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SPECIAL NUMBER
Good City Government
A ‘/Go and He Goeth'’ Spirit in Day
ton Since the Advent of a Manager.
(From the Review of Reviews).
SLnee January 1 of this year the
government of Dayton, O, a city of
over 135,000 people, • has bee n admin
istered by a city manager, an innova
tion inspired tartly by the experi
ences following the Dayton flood of
a year ago. Only an exceptional city
administrtion could- itve met. the ur
gent needs of that time. The exist
ing administration was not exception
al-~in fact, it was inadequate for the
requirements of a progressive city
under normal conditions. Under such
circumstances th<;, control of public
as airs not unnaturally passed to the
strongest men of the community. A
great manufacturer and philanthropist
assumed the burden of feeding and
oaring for 100.000 people. Under his
direction competent men took charge
of public works, sanitation, and pro
visioning, with the. result that the
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Mayor L. C Hayne
An era. of development, progress and prosperity suet) as haa
never been known in tlie h story of t lie city has been ex peri otic
eel \y Augusta during the present regime of Mayor L. C. Hayne,
whose term of office expiies December 31. 1915. The unprece
dented advance i real estate values and building activity and the
advent to office of the city's chief executive were simultaneous.
In many of the more important city improvements nade dur
ing this- time Mayor Hayne has assisted in financing or has
taken an active part in its construction. Among these various
improvements, in which Augusta’s mayor has been prominently
identified, is the present levee improvement which is being done
at an approximate cost of 52,000,000; improvements to the Med
ical College at a cost of nearly $600,000; acquiring of the new
Federal Building, which cost $300,000, and the construction of the
hydro-electric power plant at Stevens Creel., which has just been
completed.
Mayor Hayne was born and reared on a plantation in Burke
County, coming to Aagusta when a young man a quarter of a
century ago. For seventeen years he was president of the Na
tional Bank of Augusta, duiing which time the institution experi
enced the greatest prosperity in its existence. He has been pres
ident of the Planters' Savings Bank for twenty years and is said
to be one of its 'argest stock holders. At the time of the reor
ganization of the Albion Kaolin Com; any, three years ago, he
became connected with the concern and has since served as vice
president of tne company For the past ten or twelve year*
Mayor Hayne has held the offio of vice-president of the Georgia
Chemical Works, a large fertilizing manufactory.
Mayor Hayne was elected mayor of Augusta tn December,
1912, Tor a term of three years.
Hon. ISAAC S. PEEBLES, Jr., the People’s Candidate lor Judge.
Unanimously Endorsed by the Augusta Federation of Trades.
Hon. Isaac S. Peebles, Jr., who has
bsen unanimously endorsed by the
Augusta Federation of Trades, and
wtoo is extremely popular with the
people generally, has announced his
candidacy for the judgeship of the
Superior Courts of the Augusta Cir
cuit.
The Columbia Sentinel, comment
ing upon Mr. Peebles’ candidacy, said
in part:
“Mr. Peebles is recognized as one
of the leading members of the Augus
ta Bar. While in point of years he is
the junior of many and able lawyers
throughout this section of Georgia,
yet in ripe experience, acquire!
through many years of an active prac
tice of the law and handling of im
portant and intricate legal matters,
he stands among the leaders of his
profession.
“Mr. Peebles was determined to pet
an education. So he entered the
freshman class of the University of
Georgia. But as his funds were soon
exhausted; he was compelled to drop
out of school at. the close of his first
year. He taught school at Gibson, his
home town, the next year, and k«e.; t
I community regained a working condi
tion witr remarkable rapidity. It is
not astonishing that after this experi
ence the public ex. ; ressed its approval
of a charter making such a type of
government permanent.
Though in operation only l months,
the advantages of unifying authority
and responsibility in one man ara
manifesting themselves, through
promt, decisive and direct action, a
quality usually conspicuously absent
in public as airs. A "go and he
goeth" spirit has superseded the
“checks and balances" and dulled in
itiative of a more complicated gov
ernment. Two days after taking of
fice the city manager instituted the
practice of periodically flushing the
streets which (during previous admin
istrations) had become filthy becaus
the fire, water and public works de
partments did not cooperate. This
co-ordination of the city’s needs has
been notable in large as well r. 3 small
matters.
up with his classmates who were back
in college doing sophomore work. He
returned to the Univerity after having
been out a year, and finished the
junior class, tie was forced again, at
the conclusion of bis junior year, be
cause of exhausted funds, to earn
money with which to return to col
lege. Accordingly, he worked during
the summer and tall, and .he follow
ing January he was back at the Uni
versity taking junior law half advanc
ed. He finished the two year law
course in a year and a half, making
the highest class average, though
some of his competitors were lioaor
men from the literary department ofj
the University and other high stand
ing colleges, and who have since made
enviable reputations at tHe bar. Mr.
