The Atlanta Georgian. (Atlanta, GA.) 1906-1907, June 16, 1906, Image 6
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THE ATLANTA GEORGIAN.
HATntDAT. JTNR 1«. 1WT.
The Atlanta Georgian.
JOHN TEMPLE CRAVES, Editor.
F. L. SEELY, President.
Telephone L
Connection*. \
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THE GEORGIAN CO.
st 25 W. Alsbims Street,
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Filtered ss weend-clsss nutter April 9. HOfl St the rostoffles at
Atlanta. Oe.. under ect of eoDfrese of Merck l lit*.
THE GEORGIAN COMES TO
GEORGIA AS THE SUNSHINE
God's goodness hath been great to thee;
Let never day nor night unhallowed pass.
But still remember what the Lord hath done.
—8hakespear*.
,Saturday Evening.
The apples of Istakhar were "all sweetness on one
side, and all bitterness on 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 oils-
tnlchar. In the politer circles of the outside world, where
they stand In the public gaze, they are as sweet ss the
honey bees of Hybla. 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 side."
But It Is the other aide of this fruit of Istakhar
that reveals itself as soon as they cross the threshold
where. In reality, their very soul should unfold 'like a
lily with a heart of flame.” That hypocrisy which vice
renders to virtue Is thrown off as a garment and the
Alriblades of courtliness becomes a very Caliban. All
the pettiness and meanness In his nature rises to the
top, and we discover that the exemplary citizen Is after
all a deception and a fraud.
The apple of Istakhar Is "all bitterness” on the oth
er aide. • «>
And the experiences of human life—they, too, are
like tho 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
valloy of the shadow, and yet who would deny that
"There'* not a atrlng attuned to mirth
But has Its cord In melancholy.”
We know that every highway Is Indifferently strewn
«Ith thorns and roses, and yet on the other hand we are
compelled to realize that tear* endure for a night, but
Joy comoth 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 Dospond ever been so
wldo and deep but beyond It stretched a smiling valley
of peace and sweet content
It Is after all In the Horatlan "golden mean” that men
must look for tho greatest happiness Is this varied and
parti-colored world.
The prayer of Affur rises spontaneously to the lips
of i very man who has sat at the fleet of wisdom:
"Give me neither poverty nor riches.” Was It not
Socrates who gave ns a variant on the Impreealve theme
n hen he aaked that the gods would give him "that which
whs best for him, though In his Ignorance he should not
*»k for It; and withhold from him that which was not
beat for him, though In his folly he should ask for Itr
l’axnn philosophy, at least, cannot otTer us a nobler senti
ment.
lie must be a sophist Indeed who can argue success
fully that In civilized society men and women can attain
to tho highest degree of usefulness through abject pov*
in i . 1 In a thousand Instances It Is but the result of condi
tions 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
it rid wrest a competency from the fist of fortune. He
»ho has suceeded In acquiring at least this competency
find* himself obviously better able to contribute to the
h melioration of the bard conditions he finds around him
mid to scatter sunshine In substantial form along the
highway of the deserving.
> It would be a foolish Agur who prayed for poverty.
And yet' wealth Is not the ultimate goal of human
life. The dinner of herbs, and contentment therewith Is,
«e are told, preferable to the stalled ox and dissension.
Dlugenes aaked nothing of the world's great conqueror
b rit to stand out of his sunshine and leave him to his alb
sufficient tub, while the gourmet, Aplctua, slew himself
lest the remnant of his fortune, still colossal, should not
suffice to gratify hla luxurious tastes for the remainder
et hla days. •
Better Indeed might he have uttered the prayer of
Agur that riche* be not vouchsafed to him. They cannot
buy.buoyancy of spirit or tranquillity of mind or length
of days.
Happiest of all Is he who has neither poverty nor
rl> he#—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-
v. i.eracy and Insolence and a disregard of the cardinal
y i mips of human life which blinds and hardens us to the
.lelleate amenities and the liner Joys which no man knows
unless he lives close to the great throbbing heart of the
world.
Few, Indeed, there are who feel disposed to temper
1'ielr wishes to their welfare and restrain their ambition
vlthin the bounds of reason, but to Rives and Lazarus
alike wisdom and experience commend this world old
prayer of Agur; "Give me neither poverty nor riches,
lest I be full and deny thee, ... or lest I be pool
and steal.”
