The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-07-11
GEORGIA CAMPAIGN
NOW GROSSLY IDLE
Gubernatorial Fight Is Proving
Very Tame Affair
TO BE NEWSPAPER FIGHT
.Justices of the Peace Seeking to Have
the Legislature Extend Their Pow
ers-Deep-Rooted Opposition
to the Income Tax

Atlanta, Ga, July 1U-tSpecidll-l Ing
state campaign has fallen into gross
idleness. 1t needs a good hard poke
in the ribs to set it stirring.
Judge John C. Hart has set aside
for the time being the only rumor or
report that promised anything of
lively nature-the prospects of a joint
debate or, rather, discussion between
himself and Hoke Smith.
Such a meeting, were it brought
about, would be rather discussion
than a debate. Judge Hart and MI.
Smith are good friends, and nothing
of a disagreeable personal nature would
enter into any such combat as they
might have on the stump.
But the prospects of campaign
speeches are growing more and more
remote all around. 1t is given out at
Hoke Smith headquarters that Mr..
Smith will not make his proposed
speech In the Atlanta auditorium be-
fore the last week In July or the first
week In August, some two or three
weeks before the primary.
This means that campaign speeches
will be few and far between.
1t has been asked also II 1t does not
mean that Hoke Smith has adopted the
Joe Brown style of campaigning-th e
ne wspaper publicity stunt that won the
race two years ago.
Or does 1t mean a realization that the
people are we'll aware Of the issues be-
tween Brown and Smith, and that there
Is no occasion or necessity for stirring
them up again?
Or. again, perhaps there is an effort
to demonstrate that in campaign of
altogether peaceful aspects, such as
this one appears now to be, there is
no need of an apostle of peace.
At any rate the state is probably
thankful that 1t is to be spared this
year any flashing of the waters.
What's the use any way? There has
been so much written and said about
the two political leaders, representa-
tives of the two schools of political
tn ought" as Mr.. Smith puts 1t. and
about their respective policies, that al
most everyone in Georgia is pretty
well qualified to vote without more
reading or listening to speeches.
None of the candidates has as yet
appointed or chosen campaign mar
ayers,
1t Is an interesting fact that Just as
agitation, especially in Atlanta, is be-
ing directed against the practices of
certain justices of tho peace they
should hold a convention in Atlanta and
ask for legislation which would extend
their powers in the precise direction
In which the agitation proposes to curb
them.
Only few of the 3000>or so justices
of the peace in Georgia attended the
convention held here the other day, and
among other things they asked the leg
islature to enact a law making the
wages of day laborers subject to gar
nishment. They also asked that their
own fees and those of their constables
be increased.
It Is not likely they will get either
law at this session of the general as
senlbly, and 1t is doubtful If ever 4.
general assembly will be found to relax
the garnishment laws to the extent
asked
Some of the practices of JUS ce courts
come about under the present garnish
ment laws, and those back of the agi-
tation here would. If possible, make
them even more stringent in the pro-
lection of the wage and salary Garner
The only two Atlanta justices who
took part in the convention were the
two who have been criticised by the
grand jury in connection with the re-
cent money shark" Investigations and
whose names were specifically mention
ed in the grand jury presentments with
the suggestion that the subsequent
grand jury should make a full investi-
cation of their practices.
It is through apparent collision be-
tween certain justices and the money
lenders that the latter are able to
maintain tn cir business on a basis of
200 to 500 per cent interest, by holding
threats of jail over the heads of the
victims
Dozens of cases of men with families
being compelled to leave town because
of prosecutions on the part OF money
lenders have been brought to the at
tention of the recently organized legal
aid society. In most instances 1t was
the principal sum borrowed togeth err
with the legal rate of interest.
The society is now trying TO get bills
through the Legislature still further
curbing the power of the justices in
those respects In which the law now
enables them to imprison men and wo-
men for debt at the behest of the
money lenders.
The deep rooted opposition to the in
come tax amendment to the federal con-
stitution. which is so apparent in the
Georgia legislature, is causing consid-
cradle surprise and comment
Georgia democrats have shouted as
loudly as any others about the great
Importance and desira bility of the In
come tax, but nov that it is put up
to them by republican administration,
they are shooting it full of holes
For three days this week both the
house and senate debated the income
tax matter and then each postponed
further consideration of 1t until a flu
ture date. the senate until July 10, the
house until the first IF next week
The fact that other southern states
have indorsed the amendment Is, ap-
parently. cutting no figure with the
Georgians. They are trying to figure
out, on the surface at least, whether
In ratifying the amendment Georgia
would be giving away any right or
privilege which she ought to retain.
Some few of the members are OPP
posing the income lax OH principle.
while others are con ending that per-
haps Georgia will have 10 adopt that
principle of taxation herself one "
these days, and could not do SO IL
the right Of taxing incomes were vest
ed in the federal government.
1t - said the resolution to ratlfy the
amendment stands a good chance to
get through the house, but that Its
chief Danger lies IN the senate where