Peebles also wrote the winning essay
in the Van Epps Essay Prize contest.
“After his admission to the bar, Air.l
Peebles went back to Gibson, Ga., for|
•he practice of his professoin. He
was eiected mayor of his home town,!
Gibson, twice, but shortly after his
second election he resigned the of
fice and removed to Augusta, where
he has since built up a large and lu
crative practice,
“In 11*08 lie was elected presidential
elector from the Tenth Congressional
District. In 1012 he entered the race
for solicitor general of the Augusta
Circuit, and carried all three of tae
Dayton Under City Manager
What Progress Has Been Made and
Results Shown Since January.
(Front the Review of Reviews.-
Since January Ist of this year the
affairs of Dayton have been admin
istered by a city manager, co operat
ing with five elected commissioners
Among the results are these:
The advantages of unifying author
ity and responsibility in one man are
manifesting themselves through
prompt, decisive and direct action —
a quality usually conspicuously absent
in public affairs. A "go-and-be
goeth” spirit has superseded the
"checks and balances’’ and dulled in
itialiye of a more complicated gov
ernment.
Two days after taking office the
city manager instituted the practice
of periodically flushing streets, which
(during previous administrations) had
become filthy because the fire, water
and public works departments did not
co-operate. This co-ordinance of the
city’s needs has been notable in
large as well as small matters.
There no longer exists a govern
ment in which the several depart-
Fire Chief Frank G. Reynolds
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With over a quarter of a century
us a member of the Augusta paid fire
department, ten . years of which he
lias served as chief, Frank G. Rey
nolds stands today as one of the most
popular and efficient head of a de
partment in the country.
Starting as a call man September
15, 1887, he soon won recognition in
the service, and the following January
he was appointed a regular member
of the department. His first assign
ment was with the old Number 2
Company, later being transferred to
the truck, with which company he re
mained until elected assistant caief
of the department under the Phinizy
administration. His duties included
the loremanship of the hook and lad
der previous to the advent of the
Phinizy administration, but at the lat
ter period the office of assistant was
made separate. He was promoted to
chief of the department in 1904.
The Augusta Fire Department, over
which Chief Reynolds presides, is one
of the most modernlv equipped in the
United States, Augusta being the first
city in tile South to adopt the use ot
the auto truck. Few of the larger
cities of the country can boast of
more up-to-date or complete housing
than that of this city's department.
A majority of the stations have either
been rebuilt or built entirely new
within the last decade. The central
station on West Broad Street has a
large ball room covering the • entire
upper floor of the building, a com
modious gymnasium and a libary sup
i lied with the best class of literature.
Chief Reynolds is one of the three
directors of the International Associa
tion of Fire Engineers, who will hold
their annual convention for 1914 later
in the year at New Orleans.
[country counties with a pluralty or
, oGS votes, and was defeated only by
,|a close margin after the vote of Rich
mond County was counted. And al
though having been a very popular
young man, yet Mr. Peebles, since his
race for solicitorgeneral two years
ago, seems to be more popular with
the people, and before deciding to
make the race for the judgeship, much
enthusiasm was manifested in sup
port of his candidacy in the event he
should make the race.
“Mr. Peebles is a man of varied ex
perience. And in the event of his
election, from the farm, from behind
the counter, from the school-room,
and from the law office, lie will take
with hint upon the bench a knowledge
of human life that will enable hint
to grasp clearly situations and condi
tions arising from every walk in life.
"This young man who began his ca
reer with a common school education,
|who earned the money to pay his way
■through college, who did five years]
[college work in three years and a
half, who finished at the head of ills
class, and who at Uie age of 25 has
come to be recognized and regarded
as among the leaders of his profes
sion, is an example of what will power
and determination can do. And front
one who seems to possess such a rare
genius to accomplish things, the peo
ple of Augusta Circuit will more than)
likely expect in hint a winner.’’
THE AUGUSTA HERALD, AUGUSTA, GA.
IN CITY, STATE and NATIONAL AFFAIRS
ments work as independent units In
the prosecution of their duties. On
each afternoon at 4 o clock the de
partment heads meet with the mana
ger to discuss problems of common
interest, and minor activities which
call for co-operation—activities which
formerly would noa have been under
taken.
By rapidly adopting the efficiency
systems of great private commercial
organizations Dayton aims to make
its government a model in the admin
istration of public business. In the
management of its finances it is put
ting into 0/ eration the latest methods
of fiscal control. The budget of 1914
is based upon a clearly defined inan
cial program supported by facts uni
formly classified according to the
character of the expenditures.