The Birmingham Age-Herald says It would be “cruel
to fttssy Atlanta” to Intimate that the population of the
Alabama city would be 200,000 In ten years, but calculate*
thsf It wilt be true. Just the same. Yea, and Alnaator,
the barber’s fifth brother, calculated that he would sell
hla basket of glassware, and multiply the profits and
marry the vizier'* daughter. But Ju*» then be kicked
over the basket and waked up.
Bryan Against Roosevelt! What Then?
It would be n strange contest between William J.
Bryan and Theodore Roosevelt If the fortunes of politics
should fling these two to tho front of the political parties
which must grapple for supremacy in 1908.
Theodore Roosevelt represents ail that Is democratic
and popular In tho Republican party. He was projected
by Providence ipto tho destinies of this country through
the medium of a tragedy that shocked and startled the
world. He was the heir and the successor of the mildest
and most pacific president who has occupied the White
House during tho present quartor of a century. The
man to whose station and politics he wbh tho legatee
was conservative In temper, orthodox In his Republican
creeds, keenly devoted to the buaineas Interests of the
country after the theories of Mark Hanna and the capital-
Ista, and waa orthodox to a degree In the advocacy and
maintenance of nil Republican doctrine, saving only his
independent expression of fraternity and fellowship which
so powerfully Impressed the republic.
An the heir to this man. Theodore 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 fraternlzor of the sections, he
baa done fully at much as tho great peacemaker him
self, and re-established good will and good fellowship
between the sections of tho country. Saving only his
Invitation to Booker Washington to dinner, and his in
sistence upon tho nppolntment Of certain negroes to
office In the South, no man can deny that the trend of
hla administration has been broad, generous and fraternal
toward the South.
But he has been a very "bull In the china shop” of
the Republican policies.
Before the close of bis first administration, and from
the very day of his second inauguration, he has been the
aggressive reformer within the lines of capltsllstjc privi
lege and corporate selfishness which tho Republican party
has ao carefully and fully enthroned. There Is not a Demo
crat living today, with the exception of William Randolph
Hearst, who has dono so much to unsattle the tenure of
the trusts and the grasp of tho corporations as the
Republican president of the United States.
He has failed In the completeness of many of his
plans and baa 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. Thl* waa notable, say. In the railway rate
regulation bill, and In the boef treat. But with all this
said. It.cannot be denied that the Republican president
hae shaken the foundations o( the traits and the cor
porattons ao distinctly and so definitely that he will be
recognized and written In history as the redoubtable
opponent and a redoubtable reformer of hla times.
To run such a man aa the Republican candidate for
the presidency would undoubtedly antagonize In largo
part the spirit and the traditions of the great organiza
tion which elevated him to power, and it Is a serious
question how far this opposition, whether expressed in
fatal apathy or In direct antagonism, would cripple his
candidacy and destroy his chances of success.
But It is also true that beyond the lines of partisan
ship, the attitude of the president npon these economic
and corporate questions, as well as the sheer dash and
courage of the man, haa won to him thousands of Demo
cratic votes who might be tempted by his prestige from
their loyalty to the organisation which they have fol
lowed so faithfully through ao many disappointing years.
B Ten years ago William J. Bryan waa looked upon as
the Incarnation-of radicalism that stretohed almost to
anarchy. The mention of hla name lifted hands of hor
ror all’ over the conservative East. In tho realms of
finance mothors frightened their children to obedience
by the mention of the name of thla Democratic ogre, and
there were Democrats of tho sound-mqnoy school who
held him In as holly horror aa did the stalwart partisans
of the Republican camp. Even In the South, the alleged
wildness of hie financial views established no antagonism
profounder than any which had ever been chronicled
before la Democratic ranks since the clrll war. And one
strong and prominent Democratic editor In the etato of
Georgia denounced him In editorial prominence aa the
sum and Incarnation ot civic 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 hie political creeds,
and with no open recantation of 61s political faith, the
country haa simply progressed toward an appreciation of
Bryan’s character, of his motives and ot tho Justice of
his views, which la little short of a miracle.
It may be truthful to say that Bryan himself Is not
more responsible for this growth or alteration of public
opinion than other great forces which have moved along
side ot and collateral with the great Nebraskan.
The eight great newspapers ot William Randolph
Hearst and the enormous personality ot that great execu
tive In public attain have been the mightiest ot educators
along the linos of th* popular Interest and the popular
demand*. And these forcee have educated ao rapidly and
so powerfully the masa or American sentiment that they
have swept public opinion almost In a tidal wave against
the entrenchments of prejudice and ultrs-coneervstlsm,
under whose cover the treats end the corporations have
grown fat with the fullness of spoil* and of special legis
lation.
