Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-04-29
The DeKaIb .,ew Era.

The DeKalb new Era.
The people Of Georgia in 1906 threw
off the yoke Of corporation and machine
domination. 1t is true that two years
later they decided to put their necks
under the yoke again, but for once the
yoke was off and lobbyists had 10 con-
troll of affairs in the state capitol
AS we get further away from the ad-
ministration of Gov. Hoke Smith 1T is
interesting to look back and see what
was accomplished during these two event
fuI years. and what impression, II any,
mas been made by the present dynasty,
the Senator Aldrich ana speaker Cannon
type, towards blasting at the rock of
reform"
In spite of all the louo acclaims of
what was going to be done, not dent
has been made on a single law that was
passed by the legislature OF 19O7-S. Yet,
this is 1919, and we are four years away
from the campaign OF 1905.
What have we as a result of the cam
paign for reform and against ring poll
ticians-the campaign in which people of
Georgia asserted themselves unassisted
by machine politicians and hired political
agents?
There is the Jisfranchisement law.
taking tAe negro out of politics in Geor-
gia. Hardly enough negroes are regist-
ering this year to count. This law for
the preservation of white supremacy in
Georgia is one Of the legacies left us by
the reform administration, and it is
worth all the effort made in that great
campaign.
The membership OF the railroad COM
mission was increased and its power
enlarged. 1t became for a time the peo-
pies commission.
with a flourish of threats it was an
nounced that this commission would be
, slashed TO pieces as soon as the new adj
ministration would get IN reach. one
member, who went over TO- the railroads
and -speculated in. bonds. was removed
from office in the closing hours of re-
form.
Except for the firing of McLendon by
Gov. Hoke Smith, no change has come
TO the railroad commission as it was
constituted in 1907. Its powers have
not been decreased on iota. The num-
Der OF it's members is the same. Its
rate expert is still in OFFICE and its
special attorney has not been fired. The
people still ride at reduced rates and
the free passes that were abolished
have not been restored. The man who
paid his own fare is not compelled 10
pay the fare OF the man who rode free,
and railroad political agents can no
longer use with lavish hand this insid-
ious species OF bribery.
In 1907 there were over 1000 bar rooms
and wholesale liquor houses scattered
over the state. Prohibition was not an
issue in 1906, but the reform legislature
passed the bill and the reform COVER
nor signed the law that drove the sa-
looms from Georgia forever. He kept
the promise i'm this matter made when
he was a candidate.
Many wholesome laws were passed.
among them the bill to prevent corpor-
ations from contributing money to poll
tics; the bill to require the amount of
money spent by candidates in elections
to be published: the bill to prevent
snap judgment on the people by the
calling Of early primaries. and the new
registration law which diseourages the
importation of voters from Alabama and
Tennessee. and prevents the registering
OF purchased votes on the eve of an
election. Juvenile courts were created,
a parole system OF penitentiary convicts
was inaugurated. a state sanitarium for
tubercular patients was established, and
other practical legislation was enacted
The educational system Of the state
was given a great impetus. In 1908 $780,
0c0 more was spent for education than
IN 1906 .-.f
The money was raised to pay for the
: erection of the state college of agricul-
ture, and in 1908. for the first time, war
rants were drawn to pay every claim due
the teachers before the year closed, and
the most of the claims were paid as
rapidly as they came in.
The taxes paid by the railroads were
Increased half a million dollars, thus
Tightening the burdens OF the people yet
working no injustice to those corpora