horatlan "golden mean” that men
must look for the greatest happiness Is this varied and
parti-colored world.
The prayer ot Agur rises spontaneously to tho lips
of every man who has sat at the feet ot wisdom:
“Give me neither poverty nor riches.” Was It not
Socrates who gave us a variant on the Impreaslvo theme
w hen he asked that the gods would give him “that which
wiiu best for him, though In his Ignorance he should not
ask for It; and withhold from him that which was not
bent for him, though In his folly he should ask for It?”
Fagan philosophy, at least, cannot offer us a nobler senti
ment ' .
lie must be a sophist Indeed who can argue suocaas-
fully that In civilised aoclety men and women can attain
to tho highest degree of usefulness through abject pov
erty. In a thousand Instances It Is but the result of condl-
tlons which he has brought upon himself when In this
busy world, with all Its teeming possibilities, the man of
Intelligence cannot grasp the hem of fortune's garment
nnd wrest a competency from the list ot fortune. He
uho has sucecded In acquiring at least this competency
finds himself obviously better able to contribute to tho
amelioration of the hard conditions he flnds around him
and to scatter sunshlno In substantial form along the
highway ot tho deserving.
It would be a foolish Agur who prayed for poverty.
And yet wealth Is not the ultimate goal of human
life. The dinner ot herbs, and contentment therewith Is,
»e are told, preferable to the stalled ox and dissension.
Diogenes asked nothing of the world's great conqueror
but to stand out ot his sunshine and leave him to hie all-
sufficient tub, while the gourmet, Apldua, slew himself
lest the remnant ot his fortune, still colossal, should not
suffice to gratify his luxurious tastes for the remainder
of his days.
Better Indeed might he have uttered the prayer of
Agur that riches be not vouchsafed to him. They cannot
buy buoyancy ot spirit or tranquillity of mind or length
of days.
Happiest of all Is he who has neither poverty nor
riches—neither the gripe of moneyless vexation In which
“Though six days smoothly run,
The seventh will bring blue devils or a dun.'
Nor yet that abundance of wealth which breeds de
generacy and Insolence and a disregard of the cardinal
virtues of human life which blinds and hardens us to the
delicate amenities and the finer joys whleb no roan knows
unless he Uvea close to the great throbbing heart of the
world.
Few, Indeed, there are who feel disposed to temper
thelwwlshe* to their welfare and restrain their ambition
within the bounds of reason, but to Dives and Lauras
alike wisdom and experience commend this world old
prayer ot Agur: "Give me neither poverty nor riches,
lest I be full and deny thee, ... or lest I be poor
and steal.”
The Birmingham Age-Herald says It would be “cruel
to fussy Atlanta" to intimate that the population of the
Alabama city would be 200,000 In ten years, but calculates
that It will be true, just the same. Yea, and Alnastor.
the barber’s fifth brother, csleulated that he would sell
his basket of glassware, and multiply the profits and
marry the vizier’s daughter. But jus* then he kicked
over the basket and waked up.
Bryan Against Roosevelt! What Then?
It would be a strange contest between William .1
Bryan and Theodore Roosevelt If the fortunes of politics
should fling tbeso two to the front of the political parties
which must grapple for supremacy In 1908.
Theodore Roosevelt represents all that la democratic
nnd popular In tho Republican party. He was projected
by Providence Into the destinies of this country through
the medium of a tragedy that shocked and startled the
world. He was tho heir and the successor of the mildest
and most pacific president who has occupied tho White
House during the present quarter of a century. The
man to whoso station and politics he was tho legatee
was conservative In temper, orthodox In his Republican
creeds, keenly devoted to tho business Interests of the
country aftor the theories of Mark Hanna and the capital
lata, and was orthodox to a degree In tho advocacy and
maintenance of nil Republican doctrine, saving only his
Independent expression of fraternity and fellowship which
so powerfully Impressed the republic.