The triumph of Hearst In New York, the triumph of
Dunne In Chicago and the triumph ot La FAIIette In
Wisconsin have struck terror to the entrenched castles
of privilege all over the country, and In th* thunder of
the people's ballots they have come to look with appre
hension upon any definite and popular champion who
might be cboseh to lead th* people In th* tremendous
and fafefnt campaign of 1908.
It la the very terror of the unknown. It Is the very
apprehension of the vast popular upheaval, It la the shad
ow ot Hearst and Dunne and La Follette which has
frightened the utra conservatives, and even some of th*
moderate conservatives. Into the eager search for a
moderate champion of the Inevitable reform.
They recognize fully that the people are In the sad
dle tn this fateful period, and that th* people are going
beyond doubt or question to win some sort of victory
In the coming presidential campaign. And so the su
preme concern ot these vast organized forces dt privi
lege and of power* Is to break the force of the Im
pending blow by giving of their vast resources and ener>
gles in both parties toward the choice of the least ob
jectionable and the most acceptable of the various pop
ular evangels out ot whom the nezt president most
come!
| It la at once the strength and th* weakness of Mr.
Bryan that, with one accord, this element seems to
have been drawn to him. It la his strength because these
men are mighty to eave In political election*, 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 of the popular revolution. It
may be set down aa true that If these men should throw
the weight of their money *and their Influence upon
the Issue of Bryan'* nomination, that the result would
bo almost Inevitable, and that his final nuecess would
depend only upon the question of a eholee between hint-
Holf and some more radical man.
Upon the other hand, there la a very grave and se
rious danger that the almost unanimous Indorsement
which this element of American polities Is giving, to the
Nebraska statesman may create In the minds of the
people a suspicion that he In not so definite In his alle
giance to themselves.
One thing may ho understood In this campaign, that
the people are awake, that they are Intelligent, and
that they are resolved, and If tho Impression Is widely
disseminated throughout their ranks that the syndi
cates, the corporations and the ultra conservatives are
too eager for Bryan'a nomination, then It Is not yet too
late for the people to rise In rebellion and to crown
with their leadership the leader who stands definite
and clear and beyond even tho suspicion of the favor
of the syndicates and the fat of the 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 tho finest and fleetest battle
ship In the United States navy should bear the name of
tho Empire State of the South.
Tests recently mado on this new fighting machine
reveal the fact that thjs Is the case. She has already
developed a speed on her trial runs which more than
meets the requirement of the guarantee under which
•he was built, and there can bo no doubt that when she
Is ultimately launched she will be the queen of the s
This launching of the now battleship will be made
an occasion of considerable ceremony and great rojolo
lug. and. will take place within the near future. Tho
presentation of the customary sliver service, which, of
courso, will not be overlooked, will be another notable
event, and our people must hold themselves In readiness
to rise to tho occnslod as the country expects.
We are proud of the Georgia down this way and we
are ready to bear substantial testimony to the fact
The University Chancellorship.
The time Is now close at hand when the trustees of
the University of Georgia must select an executive head
for that great Institution to succeed the lamented Walter
B. Hill.
Tho canvass of names and of personalities for this
great and responsible station has been wide and com.
prehenalve. The editor ot The Georgian has contributed
from various sources suggestions which filled his mind
with regard to the place, and we have had hearty things
to fay 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 In 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 ns
likely be lacking in the elements of success.
It requires brains. Judgment and tact in no small
degree to choose a proper head fdr the University of
Georgia, and we earnestly trust that the trustees even
now are sitting up at nights taking thought ot this Im
portant duty which devolves upon them.
We have no particular name to offer, for the con
sideration of our fellow alumni beyond those whose
claims and qualities we have already exploited In these
columnz. . ,)
- We do feel like repenting once more the proposition
that, If a teacher can bo found In tho teaching rank of
Georgia, strong, able, tactful, sufficiently equipped, and
with executive ability for the work, that this teacher
should be promoted from s 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 s man unfit for the position by tempera
ment, by training, by tact, or by record. We feel that
It would be Just ss proper to put n teacher at the head
of s great mercantile establishment ss a great merchant
or a great banker In tho chair of the university. Great
callings require special tralnlug, and no sdtnc* Is more
carefully and rigidly developed In this day than the
practical science ot teaching.
