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PEARSONffiTRIBUNE VOL. 3 —NO. 1(3. COFFEE COUNTY News Items Gathered from Various Sources Now, that the legislature has ad journed, the lobbiests can come home, put on their best smiles and pull —good, strong and all togeth er —for a first-class county fair just after harvest. The school at Sycamore, three miles north of Pearson, under the tutelage of Mr. Homer Corbitt, closed the term last Saturday with special entertainment for pupils, patrons and friends, including a basker dinner on the ground. Let everybody remember that they are cordially invited to at tend the Pafford family reunion at Spring Hill church on the first Sunday in September. There will be plenty of diversion, including religious services at the church, and every one present will be wel come to participate. (!o to the reunion and carry a basket of something good to eat ; you will en joy it. Mr. E. L. Vickers, after a good long rest, has decided to return to the mercantile business and will open up a first-class dry-goods business as soon as his modern two-story brick store, located a few feet south of his Douglas Ho tel building, is completed. It will be 30x80 feet, and will be finish od with all up-to-date convenien ces. Tax Receiver E. S. Sapp has practically completed the tax di gest for Coffee county for the year 1917, and gives iI out that the in crease in tax values will be more than a $1,000,000, and that the to tal taxable property of Coffee coun ty will be more than $6,000,000. Mr. Sapp has done well, but it is the Tribune’s opinion that the Cof fee county tax digest is short more than $2,000,000 of taxable proper ty. At the tea chers examination in Coffee county, August 3rd and 4th, there were 138 applicants for teacher’s license who took the ex amination, 126 females and 12 males. It is possible, very proba ble, that a sufficient number will pass the ordeal to vouchsafe teach ers for all the rural schools of Cof fee county. The Tribune is in sympathy with the idea of using home talent as a- teaching force in our schools as far as it is wise to do sci. Mr. J. H. Pafford, a tobacco grower of the McDonald district, attended the South Georgia Tobac co Growers rally at Douglas on the Bth instant and reports very hos pitable entertainment. The auc tion sale of tobacco was the most attractive part of the program. Growers from Sumter, Lowndes, Berrien, Irwin, Wilcox, W are, Ben Hill, Telfair, Tattnall. Tombs, Jeff Davis and Coffee counties had to bacco on sale, and it brought from two to thirty cents per pound. The Tribune has no desire to dis courage the growing of tobacco by our farmers, trusts they w ill meet with no disappointment in it as a money crop, but must confess that it is dubious of the final outcome, believes a big tobacco crop next year will prove disappointing. Tobacco growing was tried out in Tift county, in Berrien and Coffee, years ago under the most favora ble circumstances. Experts from North Carolina were employed to handle the business from prepar ing the seed bed to marketing, the mast approved bams and ap paratus were employed to prepare the crop for market. A superior article of tobacco was grown and cured to perfection, but the experi- ment proved umvimmerative and it was dropped. The prices may hold up all right during these war times and for a few years, but the Tribune advises its readers not to go too strong on it, and not plant exceeding five acres each, and be lieves three acres would be better. There seems to be a pronounced effort to discount the action of Representative Stewart in repeal ing the nine commissioner Act and enacting in its stead a five com missioner Act, and naming the commissioners to serve until .the next general election. The Tri bune sees nothing so very repre hensible in the matter; the people of Coffee county are strongly in favor of rigid retrenchment in county expenditures, and many of them think the county has not received a just return for the money spent, and clamoring fora change of system at least. They do not believe the commissioners were so much to be blamed as the system in vogue for the status of affairs. The system has been enr ployed for several years, no hopes for a change and the county’s in debtedness steadily growing in vol ume. The present Act provides no fixed system to guide tin' new commissioners, some of whom are not partisans of Mr. Stewart, but selected from among tin* leading business men of the county, and it is left to their business acumen to inaugurate a system that will bring results. Their ability is unques tioned; just what system they will adopt is unknown, certainly to the Tribune, but it is willing to give them a trial in adopting a satis factory system of road and bridge building. The most rabid critics of