As the heir to this man, Tbeodoro Roosevelt pledged
upon the coffin of his predecessor his fixed Intention to
carry Into execution both the spirit and the policy of
William McKinley. As a fratornlzor of the sections, he
has done fully as much ns the great peacemaker him
self, and re-established good will and good fellowship
between the sections of tho country. Saving only hlH
Invitation to Booker Wnshlngton to dinner, and his In
slstonce upon tho appointment of certain negroes to
office In the South, no man can deny that the trend of
bis administration has been broad, generous and fraternal
toward the South.
But he has been a very “bull In tho china shop” ot
the Republican policies.
Before the dooe of his first administration, and from
the very day of bis socond Inauguration, ho has been the
aggressive reformer within tho lines of capitalistic prlvl
lege and corporate selfishness which the Republican party
has so carefully and fully enthronod. Thera 1b not a Demo
crat living today, with the exception of William Randolph
Hearst, who has done so much to unsettle the tenure ot
the trusts and the grasp of tho corporations ns the
Republlcsn president of the United States.
He has failed In tho completeness of many of hts
plans snd has seemed to surrender for policy's sake at
some points of the battle In which his opponents believed
that his consistent obstinacy would have won a com
pleter victory. This was notable, say, In tho railway rate
regulation bill, and In the beet trust. But with alt this
said, It cannot be denied that the Republican president
has shaken the foundations of the trusts and the cor
porations so distinctly and so definitely that he will be
recognized and written In blitory as the redoubtable
opponent and a redoubtable reformer of bis times.
To run such a man aa the Republican candidate for
the presidency would undoubtedly antagonize In large
part the spirit and the tradition? ot the great.organiza
tion which elevated him to power, and It li a serious
question how far this opposition, whethsr expressed In
fatal apathy or In direct antagonism, would cripple his
candidacy and destroy his chances ot success.
But tt Is also true that beyond the lines of partisan
ship, the attitude of the president upon these eobnomlc
and corporate questions, as well as the sheer dash and
courage ot tho man, has won to him thousands of Demo
cratic votes who might be tempted by his prestige from
their loyalty to the organization which they have fol
lowed so faithfully through so many disappointing years.
Ten years ago William J. Bryan was looked upon ns
the Incarnation of radicalism that stretched almost to
anarchy. The mention of his namo lifted hands ot hor
ror all over the conservative East In tho realms of
finance mothers frightened their children to obedlenco
by the mention of the name of this Democratic ogre, and
there were Democrats of the sound-money school who
held him In as holly horror as did the stalwart partisans
of the Republican enmp. Even In the South, the alleged
wildness ot bis financial views established au antagonism
profoundsr than any which had ever been chronicled
before In Democratic ranks since the civil war. And one
strong and prominent Democratic editor In the state of
Georgia denounced hlnj In editorial prominence as the
sum snd Incarnation of olvlc and political heresy and
villainy.
Without any apology to the American republic, and
without a single confession ot error In his previous
views, without an apparent change In his political creed's,
and with no open recantation of his political faith, tha
country has limply progressed toward an appreciation of
Bryan's character, of hli motives and of the Justice of
bis views, which Is little short ot a miracle.
It may be truthful to say that Bryan himself Is not
more responsible for this growth or alteration ot public
opinion than other great forces which have moved along
side ot and collateral with the great Nebraskan.
The eight great newspaper* of William Randolph
Hearat and the enormous personality of that great execu-
live In public affairs have been the mightiest of educators
along the lines of the popular Interest and the popular
demands. And these forces have educated so rapidly and
•o powerfully tho mass of American sentiment that they
have swept public opinion almost In a tidal wave against
the entrenchments ot prejudice snd ultra-conservatism,
under whose cover the trusts end the corporations have
grown fat with the fullness ot spoils and of special legis
lation. i
The triumph of Hearst In New York, the triumph ot
Dunne In Chicago and the triumph ot La Follette in
Wisconsin have struck terror to the entrenched cattles
ot privilege all over the country, and In the thunder ot
the people's ballots they have come to look with appre
hension upon any definite and popular champion who
might be chosen to lead the people In the tremendous
and fateful campaign ot 1908.
