Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-12-30
TWO VIEWS OF THE CAPITAL REMOVAL
1T Is NOT RETALIATORy
(The Macon Daily Telegraph

(The Macon Daily Telegraph)
Our esteemed friend and neighbor
the Atlanta Constitution, is mistaken
when it asserts that the Capitalize
moval campaign originated in i retail
iatory spirit. 1t is true that it was
coincident with the Mercer question
but it goes far out beyond it, as see
the practically universal feeling in
Middle and Southern Georgia.
In regard to Mercer we wish to pre-
face a word. "A year ago the Wesleyan
trustees called on Macon for a con-
tribution of 100000 The money was
forthcoming within fortnight. Should
Mercer make a similar call on this
city we have no doubt Macon would
do her duty. Up to the hour when the
removal question was sprung at the
heel of the State Baptist Convention
when Macon's Representatives had left
the hall-Macon did not know that
Mercer wanted anything of her, nor
has Macon since learned what it is
But we shall say more on this subject
at the proper time
In regard to the removal of the cap
ital-this is no new question in Geor-
gia.
There was a time when the popu-
lation of the state was largely con-
fined to the banks of the Savannah
river and vicinity. There were nc
railroads Augusta became the Cap
ital because it was the center of pop
ulation and could be approached by
water transportation Then later it
was moved to Louisville when that
little city became the center of pop
ulation. Later still it, for the same
reason, went to Milledgeville.
AT the close of the War Between the
States and the subjugation of Geor-
gia, foreign military power carried
it to Atlanta without the least consid-
GRAFTON of the wishes of the people Of
this State. 1t is true that some years
later (1S77) the question of its return
to Milledgeyille was submitted to a
vote The negroes were not only the
balance of power, they had quite re
Gently been the whole political power
in the State, and they voted solidly to
sustain the action of the military au-
tn rites in moving the Capital to
Atlanta Thus Atlanta won.
In 1880 there were 1887 white
voters and 143,471 negro voters in the
State of Georgia
But the center of population and
wealth has shifted since thirty-threc
years ago, and Georgia's Capital has
always followed that center, except
when it went to Atlanta.
Within the last thirty years the cen
sus figures show that that half OF
Georgia north of Macon has increased
40 per cent. That half south of Ma
con has increased 100 per cent! The
future Georgian empire will be be-
tween Griffin and the Florida line. II
amounts to that now
Mocon is the railroad center OF
Georgia.
Macon is the center of population
and wealth.
Macon is the geographical center Of
the State
The actual geographical center IS
sixteen miles east of Macon. That
center is 119 miles southeast of At
lanta!
Atlanta is great city, but that fact
gives it no claim upon the Capital
New York city is not the Capital d
New York State Philadelphia is moi
the Capital of Pennsylvania. Chicago
is not the Capital of Illinois. Cincin-
natl is not the Capital of Ohio. New
Orleans is not the Capital of Louis
| lana Baltimore is not the Capital d
Maryland There is no binding force
either legal, moral or business, which
gives the greatest city in the State any
prior lien on the Capital of the State