Mr. Stewart makes no point on the ability of the new commission ers, but find fault with the fact that the old commissioners had just been elected and t he new com missioners were appointed—the people had no voice in the matter, and the people knew nothing about it until it had come to pass. The people were clamoring for re lief, insist ing upon something be ing done at once to bring relief. Mr. Stewart gave notice of his in tention to do the thing done more than thirty days before the meet ing of the legislature, and those who complain that they did not know about it have no one to blame but themselves. There are many people in this old world “Who have ears to hear and hear hot, eyes to see and see not.” The notice was published four times in the legal organ of the county, Douglas Enterprise, and it is an unwarranted reflection on the circulation ef that newspaper for any one to say they did know about it, and the Tribune is per suaded (hat this complaint comes only from a select and disgruntled source, The Tribune is not the mouthpiece of Mr, Stewart, he has no influence whatever in its con duct, but viewing the matter in the interest of Coffee county it is constrained to say he did the pro per thing, after due notice to all concerned, in removing at the earliest possible moment the cum bersome county management with which she was afflicted. It may not be the proper remedy, but it is worth at least an honest trial. Chairman Tanner has strong con victions on the subject of retrench ment and no one can doubt for a moment he will attempt a policy that will give the county better results than they have had in re cent years. PEARSON, GEORGIA, FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 1917 PROGRESS OF THE WAR The new national army will be called to the training camps in three increments, September sth, 15tli aud 30tli. The newly com missioned officers from the training camps will thenbe assigned to duty —the new r men having first been divided into companies, bat talions and regiments. National Guard units from twenty-six states including the Southern States of Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, North and South Carolinas, Virginia, Ten nessee and Texas have been desig nated by the War Department to form the third eotingent, of more than 20,000 men, soon to be sent abroad. Georgia’s contribution to this contingent will be Companies B, C and F of the Second Georgia Regiment, and known as the 151st Machine Gun Battalion, 84th f"n fantry. 42d division. China has formally declared war against Germany and Austria Hungary. This news following upon the heels of the arrival of a Japanese Mission in the United States to discuss with this govern! ment and arrive at a decision as to what support this government would give to Japan in the event she should send an army to the aid of the Russians, indicates that China, at the solicitation of the Entente allies, has prepared her self to honorably permit (he pass age of Japanese troops tlirtmgh her territory to Russia. The latest whisper of Peace comes from Pope Benedict of the Roman Vatican, but from all appearances it, has fallen listless among the Extante allied nations; they declare it must be a war to the finish in order to secure liberty and a lasting peace for the nations of the earth; there must be no territorial aggression and all small countries left to work out their destiny without interference from neighboring countries. America could not accept any terms that would not leave her free to fulfil her destiny as the friend of dis tressed nations. In consequence of the heavy losses inflicted on the Austro German forces on the eastern bat tle front and the desperate resist ance of the Russo Rumanians, the Teuton offensive on the Rumanian front has lost its intensity, and the advances into Rumania has been practically halteb. The Turco German project to retake Bagdad from the British has been forgone because of the Russo Rumanian activity which required Macken sen’s presence nearer home. Intense fighting is in progress on the western front especially at Lens. Canadians have pressed themselves into the city; the Ger mans finding themselves unable to stay the enemy progress began evacuating and destroying every thing of military value that could not be carried away. While the Can aian s were storming “Hill 70,” the dominant point to the city, French troops were keeping the Teutons busy from St. Quentin to the Swiss border. There is no activity along the other battle fronts. A contingent of American troops has arrived in Great Britian, para ded through Ixmdon Wednesday on their way to permanent quar ters and were reviewed by U. S. Ambassador Page and King George. Their presence in London was cause for a great display of enthusiasm among the jKijiulace. Reporting