It la tha very terror of the unknown. It la the very
apprehension ot the vast popular upheaval. It It the (had-
ow ot Hearst and Dunne and La Follette which hai
frightened the utra conservatives, and even some of the
moderate conservatives, Into the eager search for a
moderate chafaplon of tho Inevitable reform.
They recognize fully that the people are In the sad
dle Id this fateful period, and that the people are going
beyond doubt or question to win some sort of victory
In the coming presidential campaign. And so the su
preme concern of these vast organized forces ot privi
lege and of power Is to break the force of the Im
pending blow by giving of their vaat resources and ener
gies In both parties toward the choice ot the least ob
jectionable and the most acceptable ot the various pop
ular evangel* out ot whom the next president must
come.
It Is at once the strength snd the weakness of Mr.
Bryan that, with one accord, this element seems to
have been drawn to him. It Is his strength because these
men are mighty to save In political elections, and while
they might not be strong enough to carry their own
creeds and their own champions to success, they would
be almost omnipotent If they Joined their strength with
the conservative element ot the popular revolution. It
may be set down as true that tr these men should throw
the weight of their money and their Influence upon
the Issue of Bryan's nomination, that the result would
be almost Inevitable, and that Ills final success would
depend only upon the question of a choice between him
self and some more radical man.
U]Km the other hand, there Is n very grave and se
rious danger that the almost unanimous Indorsement
which >hla clement of American politics Is giving, to the
Nebraska statesman may create In tho minds of the
people a suspicion that he Is not so definite In his alle
giance to themselves.
One thing may bo understood In this campaign, that
the people are awake, that they are Intelligent, and
that they are resolved, and If the Impression la widely
disseminated throughout their ranks that the syndi
cates, the corporations and the ultra conservatives are
too eager for Bryan's nomination, then It Is not yet too
late for tho people to rise In rebellion and to crown
with their leadership tho leader who stands definite
and clear and beyond even the suspicion of the favor
of the syndicates and the fat of tho trusts.
Nothing less than definite democracy and a definite
leader will satisfy the great mass of the Democratic peo
ple of this decade.
The Battleship Georgia.
It Is entirely fitting that the finest and f.-etest battle
ship in tho United States navy should bear tho name of
the Empire State of tho South.
Testa recently made on thl# new fighting machino
reveal tho fact that this Is the case. She has already
developed a speed on her trial runs which moro than
meets the requirement of the guarantee under which
she was built, and there can be no doubt that when she
1b ultimately launched she will be the queen of the s
This launching of the new battleship will be made
an occasion of considerable ceremony and great rejoic
ing, and will take place witbid the near future. The
presentation of tho customary silver service, which, of
course, will not be overlooked, will be another notable
event, and our people must hold themselves In readiness
to rise to the occasion as the country expects. ,
Wo are proud of the Georgia down this way and we
aro ready to bear substantial testimony to the fact
The University Chancellorship.
Tho time la now close at hand when the trustees of
tho University of Georgia must select an executive head
for that groat Institution to succeed the lamented Walter
B. Hill. »
The canvass of names and of personalities for this
great and responsible station has been wide and com
prehensive. The'editor of The Georgian has contributed
from various sources suggestions which filled his-mind
with regard to the place, and we have had hearty things
to say of many eminent* gentlemen whose names have
been mentioned In this connection.
We desire here and now to enter a warning against
any apathy or Indifference iu this great matter. It will
not do to defer final action until the last moment and
then hurriedly and impulsively select some man for the
place who may be abundantly fitted or who may just aa
likely be lacking In the elements of success.
It requires brains, judgment and tact In no small
degree to choose a proper head for the University of
Georgia, and we earnestly trust that the trustees even
now are sitting up at nights taking thought of this Im
portant duty which devolves upon them.
We have no particular name to offer for the con
sideration ot our fellow alumni beyond those whose
claims and qualities we have already exploited in these
columns.
We do feel like repeating once more the proposition
that. It a teacher can be found In the teaching rank of
Georgia, strong, able, tactful, sufficiently equipped, and
with executive ability for the work, that this teacher
should be promoted from a lower station to this exalted
place.
