Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1909-10-28
AMERICAS WILL NOT SUBMIT TO
SUCH A STIGMA.

The people of Americas do not as
pire to be placed In the position of
bunco artists. There is no peculiar
honor attached to that profession. Yet
TO the outside world this community
will occupy the unfortunate attitude of
having deliberately buncoed Mr.. An
drew Carnegie out of $4,000 If the
terms of the contract with him are not
adhered to.
Truth is sometimes tnpalatable, but
that is no reason why we should avoid
telling the truth and facing 1t because
1t is unpleasant. Sometimes liberal
dose of the truth is the best specific
for false condition in a community.
We are very much afraid, judging
from circumstances as they have de-
veloped, that we have allowed our
selves here in Americas to assume an
attitude that will not bear investiga-
ton and that can only be corrected by
an expression of the plain straight
forward truth, by simple exposition
of the facts as they really are.
Mr.. Carnegie has for many years
given money to communities DESTROYS
of erecting modern, handsome library
buildings. Mr.. Carnegie has not hunted
up these communities. They have
hunted him. It has been known that
to any city agreeing to his conditions
Mr.. Carnegie would give an amount Of
money for a public library common
surate with its population and pros
poets. His condition has been an I'M
varying one. He has required that the
community obligate itself, through It's
constitutional municipal authorities, to
expend in the maintenance of the pub
lie library. ten per cent. a year of the
amount bestowed by him for the build
ing.
Americas knew this when it wrote to
Mr.. Carnegie and solicited $4,000 for
a public library. Mr. Carnegie did
not deceive Americas. He simply ad-
vised it of the terms, and when the
terms were accepted he Kept his con-
tract. He paid out the $4,000 and the
building stands on Jackson street to-
day as an evidence of gold faith on
the part of Mr.. Carnegie.
But up to this time Americas has
not acted in good faith with Mr.. Car
negie. It has not adhered, in spirit or
in letter, to the terms of the contract
with him. 1t has violated the agree
ment by not providing for the main
tenance of the library. If it continues
to do this, If 1t repudiates the agree
ment, If it fails to adhere to its word,
then, we must regretfully admit, the
city of Americas stands in the position
of having buncoed Mr.. Carnegie out of
$4,000.
Now that may seem harsh way to
put it, but what Is the use In beating
around the stump? II is the truth, and
nothing but the truth. We have heard
some citizens say, and we regret to ac-
knowledge It, that the building is here
now and cannot be taken away. But
there is something at stake decidedly
more valuable than the building. The
good name of Americas is at stake,
and that is something that can be TAX
en- away. 1t would be far better to,
see the building go. or ten buildings.
or anything else. than the good name
If the community.
This Carnegie library proposition
has got to be faced right. It is one
question that will not be settled until
it is settled right. Subterfuges wont
do, The issue must be faced. Are we
going to adhere to the contract, are we
going to endeavor to live up to our
word as community of honorable
people, or are we going to let the
world believe that Americas got Mr..
Carnegie to put his $4,000 here with
NO Intention Of keeping its solemn