Every effort is being made to re
duce a death rate which has stood
still for 10 years. Milk regulations
have been made more strict and are
more rigidly enforced. Three baby
clinics anil pure milk stations have
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Alex . W. Stephens
The suggestion of Mr. Alexander W.
Stephens’ friends that he enter the
field for an appellate court Judgeship
Is considered by leading lawyers and
citizens generally a peculiarly appro
priate one not only because of Mr.
Stephens' Individual high qualifica
tions for the office, but because of the
honorable position which his family
and his name hold on the pages of
Georgia's history.
Alexander W. Shephens is a nephew
of the great Alexander 11. Stephens,
also nephew of Judge Unton Stephens
of the Supreme Court of Georgia. His
father was John Alex Stephens, a
prominent attorney of Crawfordville.
and a law partner of Alex H. Stephens,
who at one time was Adjt. General of
Georgia. »On his father's side, there
fore, Alexander W. Stephens is a
member of the Taliaferro county
Stephens family, which has produced
many noted lawyers and jurists. Alex
ander W. Stephens Is today the only
member of that family practicing at;
the bar. .’Jn his library are the law
and political books of Alexander H. i
Stephens.
On his mother’s side Alexander AY,!
Stephens is a grandson of the late
William Wingfield Simpson, Hancock
county planter and merchant, who won
fame because of his development of
the special variety of cotton which
bears his name. On this side, M”.
Stephens Is a descendant of the Wing
field family which is and has been
for generations prominent in the de
veloprnent and progress of the stats.!
Alexander W. Stephens has been
practicing law in Atlanta for 17 years.
He came from Washington, Ga., his
boyhood home. He formerly lived in
Crawfordville. He is a graduate of
the University of Georgia, and after
finishing at the University he studied j
law at the Harvard Daw School. In
addition to being active at the bar, j
he is a regular contributor to ths ■
leading magazines of the country. Mr,
Stephens is forty years of age.
The voters of this section of ths
state will no doubt rally to his sup- j
port. ..... |
The Crawfordville Advocate-Demo
cate of November 14, 1913, had the
following to say.
“When the politicians of this sec
tion congregate for the purpose of di
viding amo.’g themselves the spoils
of office, there is becoming a disturb
ing factor to them—as to what Ike
Peebles, as lie is familiarly known, o!
Augusta, is going to do.
"He has a way of ignoring slates
and going direct to the people. The
politicians last year decided among
themselves as to who should be Joe
Reynolds’ successor as solicitor-gen
eral of tlie Augusta Circuit. Peebles
got into the race and carried three
counties with the aggregate plurality
o approximately 400, but was defeated
by a small plurality when the returns
of the Fourth and Fifth Wards of Au
gusta came in.
, He is perhaps better and more fa*
• vorably known over the Tenth Dis
trict than any of its public men,
ijutiier than Tom Watson and Tom
■ Hardwick He is immensely ,popular
i ill Richmond. In his threecornered
race for solicitor-general his showing
was phenomenal, in view of the fact
that the political leaders of both fac
tions in Richmond County politics
were then practically all lined up
against him. And just as coming
[events cast their shadows before
jtliem, the remarkable strength o:
been established, and the visiting
nurse activities have been centraliz
ed. Five district physicians have
been appointed to administer to those
who cannot afford the services of a
private physician. Free legal advice
is given to those unable to employ an
attorney.
HON. WM. J. HARRIS
= OF CEDARTOWN ======
Who is a Candidate for Governor, Has a Platform
Which Stands for Something in Georgia
He believes that the moat impor
tant question which will come before
the people of Georgia for the next
quarter of a century will be the re
leasing of the state’s railroad proper
ty. He thinks the railroad proper
should be leased as a separate propo
sition, but the splendid terminal prop
erties in Atlanta, Chattanooga and
along the line should be handled sep
arately from the railroad, and rent
ed on long term leases so as to bring
practically a million dollars income
annually to the public schools of
Georgia. The rental from this lease
goes to the public school fund, and
Mr. Harris, who desires longer school
terms for the public schools and
cheaper schoolbooks for the chil
dren of Georgia, thinkß the salaries
of the public school teachers should
be paid promptly every month from
this fund.
Mr. Harris contends that as the
next governor of Georgia will aid in
the leasing of Che state’s property to
the railroads, a railroad lawyer should
not be elected governor at this time.
The next governor should be free
from every possible connection or
affiliation with the railroads which
may bid for this valuable property.
The governor should represent the
people of the state on one side, while
dealing with the railroads and their
representatives on the other.