We do not feel that anything short .of extraordinary
emergencies should Justify the planting In the chancel
lor's chair of a man unfit for the position by tempera
ment, by training, by tact, or by record. We feel that
tt would be Just as proper to put a teacher at the head
of a great mercantile establishment as a great merchant
or a great banker In the chair ot the university. Great
callings require speolal training, and no science is more
carefully and rigidly developed In this day than the
practical science ot teaching.
Wa have In our minds no particular teacher In
Georgia whom we desire to suggest In connection with
this high position, and we are simply debating a general
proposition, to which the trustees may or may not give
their consideration and regard.
It may be possible, although It should not be so, that
the teaching rank of Georgia does not furnish at this
GEORGIANS IN GOTHAM.
By Private Leased Wire.
New York, June It.—Here are some
of the vlsltore In New York today:
ATLANTA—H. Sawtell. C. 8. North
en, W. B. Borne, T. XX Thornton and
wife, W. C. Warfield.
AVGUSTA—E Q. Ferrell.
SAVANNAH—J. M. Denton, H. B.
Coldlng, Miss Wylley.
IN PARIS.
Special to The fl-orgtan.
Paris, June It.—Joseph O. Magglonl
and Mrs. N. C. Ossoht, of Savannah,
and Joseph May, ot Atlanta, registered
at the office of the European edition
ot The New York Herald today.
The Traveling Man’s Position.
Atlanta. GO.. June It, 1904.
To the Editor of The Georgian:
Tha edUorlali of The Georgian and
ot the few other dally papers who
have written any In behalf of the ef
forts of the Travelers' Protective As
sociation of Georgia to secure an In
terchangeable mileage book of 2,000
miles for tio, la appreciated by the
members of the association and the
traveling men generally.
There Is a mistaken Idea among the
the Travelers'
The railroads themselves think that
only traveling men belong to this army
ot over 81.000 In the United States.
Hundreds of manufacturers, wholesale
and commission merchants, os well as
their buyers and salesmen, are mem
bers from New York to Oregon and
from Canada to Mexico. These men
represent millions ot dollars and are
the people who create freight and pas
senger business for the railroads and
steamship lines of the nation.
The writer has come to the conclu
sion that the main reason the South
ern, Central and Georgia Southern and
Florida roads won't join the present
Interchangeable agreement Is purely
buli-headedness on the part ot the
Southern. This great system has the
opportunity of a lifetime to lead off
with a 2,000 mile book for 140. ask
ing all trank lines In the southeastern
terrlto.y to join, thereby bringing
about the solution of the passenger rale
fight and making friends of the men
who route the freight and who have
been giving It to other lines when pos v
slble.
time a man who embodies the qualifications for the direc
tion of *he State University. If not, then, of course. It Is
the duty and the obligation of the trustees to find some
where that man who In their best judgment combines
the qualities both didactic and executive who will min
ister most largely to tho growth and the prosperity
of this great school.
The ono pica which we enter beforo the Judgment
and the conscience of the trustees Is that, lu the decision
of this great matter, no possible temptation will permit
tho spirit of politics or the spirit of personal trading to
enter upon the deliberations of the university's friends.
Wo may invoke for that spirit which has been the curse
of tho university for so many years, a long period of
suppression and repose. No reward of friends, no pun
ishment of enemies, no ‘ strengthening of fences,” and
no purchase of Influence ought to enter for one moment
Into the selection of one who stands In the highest and
the most sacred office of the state.
May tho spirit of wisdom and unselfish patriotism
guide tho university trustees In their serious and mo
mentous work.
The State of Oklahoma.
Only the stroke of a pen remains in order to create
a new state nnd add a new star to the constellation of
American commonwealths.
On Thursday the house adopted the conference re
port admitting Oklahoma and Indian Territory Into the
union as one state, and at the same time permitting
Arizona and New Mexico to vote separately, at the
next general election, on the proposition to come Into
the union as one state.