the event the afternoon London Standard, under the cap tian, “Sons of the Pilgrims back in London,” commented. —“Lean, lithe, straight-backed, sallow, thin lipped, set jawed, they impressed everybody as doers rather than dreamers, men of few' words who look you straight in the eye, take your measure at a glance, give you their opinion in a rough epigram and then get to business. Not Canadian, not Austrialian, not ATKINSON COUNTY CREATED Friends Jubilant and Make the Big Guns Roar. Wednesday morning, as soon as the House of Representatives set tled down to business, the Bill for creation of Atkinson county was taken up and passed by a vote of 138 —a handsome majority. By this Act the General Assem bly, Senate and House, has made possible the removal of an onerous burden from the necks of the citi zens of the territory which is to compose the new county. They who so generously voted for the measure have no conception of the real joy they have brought home to these more than grateful peo ple, and the Tribune desires to extend to the General Assembly, each and every member who did 4his people this great honor and gave them this great blessing, most profound t hanks. The people needed this relief; you gave it; they are happy; thank you! The creation of Atkinson coun ty has been opposed by sturdy foe men, who really believed it inimi cal to their best interests. They have fought long and well, but fought a losing battle. The Pear son boys, Wednesday night, as was to be expected, brought out the big guns of rejoicing and let them roar. But there was no bit terness in it; the sting of defeat was eliminated. Nothing was said or done to which the most bitter opponent of the new county could have objected. They were proud of the victory; they let it be known; that is all there was to it. The friends of the new county know no enemies among those who opposed it and stand ready to ex tend the glad hand of welcome to everyone of them. Above all, let there be no grouches to cure. It will be as much their new county as the other fellows, and all should come together in the spirit of amity and good fellowship and march together in the making of a home county in which all w ill take delight. We have a grand foundation upon which to build, a territory rich in possibilities and a people generous and progressive, and with the con veniences of citizenship which the Act brings to us we can be a pros perous and happy people. So far as the Tribune is concern ed in the campaign for the new' county, its greatest interest was for the rural population, present and prospective, who may reside in the territory of the new county. It stands now for the development of this splendid section. The present editor is its sole owner, no other person owns a cent’s worth of interest in the plant; there are no strings tied lo it of any character. The editor has “no friends to reward or enemies to punish” because of the result of the new county movement. It will ever accord just treatment to all and only ask to receive fair treatment in return. The people of this territory were all in favor of a new county, they differed as to the location of the county seat. The Tribune in sisted upon Pearson being the county scat, because she is centrally located in the only territory from which a new county could have been created in this section. Its insistence was not inspired by an tipathy for Willacoochee or any of her people. The Tribune has over been and is now willing to put its shoulder to the wheel and help her and them in any properly di rected enterprise. New Zealander, but in the snap of the eye and the expression of the mouth something distinctly United States.” SOUTH GEORGIA News of Our Neighbors Told in Short Paragraphs Hon. W. T. Dickerson has been reappointed solicitor of the county court of Clinch county. Bacon county farmers will plant crops of wheat this fall; at least 500 acres w ill be devoted to wheat. The Thomas county local exemp tion board has been notified by Gov. Dorsey that Thomas county’s quota of men has been increased from 191 to 274. Turner county is planning for a fair this fall, October 25th and 26th. It is to be strictly a far mer’s fair, all 1 he “money catching” features being eliminated. Mr. J. M. Pilcher, of Meigs, has sold his Thomas county farm of 135 acres to North Georgia people for $9,000, or a fraction less than $75 per acre. South Georgia soil is fast coming into market at fancy prices. Miss Vera Wright and Mr. J. A. Fawcett, of Adel, were united in marriage on the Bth instant at Nashville. The bride has a num ber of friends in Pearson who will be pleased, if not surprised, at the news of her marriage. The young men, McDonald and Anderson, who were captured down in Ware county trying to run the blockade with a car load of whiskey, have