Two of his distinguished opponents
—Judge N. E. Harris, of Macon, and
Hon. Randolph Anderson, of Savan
nah—are railroad attorneys and have
been for years These gentlemen,
who have been in the employ of these
big corporations, are but human, and,
like others, are influenced by their
environments and affiliations.
Judge N. E. Harris was attorney for
the Souther: Railway when that sys
tem owned the Central of Georgia in
open and llagrant violation of both
state and national laws, and he has
only recently resigned as attorney Tor
that road, While his sons, who consti
tute the other members of his law
firm in Macon, remain counsel for
the Southern Railway.
Mr. Wm. J. Harris does not believe
Chat either Judge N. E. Harris, Hon.
Randolph Anderson, or any other rail
read attorney should be elected gov
ernor to lease the state’s property to
the railroads by which they have been
employed for years.
this country lad forewarned the ring
politicians that he was a poliical fac
or to be reckoned with.
“Knowing his ability as a lawyer,
as evidenced by his most remarkable
success at the bar, many of his
friends and admirers are urging him
to offer for the judgeship of the Au
gusta Circuit, while many others be
lieving in his capacity* as a lawmaker,
are urging horn to make the race for
congress. In view of the fact, how
ever, that his law practice is one of
the most lucrative of the younger
members of the Georgia Bar. it is
understood that he is inclined to turn
a deaf ear to the call of politics. In
the event, however, he should enter
either race, it may be salely predict
ed that it will be mighty interesting
for somebody.
“Mr. Peebles is about 35 years of
age, and was reared in Gibson, Ga.,
where he practiced law for a short
while before moving to Augusta. He
has forged his own way to the front,
having educated himself at the Uni
|Versity of Georgia.
“The country counties look upon
him as .one of their most favorite
sons, and irrespective of whether or
not he enters the political arena next
year, those who know him and know
the stuff he i 3 made of. ; redid that
it will be but short while before he
will represent the Tenth Congres
sional District at Washington.
An earnest attempt has been made
to make people happy as well as
healthy. Notable attention has been
given to public recreation and amuse
ment; there has been a re-organiza
tion of the recreational agencies of the
city government. Commercial recrea
tion has been placed under ahe wel-
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HON. ISAAC S PEEBLES
Candidate for Judge of the Superior Court
tare department rather than the d
sion of police.
The correctional policy of the i
nicipality is undergoing a compl
transformation, insuring numi
treatment of the inmates of public
stitutions and development of the
role system.
Mr. Wm. J. Harris is bitterly oppos
ed for governor by Thos. E. Watson,
who is actively supporting Judge N.
E. Harris, of Macon. Judge Harris
writes "Watson friendly letters, ex
pressing his appreciation of the lat
ter’s support, while Editor Watson
in his paper every week is denounc
ing the National Democratic adminis
tration, the Democratic Cabinet and
other public Democratic o ficials at
Washington, the Member of Congress
from his district, and active Demo
crats generally in the state of Geor
gia,
Tom Watson is opposing Wm. J
Harris, the friend of the laboring
people, whom he hopes to defeat for
governor, and is supporting Judge N.
IT. Harris, oT Macon, the corporation
attorney tvhom he hopes to make gov
ernor of Georgia.
Judge N. E. Harris, of Macon, threat
ened openly to bolt the Democratic
party and vote against the nominee,
if Woodrow Wilson was nominated
on a platform which did not suit
Judge Harris.
Tom Watson, after participating in
the Democratic primary in Georgia
and promising to support its nominee,
boiled the nomination of Woodrow
Wilson and supported openly the Bull
Moose candidate for president—
Theodore Roosevelt.
Watson—the arch enemy of the
Democratic party in state and nation
—actually seeks to dictate to the
Democrats of Georgia, their governor
and other state officers. The loyai
Democrats of Georgia resent this and
the people will not elect Watson’s
candidate, who is a railroad attor
ney, to manage their affairs when the
principal official business of the next
governor will be the important trans
action of leasing the state s ’•oad.
Wm. J. Harris is the friend of labor.
His record in the State Senate shows
his loyalty and friendship to the lab
oring people of Georgia. He' nelped
defeat the repeal of the headlight
law, which protects both the em
ployes of the railroads and the pub
lic. While a member, of the senate
of Georgia, he was the champion of
the laboring people of the state in all
Just measures.
Wm. J. Harris pledges himself, if
elected, to give the people of Georgia
a t business administration.
He believes the education of our
children D the most important duty
our state owes its citizens, and it
the state’s railroad property can be
rented so that the revenue received
from this source will keep open the
public schools of the state two
months longer each yea;- than here
tofore, he will feel proud of the op
portunity to serve his state in the
education of her youth who hold the
future destiny of the great state of
Georgia.
••AUGUSTA IN 1914”