The delegates from the two last named territories
feel very bitterly on the subject, and in the course of
the debate Speaker Cannon wan severely attacked by
Delegate Smith, of Arizona, for having, aa the delegate
alleged, “log-rolled” to keep the territories out of the
union as separate states.
In the meantime the people of Oklahoma and the
Indian Territory are lighting bonfires and bolding public
meetings, marked by great rejoicing, over the fact
that at last the? are to enter Into the sisterhood of
federal states.
The public in general will share In this rejoicing.
The two territories together have a population of two
millions snd a half. They are a thrifty and Industrious
people. It seems only a few days since Oklahoma was
opened up for settlement and -places which are today
magnificent cities were a tented field. The soli and
climate are well adapted to the highest development and
the new state will be one of the most magnificent In
the union.
The Indications are that the two senators from
tho new state will be Democrats and that the six repre
sentatives who will enter congress under the reappor
tionment will also be ot the same political persuasion.
If tho people generally approve of the admission of
the new state we believe that, aside from all passion
and bitterness, they will confirm the wisdom ot not ad
mitting Arizona and New Mexico as separate states. It
Is doubtful If much more than half the people In the
latter territory can yet speak the English language,
while in both territories together there are not more
than 300,000 Inhabitants. Such, at least, are the figures
given out by Speaker Cannon In his defense on Thurs
day, aud If this be true It Is quite sufficient to allow
the two territories to vote on the question of admission
In Joint statehood*
Congressman Lester’s Fatal Accident. 1
The entire Btate Is unspeakably shocked and grieved
at the announcement ot the fatal accident sustained by
Hon. Rufus E. Lester, member of congress from the first
district, while tho circumstances of this melancholy
event lend to it an additional pathos.
Congressman Lester Is In bis sixty-ninth year, and
for eighteen years of that time he has been a member
of the lower house. Previous to his election to that body
he had distinguished "himself at the bar, on the battle
field during the period of the civil war, aud lu state
politics.
In each and every walk of life he had proven him
self worthy of the high trust reposed In him. He was a
man of strong convictions and devoted loyally to his
constituency. As a member of the rivers and harbors
committee he rendered excellent service to our common
country and enjoyed the respect snd esteem of all his
associates.
The tragic close ot his long and,useful life Is deeply
deplored and there wilt be sincere mourning throughout
the state aud country.
Is not trying ot drive any road Into the
2-cent agreement. It has been pa
tiently waiting for six years for a gen
eral Interchangeable book for 825, and
asks the roads to sell a 2,000 mile
book for 240, good over all trunk lines
In the southeast. •
Different roads In the state sell trip
books at less than 2 cents per mile,
even down to 1 cent, we have been
told by holders of these books Why la
It done? It must be to Induce .people
* “ ‘ “ ‘ ' *m
to rtde more. It is all right to do tflL,
but Isn’t It asking even less of the
roads, when the Travelers' Protective
Aseoclatlon offers to invest 240 In ad
vance tor a book at 2 cents per mile,
which will be ridden out In sixty days
by the,average traveling man?
The roads know that the traveling
men must ride on their trains, If they
sell their goods In the territory they
work. They know they have them at
their mercy and refuse to sell to the
men, who are traveling freight agents
In a sense, books of a larger denomina
tion and at a higher rate than the trip
books referred to. Suburbanites can
many times use a street car or have
more than one railroad on which to
travel—a difference, It seem. There are
several thousand traveling men who
work Georgia, and each man will use
at least 6,000 miles of an Interchange
able book each year, many will use
10.000 miles, and the money paid In
advance for these books will represent
a large sum of money, thousands of
dollars of which the roads will-have
tor several months without Interest be
fore the books are ridden out.
Take the traveling men off the road
and the freight business would suffer.
A merchant would not go to market as
often or buy by mall aa much as he
now buys from the many salesmen
who call dally. The trains are well
filled every day. The trunk lines have
about as many passengers aa they can
haul comfortably, so the old excuse of
the state being too thinly populated
to allow this reduction In passenger
rates won't do. Any material Increase
In travel would necessitate more trains,
and It costs no more to haul a full
train than one half full.
