Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-08-20
Macon, Ga. August 10, 1912.

Macon, GA, August IL, lSlZ.
To the Democracy Of Georgia:
Mr.. Slaton has been finally forced to
publish platform. All the good that is
in it at all in issue consists of what he
appropriates from the views and poll
cies l had been publicly advocating for
months.
For instance, to quote mis- platform
as abridged by himself, read as fol-
lows:
THE protection of the states credit.
''No increase in the states bonded
Indebtedness"
1t will be noticed, however, that Mr..
Slaton does not propose to have the
state to live within its income.
AS we will see little later on, he
proposes, on the contrary, an additional
expense to be incurred for the deVel-
opment of our swamp lands" which
enterprise I will hereafter explain.
How this expense is to be incurred
without any increase of the bonded in
debtedness, when we are already spend
ing more money annually than we col
lect, Mr.. Slaton does not indicate.
Mr.. Slaton says that he stands for
The preservation of the Western and
Atlantic railroad as a property for the
state" and that he is opposed to
ANY movement that might endan-
ger the " eSlGTn ana AlldHllC. RAIN Odu
as a property"
AS there is no proposition pending or
threatened to destroy or endanger this
property, these planks would seem the
merest platitudes.
An explanation, however, may bring
out their meaning if they have any.
AS is well known, the railroad cor
porations in Georgia are in favor of the
preservation of the states road, just as
II
useful connections with 1t that they
now enjoy.
Mr.. Slaton is the candidate of these
corporations. They understand Mr..
Slaton to mean that the present condi-
tions are to remain.
Recently however, on entering the
race for the nomination, AIR. Alexander
declared that he was strongly in favor
of an extension of the state road from
Atlanta to Savannah, not only because
If would be a vital improvement to the
property and to transportation in Geor
gia but because such extension was alb
solutely necessary to the preservation
of the property.
While Mr.. Alexander lives in Deca-
tur. DeKalb county, his law office and
business and business interests are in
Atlanta. He is strong with the Atlanta
prohibitionists and other citizens in At
Ianta, and Atlanta is very anxious 10
have this extension built and equipped
at the expense of the state, because II
would give Atlanta another and more
direct route to the sea, and because 1t
uouId enable it to invade for business
purposes q territory now largely triou-
tarv to Augusta and Macon and other
smaller cities and towns. 49,.
The proposition is very popular Win
Atlanta people. and others along the line
of the proposed road that would be pen
Gifted, but Is not popular with the peo-
ME of the state at large The masses OF
The people would seem to think that
AtIanta's railroad facilities and other
advantages are sufficiently superior al
ready. and that If they are to be IN
creased it should be at the expense OF
Atlanta and not of the people generally;
most of whom would not be benehted
and some of whom would really be
damaged.
1t is estimated that the construction
and equipment of this extension would
cost the state about $4,000 a mile
or about twenty millions of dollars.
These two planks Of Mr.. Slaton's
platform are so worded that his friends
who are in favor of the extension un-
derstand that he is also, while, on the
other hand. his railroad friends give his
words strict construction and under
stand him to mean that he is only in
favor of the preservation of The prop
erty and of a continuation of its pres
ent use.
without really taking any position on
the question, these two planks are the
means adopted by Mr. Slaton to ward
off the blows that are being given him
by Mr. Alexander in Atlanta and along
the line of the proposed road
Now. | am opposed to the extension of
this road at the expense of the people
Of Georgia, simply for the benefit of
Atlanta people and few others.
Mr. Slaton says that he is opposed to
"A too liberal use of the pardOning
power"
So are Mr.. Alexander and myself, and
so is everybody else. The question as
10 what II too liberal use of the
hardening power" is left entirely open