The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1906-03-22
TO THE PEOPLE
OF COBB COUNTY,

! Inc courier mas been bounding
me and abusing me for the past
twelve months. Everyone is f.
mliiar with its course i'll the mat.
ter. | have remained silent under
it ali, believing that the people
understood the motives behind 1t
and that at the proper time they
would make their disapproval of
such political methods known at
the polls. The recent revival of
this fight by n. A Morris is pure
ly for political purposes, and is
intended to enable him to wreak
vengeance on certain parties, who
do not agree with him, by blind
ing the eyes of the public until
after the approaching election. It
seems that his supply Of mud is
inexhaustible It is yet to be seen
whether the good people Of the
county will allow themselves used
for carrying out his purposes.
[ do not believe they will.
They care nothing about his
personal likes or dislikes, or his
personal grudges against those who
formerly befriended him and help
ed him to achieve whatever sue
cess he has had, and they will not
join him in his effort to blacken
the character and besmirch the
reputation of the officials whom
they themselves have placed in
Office, who have lived in the county
many years, and have established
regulations for honesty and integ-
rity FULLY EQUAL TO HIS OWN.
Now am not a candidate for any
office, and am no more concerned
about political matters than any
other citizen aud tax payer. |
have no axe to grind and no ene-
mics to punish | am attending
to the duties of my office in the
interest of the whole people, who
put me here, and shall continue
to do so regardless of what the
Courier may say or do.
l have been in the Ordinary's
Office little over five years, and
am thoroughly familiar with every
detail of the county's affairs. /,
and [ alone, am responsible for all
the county's business except that
which passes through the Superior
Court.
I shall discuss these matters
dispassionately and fairly, and
hope to cover all points in which
the public is interested.
In the outset | want to say that
the county's finances are in the
best condition they have been in
since the era of improvement on
the public roads and pub
lie buildings began, and the
the county tax rate for 1905 was
the lowest in eight years, On March
1st, there was between seven and
eight thousand dollars in the
county treasury, The county has
% fine mules and one good horse,
and a full outfit of road tools and
machinery. We are now il con-
dition to move forward with the
road improvement more effective
| ly than ever before, and the grand
jury that has just adjourned has
recommended that ] do so. 1t is my
| desire to make life on the farm as
attractive and profitable as posi-
bic by improving the public high
ways IN all parts of the county.
Had it not been for my constant
efforts along this line number
of our Tural mail routes would
have long ago been discontinued
and the farmers deprived Of this
benefit.
A number of references have
been made to the fact that nay
predecessor had the court house
built, and the bridge across the
river at Roswell, but not word
has been said of the fact that dur
ing my first term l had new jail
built, as we'll as two steel bridges
across the river. one at PAGES fer
ry and the other at Mason II
Turner's ferry.
A good deal has been said about
the county's expenses for 1904,
and the high tax rate for that
year. l presume every one under
stands that fully except the editor
of the Courier.
In 1908 the grand jury recon-
mended that ! put the misde-
meanor convicts on the public
roads. I opposed it before the
grand Jury and also in a public
meeting, held in the court house.
! stated that the county had Just
finished paying for the new jail,
had nc surplus on hand, and
would have to borrow the money
to do the work and buy equip
ments necessary for efficient work.
Il l.