The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1909-02-17
WANTS TO KNOW WHO'LL GO TO
ATLANTA AND HELP HIM
ABOLISH CITY COURT.
Says Former Victories of officers Over
People Doesn't Discourage Him.
Gives a Number of Reasons
Why, in His Opinion, the
Court Should Be Done
Away With.

Fellow Citizens: In my zeal to
abolish the City Court of Dawson 1
wish to impress upon the minds of
all concerned that l have no animos-
. ity or feeling in the matter against
any official connected with the court.
l am thoroughly convinced from
investigation, experience and close
acquaintance with the officials con-
nected with the court that they are
competent, worthy, capable, splendid
gentlemen. So much for the Off
Gals.
But l am utterbly opposed to the
institution, the organization, called
the City Court of Dawson. A large
majority of the people of the county
are opposed to it. And they have
twice been defeated in their efforts
to abolish it by the officials of the
court, in conjunction with a few
friends.
Be it understood that this is not
my fight. This is not a contest be-
tween myself and the officials of the
court 1t is contest in which the
Welfare, the prosperity, the interest
of the people of the county are ar
rayed against the good jobs, the we'll
paying snaps of a few.
The officials have won out twice, |
because it is good thing for them !
The majority have lost out because
they have failed to put forth proper
effort
Now, | am appealing to those who |
are opposed to the city court to come
forward and give me their help. |
How many patriotic citizens in Ter |
rell county will go with me to At ,
lanta in June and appear before the
committee, and ask that the court |
be abolished? The city court officials |
will be there with their friends. |
Will anybody be there who is pay !
ing the salaries of these officials, |
asking to be relieved from the bur- |
den?
Last summer, when Representa-
tive Mercer introduced the bill to |
abolish the court seven or eight ad-
vocates of the court, including the !
officers, were there promptly, telling |
the committee that the City Court |
of Dawson was the best thing that |
the county ever had, and that the |
people wanted it, and that nobody |
but Mr.. Mercer and myself, for IN
worthy reasons opposed it.
So far as the officers are con-
cerned it is a snap-the best thing |
know of. And I don't blame them |
from trying to hold on to it as long |
as you people will tax yourselves into |
bankruptcy to support the institu-
ton.
They tell you it's a good thing,
while you are taxed to pay the sal !
aries of $4,000 per year.
They tell you it's a good thing, |
while you are taxed to pay jury fees
of $500 to $1,000 per year.
They tell you it's a good thing
because it keeps down jail expenses, |
even if you are taxed from 1925 to
$500 per month to support the jail; |
while in Randolph county, where |
they have no city court, the people |.
are only taxed 500 per month for
Jail fees and expenses.
They tell you it's a good thing, ;
when your hands and labor are dis
organized, brought to court for a
week or more on frivolous prOsecu-
lions and lose days and days out of
the crops at your expense.
They tell you it's a good thing, !
when labOrer is convicted and YOU
have to pay his fine. or lose your
crop and the advance already made
to your hand, and finally lose the