We 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 s general
proposition, to which the trustees may or may not give
their consideration and regard.
It may be possible, although It should not be to, that
the teaching rank ot Georgia does not furnish at this
GEORGIANS IN GOTHAM.
By Private Leased Wire.
New York, June IS.—Here are some
of the visitors In New York today:
ATLANTA—H. Sswtell, C. 8. North-
en, W. E. Borne, T. D. Thornton and
wife, W. C. Warfield.
AUGUSTA—E. G. Ferrell.
SAVANNAH—J. M. Denton, H. 8.
ColdIng. Miss Wylley. j
IN PARIS.
Speelel to The (leorstss.
Parts. June l(.—Joseph O. Mssglonl
and Mr*. N. C. Ossola, et Savannah,
and Joseph May, of Atlanta, registered
st the office of the European edition
of The New York Herald today.
Th* Traveling Man's Position.
Atlanta, (la- Jtlne 12, ISO*.
To the Editor of The Georgian:
The editorials of The Georgian and
the few other daily papers who
have written any In behalf of the ef
forts of the Travelers' Protective As
sociation of Georgia to secure on In
terchangeable mileage book of 2,000
miles for 840, Is appreciated by the
members of the association and th*
rally.
ken Idea among the
Travelers' Protective Association.
The railroads themselves think that
only traveling men belong to this army
of over 21,000 In th* United States.
Hundreds ot manufacturers, wholesale
and commission merchants, as well as
their buyer* and salesmen, are mem
bers from New York to Oregon and
front Canada to Mexico. These men
represent millions of dollars and are
the people who create freight and pas
senger business for the railroad* and
steamship lines of the nation.
The writer has com* to the conclu
sion that the main reason the South
ern, central and Georgia Southern and
Florida rood* won't Join the present
Interchangeable agreement Is purely
bult-headedness on the part of the
Southern. This great system has the
opportunity ot a lifetime to lead off
with a 2.000 mile book for 240. ask
ing all trunk line* In the southeastern
territory to Join, thereby bringing
about the solution of th* passenger rate
fight and making friends of the men
who route the freight and who have be next. On June 20 the Southeastern
been giving It to other lines when poe- Tariff Association convenes In Atlan-
dN*. __ . ... ... IX- and no doubt this entire matter
The Traveler* Protective Association win be settled on* way or th* other.
time a man who embodies the qinillflcatlonn for the direc
tion of the 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 bOBt Judgment combines
th« qualities both didactic and executive who will min
ister most largely to the growth and the prosperity
of this great school.
Tho ono plea which we enter before the Judgment
and the conscience of the trustees Is that, lu tho decision
of this great matter, no possible temptation will permit
the spirit of politics or the spirit ot personal trading to
enter upon the deliberations of the university's friends.
We may Invoke for that spirit which has been tho curse
of the 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 ono moment
Into the selection of one who stands In the highest and
the most sacred office of the state.
May the spirit of wisdom and unselfish patriotism
guide the university trustees in their serious and mo
mentous work.
THE RIGHT TO VOTE.
An Open Letter to John D. Moss.
The State of Oklahoma.
Only the stroke of a pen remains In order to create
a new state and 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 laat named territories
feel very bitterly on th* subject, and In the course of
the debate Speaker Cannon was severely attacked by
Delegate Smith, of Arizona,' for having, as the delegate
alleged, "log-rolled” to keep tho territorie* out of the
union os separate states.
In the meantime the people of Oklahoma and the
Indian Territory are lighting bonfires and holding public
meeting*, marked by great rejoicing, over the fact
(hat at last they are to enter Into the sisterhood of
federal states. . '
The public In general will share in this rejoicing.
The two territories together have n population of two
million* and 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 'soil and
climate are well adapted to the highest development and
the new state will be one of the most magnfhcent In
the union.
The Indications aria that the two senators from
the new state will be Democrats and that the tlx repre
sentatives who will enter congress under the reappor-
tlonmcnt will plso be of the same political persuasion.
If the people generally approve of tho admission of
the new state we believe that, aside from all passion
and bitterness, they will confirm the wisdom of 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 apeait the English language,
while In both territories together there are not more
than 300,000 inhabitants. Such, at least, are tho figures
given out by Speaker Cannon In bis defense on Thurs
day, and It this be true it Is quite sufficient to allow
the two territories to vote on toe question of admission
In joint statehood.
Congressman Lester’s Fatal Accident.