More than two years ago the writer
made the prediction that unless this
2.000 or a 8,000 mile book at 2 cents
per mile Interchsngeable In the south
east was placed on sale, the roads
would have to face a fight tor a 2-cent
fiat rate In this entire territory. Vlr-
irinla hss led off and won. Georgia will
>e next On June 20 the Southeastern
Tariff Association convenes In Atlan
ta. and no doubt this entire matter
THIS DATE IN HISTORY.
JUNE 16.
1239—Edward I of England born.
The Travelers' Protective Association will be settled one way or the other.
1487—Battle of Stoke; last great bat
tle on English soil.
1620—Luther excommunicated by the
pope.
1644—Henrietta Stuart, duchess of Or
leans, bom.
1722—John Churchill, duke \of Marl
borough, born.
1802—United States treaty with Creek
Indiana.
1815—Napoleon defeated Btucher at
Ltgny.
1823—Hlr Henry Raeburn died.
1830—Eruption of Mount Etna.
1846—Cardinal Mastal-Ferettl' elected
.... P°P® w l‘h the title of Plus IX.
1864—Grant repulsed at battle of Pe
tersburg, Va.
1871—Triumphal entry of victorious
. Germans Into Berlin.
1888—Paul Rajou, artist, died.
THE RIGHT TO VOTE.'
An Open Letter to John' D. J[ 0sa
. J"hn D. Moss, Athens, Oa.-M,
.Sir: During tho Wg^« n e.
Mr. J<
j Dear
tl.m of manufacturers Of rotinTg^
held at Asheville, X. r yo ,. *
among those who spoke on the
of labor In the. cotton mills | n th!
South, and in every other Industry
which our people are engaged ° 1,1
The Associated Press reported that
among other pointed remirks pertS
te^questlon under considers,To^
da^nd^tt ZXToTV"
1894—Attempted assassination of Pre-
Crlspl, of Italy.
tlclans, and It Is our fault"
Vour spec, h Impressed me deem*
Its very essence was contained i?
sentence I have quoted. n
About the time your convention „
engage,1 In the discussion In which
took an active and highly credbot?
par,, the senate of the UnitSi giS?!
had in hand , a bill amendatory
general Immigration law of the cou^I
The fact.which you emphasi»d .
ssrfirs'jss? brou * ht ,n M
>u r C H P ?ech!"l t detSmln t ed e toThe',*
time Is opportune to make an effo'n?!
arouse tjie tax-payers who have bun
Interests at stake, and to win the
tentlon of good cltlsens who are Si
tax-payers, to an appreciation of theta
P°* s *»sed of the K
Circumstances which have attended
ejections In this state and m otht?
states were of a character tha begot
disgust In the minds of men who S
above gold the rfght to vote. pr ‘“
Methods which have obtained In
quite every canvass preceding elee”
Jlons, and methods alleged t* hlr,
|«* n P™otlced .t the polls, have hid
Tharesult is that gentlemen, esne-
cldlly young gentlemen Just arrived at
the age when they should not only
manifest but take a lively Intereet n
the affairs of the state, the county the
municipality, the ward, declare that
they will not have anything to do with
politics. Taking this view of the que,.
tion, they refuse In many instances to
register, or, having registered, refrain
from voting.
Tho primary, or nominating election.
In practically the election, and Is ao ac
cepted, exceedingly few votes beln*
cast at the regular election.
The primary may, therefore, be taken
aa a guide In the matter of Interest
shown In an election by the people.
Regardless of Issues, hundreds refuse
or neglect to vote. Oftener than
otherwise. It Is a clear case of refusal
to vote.
Are there many who resolutely adopt
and religiously adhere to this mis
taken policy? Let us see: Take the
primary election held, not long ago, for
members of the legislature and for
county officers In the counties of Ful
ton, Muscogee and Richmond.
In Fulton, 7,733 citizens registered
and were qualified to vote. If there
was no opposition to any county offi
cer, there was a sharp contest for
seats In the general assembly of the
state—a contest vigorous enough to In
terest and rally voters to the polls,
and ’yet the highest vote cast was 4,-
305. i
Nearly one-halt of the qualfled vot
ers did not exercise their great fran
chise.