been released after putting up bonds of SI,OOO each. Sherman Higgs, wanted in Ware county for killing David Davis at a school celebration at Millwood, was captured last Thur sday and lodged in the Appling county jail. There was a SIOO re ward for him. Mayor Burkhalter, of Homer ville, has given it out “good and strong” that the streets of Homer ville are not to be used as race courses, and those who attempt it will be arrested and given the limit of the law, <if the 184 men notified to ap pear al Homerville last week for examination for the national army 35 failed to appear and 67 filed claim for exemption. The absen tees, without satisfactory excuse, will be posted as accepted for the army. T. N. Hendricks, son of Col. R. A. Hendricks, of Nashtille, has been definitely located at Fort Myer, V x., where he took the of fleer's training and secured a com mission as lieutenant in the regu lar army, lie may go to France but not immediately. The annual Primitive Baptist meeting at Arabia church, Clinch county, about fourteen miles south of Pearson, will be next Sunday. Tliits annual event is always fea tured by a splendid basket dinner on the ground, and many bun dreds of people attend. A pecan growers meeting will be held in the rooms of the Chamber of Commerce, Waycross, Septem ber sth. An interesting program has been arranged for the meeting, the purpose being to stimulate the growing of pecans in southeast Georgia, where the soil is specially adopted to this industry. The Folkston city council has adopted an ordinance prohibiting boys from boarding trains that stop there and officers have positive in structions to rigidly enforce theor dinance. Boys caught on any train without a passage ticket will be haled before the mayor. SI.OO A YEAR The colored population of Thomas county have discovered a beverage they call “Watermelon booze.” It is made by mixing watermelon juice and sugar in a way it fer ments and forms a potation simi lar to "buck” made from cane shimmings, and of equal value as a drunk producer. Late Saturday evening fire de stroyed the Tifton packing plant, under construction. The loss is between SIB,OOO and $25,000, with only about SB,OOO insurance. The contractors, undaunted, will re build and are determined to have the plant ready for the late fall and winter crop of hogs. The editor is pleased to learn of the recent marriage of M iss J uanita Folsom, (daughter of his late friend, Montgomery M. Folsom, and well known in newspaper cir cles,) and First Lieutenant Basil Stoekbridge, Company “A,” Fifth Regiment of Infantry, of Atlanta. The editor has known representa tives of the Folsom family, of Brooks county, for four genera tions. An effort is being made to hold an inter-county agricultural and live stock fair at Waycn this fall, to be under the patronage of Ware, Fierce, Bacon, Coffee, Clinch and Charlton counties. It is argued by the projectors that owing to war conditons it will be more economical to hold just one fair at this central point than to attempt to hold several single county fairs. The mass meeting of the oppo nents of selective draft at Black shear last Saturday was held in Fierce county court house. Ad dresses were made by Grover C. Edmondson, of Alma, and John W. Bennett and Elder W. P. Price, of Waycross; Bennett and Price replied to the anti speech of Edmondson, and won great ap plause. The anti-draft spirit of Pierce, Ware and Bacon counties lias dropped several degrees. Judge Beverly D. Evans, of Sandersville and an associate jus tice of the State supreme court, will probably be confirmed as Judge of the District Court of the Southern District of Georgia, vice Judge W. W. Lambdin deceased. Judge Evans is a satisfactory so lution of the judgeship muddle which Senator Hardwick had forced upon the country. He is a strong man and, while nominated by Hardwick, is a staunch suppor tin' of President Wilson. Judge Thomas of Valdosta acted as an intermediary between the admin istration and Judge Evans and se cured his consent to accept the place before his name was sent in for confirmation. Waycross boys fared well in the distribution of plums at Ft. Mc- Pherson officers training camp. Commissions were issued to the following: Warren Loot, major in infantry; Clias E. Grover, cap tain in infantry; Chas. L. Redding, captain in field artillery; Q. L. Garrett, E. Kontz Bennett, son of John W. Bennett, and Henry T. Allen, second lieutenants in field artillery: Cyril C. ( handler, Mait land N. Lucas, David J. Lewis and Raymond Dorsey, second lieuten ants in infantry. <>f former resi dents: George L. Harrison, cap tain in infantry; < >sbum Watson, of Blackshear, second lieutenant in field artillery; ('lifford Johnson, son of Capt. L. Johnson, of St, Mary’s, second lieutenant in quar termaster’s corps.