The entire state Is unspeakably shocked and grieved
at the announcement of tho fatal accident sustained by
Hon. Rufus E. Lester, member of congress from the first
district, while the circumstances of this melancholy
event lend to It an additional pathos.
Congressman Lester Is in his sixty-ninth year, and
for eighteen years of that time he has been it member
of the lower bouse. Previous to his election to that body
he bad distinguished himself st the bar, on the battle
field during the period ot the civil war, and In state
polities.
In each and every walk of life he had proven him
self worthy ot the high trust reposed In him. He was a
man of strong convictions and devoted loyally to 1 his
constituency. As a member of the rivers and harbors
committee he rendered excellent service to our common
country and enjoyed the respect and esteem of all his
associates.
The tragic close of his long and useful life It deeply
deplored and there will be sincere mourning throughout
the state and 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 225, and
aaka the roads to sell a 2,000 mile
book for $40, good over all trunk lines
In the southeast.
Different roods In the state sell trip
books at less than 2 cents per mile,
even down to I cent, we have been
told by holders of these books. Why I*
It done? It must be to Induce peonle
to ride more. It le all right to do this,
but Isn’t It asking even lees of the
road* when the Traveler*' Protective
Association,offers to Invest 240 In ad
vance for a book at 2 cent* per mile,
which will be ridden out In sixty day*
by the average traveling man?
The roads know that the traveling
men must ride on their trains. If they
■ell their goads 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, book* of a larger denomina
tion and at*a higher rate than the trip
books referred to. Suburbanite* 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 *,000 mtle* 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 hare
for several months without Interest be-
fore the books are ridden out.
Take the traveling men off the road
and the freight business would ruder.
A merchant would not go to market as
often or buy by mall as much aa he
THIS DATE IN HISTORY.
born.
now buys from the many salesmen
who call dally. The trains nr* well
filled every day. The trunk lines have
about a* many passengers as they can
haul comfortably, so the old excuse of
the state being too thinly populated
won't do. Any mati
In travel would necessitate more train*,
and It costs no more to haul a full
train than one half full.
More than two years ago th* writer
made the prediction that unless this
i.000 or a S.C00 mtle book ac S cents
per mile Interchangeable in the south
east Was placed on sale, the roads
would hsvp to face a fight for a 2-cent
flat rale tn this entire territory. Vir
ginia ho* led off and won. Georgia will
JUNE 18.
123# Edward I of England
.... Died July 7, 1207. ,
1887— Rattle of Stoke; lost great bat-
tie on English soli.
1528—Luther excommunicated by the
1648—Henrietta Stuart, duchess of Or-
leans, born.
1722—John Churchill, duke of Marl
borough, born.
1802—United States treaty with Creek
Indians.
1818—Napoleon defeated Blucher at
Llgny.
]§2j—Sir Henry Raeburn died.
1330—Eruption of Mount Etna.
1888— Cardinal Mastal-Ferettl elected
.... P°P* w l‘h ‘he title of Plus IX.
18*8—Grant repulsed at battle of. Pe-
vnJSSSSbJ entry of victorious
Germans Into Berlin.
1JJ?~P»ul Rajou, artist, died.
1898—Attempted assassination of Pre-
ffiler Crlepl, of Italy.
1*®*—Third Avenue theater. New
York, burned. *
1897—Hawaiian annexation treaty
signed.
iSf—Bering sea award paid.
1908—General Bohrikoff, governor gen
eral of Finland, assassinated.
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-tie would. I saw their
••nrsnt girl going down to the station
with her trunk just after you started
for church."—Philadelphia Pre*s.
It will either go as the Travelers' Pro-
!f c,,T l.^* ,ocUt,on wl»h«». and more
than 21,000 men lit one j>f th* best
preatflsMl and strongest associations of
lt« kind, financially and otherwise, in
the world will oe* their patience re
warded and thl* fight cease, or U will
be against the roods' beat friends and
a fight to the finish. The association
can win In the legislature*, as It has
always won. but that Is not what It
wants. It wants a peaceable settle
ment on June 20.
V. W. HTATT.
Mr. John D. Mops, Athene, Go.—M»
Dear Sir: During the recent conven-
tlon of manufacturers of cotton goodi
held at Asheville, N. c„ you were
among those who spoke on the lack
of laljor in the cotton mills in the
South, and in every other Industry in
which our people nre engaged.
Th® Associated Pres* reported that,
am. ng other pointed remarks pertinent
to the question under consideration,
you paid: ’
"The cotton manufacturers are to-
figrjtador the-scourge of the poll.
