Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1909-11-28
Americas, Ga, November 20. 1909.

AmeEEuSs U11Ss NOFCiDCA -Cs AVVvs
SOME THING CERTAINLY SHOULD
&c DONE.
A newspaper has a. duty to the COM
munity in which it is published be-
yond the mere gathering and printing
of the news, although that, of course,
is its first and most prominent func
ton. But in addition it is its duty
and province to direct attention to
conditions that it it's opinion may need
rectifying, to centre the eyes of the
public on facts on which stress should
be laid, and to bring home to the
minds of it's readers conclusions that
seem to be well based and which may
appear worthy of their consideration.
1t is not, generally speaking, good
policy on the part of local paper
to interfere with factional politics. It's
sphere is broader and more useful
than that But occasionally it must
make remarks that seem to encroach
on the field of local political discus
sion. When this is so it's only legiti-
mate excuse is that it seeks to serve
and promote the interests of the en-
tire community in so doing, and to
the unbiased mind such an sexplana-
ton is satisfactory
In our local affairs there is good
reason for complaint on the part of
our citizens generally. The entire
year there has been a ceaseless dir
| feernce of opinion in the City Council
that has effectually blocked the way
to it's accomplishing anything. 1t is
almost needless to reiterate what
these differences have been. City
lights have been one endless bone of
contention. Council has wrangled
over that. Then it wrang1ed over the
new public school until fortunately
it was ascertained that it had nothing
| to do with the matter except to pro-
vide the funds. But for that discov-
cry the school scrap would doubtless
still be on.
Then it found something to- fight
over in the Carnegie library appropri-
alton, and to that was added the ag-
ricultural college bonds. In fact, II
there has been anything of Importance
| that there hasn't been a sort of Kill
kenny fight over it It escapes our re-
membrance.
Now this sort of thing would be bad
| enough in large city, with sufficient
momentum to carry it forward regard
| less of such conditions. But in a
small community like this, struggling
| to develop into a city of greater i'm
portance, it is insufferable that such
conditions should be permitted to in
| definitely continue Something should
| be settled, something should be
wound up and finished, and the slate
cleaned for new problems and united
work for the upbuilding of the city.
It doesn't matter how this is accom-
plished One thing is certain, the
efforts of those most vitality inter-
ested the business men and property
owners, might we'll be united and CEN
tered on that one end
1t is not necessary to say anything
! harsh about any one, to reflect upon
any ones motives That would be IN
| iustifiable. That is entirely uncalled
for Conditions have simply seemed
to work into such a state that wrang-
ling is the order of the day. 1t has
been the order of the city government
for the past eleven months. The ques-
ton now is, is it not possible, in some
way, to so adjust things that it will be
brought to an end, the unsettled ques-
tions settled, and the city government
put to work on lines that will be more
effective for the upbuilding of the
city, something in which we are all
vitality interested. 1t would be better
for us all for it to do something, even
if it makes mistakes occasionally,
than to have continuance of the ex-
listing conditions during 1910 and
probably year or two more after
that AS a city we cannot stand it.
1t will hamper our progress, it will
give us a bad name with the world
outside, and, what is still worse, it
will GET our people hopelessly divided
VIXEN it comes to laying future plans