Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-04-05
Editorial Room, Telephone 80.
Americas, Ga, April ). 1910.
SOUTH GEORGIA MUST PROTECT
ITSELF On THE RAILROAD
COMMISSION.

There are not missing signs that
hot campaign is TO be waged for control
/ Of the State Railroad Commission. With
/ its usual push Atlanta is in the field
with the port rate issue, determined to
win enough seats in the commission to
put into practice the views that are in
tended to build up the business inter
ests of that city at the expense of 9TH
er cities. Atlanta cannot be blamed for
this. 1t is its business to seek to ad-
vance its own interests If it sue
Iceeds in doing this the blame viii rest
upon the other communities that al
lowed Atlanta to triumpb in this par
ticular instance. Selffshness is the
basis of all progress in business, self
Ifshness on the part Of Atlanta is at the
root of the port rate agitation, and sell
| fshness viii guide it throughout the
campaign
The port rate fight was begun by
certain jobbing interests of Atlanta
and it is conducted almost entirely in
their interest. They have financed it
and they will be the beneGciaries of
the proposed change. Its purpose and
its effect will be to extend the control
of the Atlanta jobbers over the trade
of the state, enabling them to compete,
/ ND. No., 7;+t,.r,- ,,-1,1 F,---.,,1,11
them, with the jobbers of other points
invade the territory of other towns and
cities and take from them trade what
naturally belongs to item. That is what
Atlanta is after. We don't blame At
/ lanta in the slightest. We admire its
nerve and get-up policies. But We do
blame the other communities if they
do not resist the proposition with all
their might and protect their own in
terests.
OF course there viii be the usual
specious plea that this is not Atlantas
fight, that the phflanthropists in bust
ness up there are spending money
/ fighting for the good of the state at
large. But did you really ever know
Atlanta business men to be fighting to
advance the interests of anybody save
themselves in a business way? Do
( the people Of Macon, Americas, Cordele,
Albany, Brunswick Waycross, YaIdosta
and other towns and cities of South
/ Georgia, imagine for an instant that
when Atlanta's Chamber Of Commerce
starts another agitation for port rates
its mission in doing so is to build W
the business interests of those cities?
Can the Ethiopian change his color?
Can the leopard change his spots? Can
the Atlanta manufacturers and jobbers
change the innate selfshness that gov
ems business men in their desire to Sc
cure advantages that will broaden
their territory and bring new trade
under their controif
Whoever Atlanta supports for rail-
road commissioner, it can be safely as
serted, is committed to a policy that
will build up Atlanta. Don't overlook
that fact, There viii be lot of be-
Pudding argument and rhetoric but
that is one fact that stands out so
clearly that new born kitten could
see it without straining its vision. The
bus ness Of South Georgia in the prem
/ Uses is to see that South Georgia has
an adequate and able representation
on the commission. This is the grow
ing section Of the state. it is the great
consuming section of the state, it s the
section where manufactures and dis
tributing establishments will be start
ed in increasing numbers during The
next few years unless III 3sded by IN,
fair advantages in favo1 OK Atlanta. We
all know how thoroughly selfish North
Georgia has been in political matters
We all know how selfish it is in bust
ness matters. 1t is certainly not safe
for South Georgia to trust its future
TO the hands Of a comm ssion selected
by Atlanta and committed to the dom
nation of Atlanta business interests.
South Georgia must see to it that it
h2s capable men n the field for Rail
road Commissioners and it should and
must support them. 1t must protect
it's own interests. 1t must not expect
Atlanta to pro ect and promote them.
Atlanta is for Atlanta, first, last and
all the time-and we don't blame it for
being So