Uonsk sad H is our fault"
Your speech impressed me deeply
** *** was contained In the
•entenri* i have quoted. *
About the time your convention
engaged In the dl.Jtu.lon In which y,!J
took an active and highly creditable
part, the senate of the United States
had In hand a bill amendatory of th*
Sonera! Immigration law of the coun-
The fact which you emphasised to
strongly was clearly brought In the d*.
bate In the senate.
Th* moment I read the synopsis 0 I
your speech, I determined to Write you
an open letter for the reason that the
time I* opportune to; make an effort to
arouse the tax-payers who have large
interest* at stake, and to win the at
tention of good citizens who are not
tax-payers, to an appreciation of their
duty as cltixens possessed of the right
to vote.
Circumstances which have attended
election* In this state and In other
state* were of a character that begot
disgust In the minds of men who prize
above gold |h* right to vote.
Methods which have obtained in
quite every canvas* preceding elec
tions, and methods alleged to have
been practiced at the poll*, have had
the effect of disgusting a large and
steadily increasing number of the
electorate.
The result Is that gentlemen, espe
cially young gentlemen Just arrived at
the age when they should not only
manifest but take a lively Interest In
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 ques
tion, they refuse in many Instances to
register, or, having registered, refrain
from voting.
Tho primary, or nominating election,
Is practically the election, and Is so ac
cepted, exceedingly few votes being
cast at the regular election.
The primary may, therefore, be taken
as 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 ot the legislature and for
county officers In. the counties of Ful.
ton, Muscogee and Richmond.
In Fulton, 7,722 cltisens 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.-
105.
Nearly one-half of the qualfied vot
ers did not exercise their great fran
chise.
In Muscogee county, the same con-
ditlops prevailed as In Fulton. Three
thousand Tour hundred and one citizens
registered, and were In position to
vote. The highest vote cast was 2,727,
ao quite 700 electors failed or refused
to vote.
In Richmond county, 5,5(2 citizens
registered. Tho highest vote cast was
4,899, so nearly 700. qualified elector*
refused or failed to vote.
It may be set down as an Incon
trovertible fact that those who remain
ed away from th* polls on the occasion
referred to did not belong to the class
of voters who enn be kept In "pens
over night" or whoee 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-driven 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 to
vote.
In the three counties Instanced, 16,-
696 cltxcns became qualified voters, and
4,755, or 28.4 per cent, refused or failed
to vote.
To my mind, the foregoing fact* pre
sent a very serious situation. It Is a
situation so allied to the best Inter
est of all the people, It must be
promptly met and eueceeefully com
passed.
How may thla be done? By appeal
to the best people in every community
—the men who are proud of American
cltsenship and who value above rubles
the highest privilege Inherent in Amer
ican cltisenshp, 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 poli
tics should be tabooed by the best
citizens—by the young men of any
community. This Is a government "f
the people—presumably by the peo
ple. When every qualified voter, pre
serving hla manhood, shall take suffi
cient Interest at every election to vote
In fhvor of the best measure* and for
the best men. It will be a government
actually "by the people, for the peo
ple."
Thl* being .true as to the character
of the government under which w*
live and struggle to be prosperous, u»-
ful and happy, politics ts an essential
part of every citizen's life-work.
Demagogy and demagogues are to
be avoided, not politics, not th* great
elve duty of duly exercising the elec
tive franchise for the protection and
advancement of the best Interest of til
the people. .
If public sneakers. If ministers of
the gospel, If.the press would take up
this Important subject and dispassion
ately press It home upon the peopl'-
great good would he accomplished, and
reform. In the right direction and of
th* right kind, would be successfully
Inaugurated and established. Yours
truly and respectfully,
MARTIN V. CALVIN.
Augusta. G*.
"Straw Hat” Day at "Penney.”
"Straw hat" day at the University of
Pennsylvania caught many dealer* un
awares, and os a result there was al
most a famine In summer headgear on
Saturday. There Is an uflwritten law
at the university that straw hats must
be warn for th# first time on the first
Saturday In May. and all student*
could not find their last-year hats made
a ■rush for the business center to buy
new ones. Many of th# hatters were
unable to supply th* demands mad#
upon them. < One enterprising firm,
however. Inserted an advertisement In
The Dally Pennsylvanian, the students
newspaper, and landed the majority of
the college boys' trade.—Philadelphia
Record.