In Muscogee county, the same con
ditions prevailed as In Fulton. Three
thousand four hundred and one citizens
registered, and were In position to
vote. The highest vote cast was 2,737,
sd quite 700 electors failed or refused
to vote.
In Richmond county. 5,562 citizens
registered. The highest rote cast was
4,399, so nearly 700 qualified electors
refused or failed to rote.
It may be set down as an Incon
trovertible fact that those who remain
ed away from the polls on the occasion
referred to did not belong to the class
of voters who can be kept In “pens
over night” or whose votes can be con
trolled or purchased. They are of
those who insist they want nothing to
do with politics.
The men who can be penned up and
on the morning of election led to the
polls, like dumb-drlven cattle, are
never among those who neglect to
rote. The men who, forgetting their
manhood, will sell their votes, are
never among those who refuse t»
vote.
In the three counties Instanced, 16,-
896 cltzens became qualified voters, and
4.765, or 28.4 per cent, refused or failed
to vote.
To my mind, the foregoing facts pre
sent a very serious situation. It Is s
situation so allied to the best Inter
est of all the people. It must be
promptly met and successfully com
passed. ,
How* may this be done? Ry appeal
to the best people In every community
—the men who are proud of American
cltzenshlp and who value above rubles
the highest privilege Inherent In Amer
ican cltlzenshp, the right to vote; the
ballot which, cast according to the dic
tates of one’s Judgment and conscience,
shall be a weapon of defense or of
fense as circumstances may demand.
Away with the suggestion that iwM-
tlcs should be tabooed by the best
cltlsens—by the young men of any
- •. This Is n government ot
■lit
1895—Third Avenue
York, burned.
1897— Hawaiian annexation
signed.
1898— Bering sea award paid.
1904—General Bohrlkoff, governor gen
eral of Finland, assassinated.
theater. New
treaty
A Reasonable Deduction.
“You were a long while at church,”
said Subbubs, who had remained at
home a* usual. ‘Til bet the minister
gave you fire and brimstone today.”
“He did. Indeed,” replied Mrs. Sub
bubs: “how did you know?”
“I Just thought he would. I saw their
servant girl going down to the station
with her trunk Just after you started
tor church.”—Philadelphia Press.
It will either go aa the Travelers' Pro
tective Association wishes, and more
than. 31,000 men In one of the best
organised and strongest associations of
Its kind, financially snd otherwise. In
the world will aee their patience re
warded and this fight cease, or It will
be against the roads’ best friends and
a fight to ths finish. The association
can win In the legislatures, aa it has
always won, but that Is not what It
wants. It wants a peaceable settle-
ment on June 20.
W. W. HYATT.
community.
the people—presumably by the peo
ple. When every qualified voter,
serving his manhood, shall take
cient Interest at every election to vow
In favor of the best measures and mr
the best men. It will t» a govenimfnt
actually “by the people, for the peo
P, Thls being true as to the character
of tl\e government under w* 11 . .
live nnd struggle to be prosperou..
ful and happy, politics Is an essential
part of every cltlsens life-work.
Demagogy and demagogufsare^
be avoided, not politics not. the
elve duty of duly exercising the’
live franchise for the protection
advancement of the beet interest
the people.
If public speakers. If ntlnlztere
the gospel, If the press wouldI take up
this Important subject and i-.
ately press It home upon the
great good would be accomplished. <
reform. In the Ught direction
the right kind, would b». 'u f> * rJ
Inaugurated and established,
truly and reepecttoll^ y CAI/nN .
Augusta, Oa.
“Straw Hat” Day at “Penney.^
“Straw bat" day at the I
Pennsylvania caught many dea>r ' .,.
aware*, and ae a result there “
most a famine In summer hem* , „
Saturday. There Is an unwritten
at the university that straw hst
be worn for the first time on
Saturday In May. and ell stejj*”* n Jj«
could not find their la**-***? buy
SSn b,# ,bV“ P ^ ra.e&-^
