Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-08-20
SEEK PERMANENT
CONTROL OF w. g. A. RAILROAD
SAYS ALEXANDER At MONROE
Candidate for Governor Scores His Opponent for His Posi-
ton and Charges That Saton viii Seek to Lease the Road
Again Within Two YearSQuoteS State Democratic Plat
form on the Issue

sonahle than this demand. And yet
here We have a candidate. at the ele-
venth hour, when the people can not be
Informed of his purpose before the cleo
ton, stating this policy in words that
almost cover it up, and which will
yet be invoked hereafter if he is elect
ed, as warrant for the claim that the
people have Endorsed his purpose to ex-
ecute a new lease five years before the
old one terminates.
ut IS exactly on par with the plat
form statement last autumn under
which the present governor went into
Office upon a vague declaration which
misled twenty-five thousand prohibition
lists, and which he yet cited after his
election to prove that they had endorsed
his purpose to veto q law which they
desired passed.
'"ro those people who desire to see
this great property extended and pro-
tected, say it will be well to consider
the far-reaching and dangerous conse-
quences of thus anticipating and cutting
off the possibility of such policy.
PROBABLY PERMANENT CONTROL
II have felt sure for many years that
the great monopoly and combination
which owns and controls the present
lease and the present lessee, intends in
some way or other to get permanent
control of thig most valuable of all
railroads, mile for mile, in the United
States. @
Twice since I have been in the Leg
islature 1 have killed off seductive ef-
forts that would have ended that way.
One was the bill to sell it for $1O,000,0O0
when 1t would be a bargain at 100000
000 The other was the attempt to
lease II again fourteen years before the
existing lease could expire.
81 have felt sure that whenever suit
able conditions should arise, the effort
would spring up again, and l feel sure
of ii now.
1.-The Louisville and Nashville and the
Atlantic Coast Line, which are one COM
pany, are absolutely dependent upon
this and the Georgia road for connection
between their systems. The state can
give them all the facilities they need
and receive adequate compensation, and
still hold the control
WILL ENRICH GEORGIA.
eff we are prudent this road can be
made the means for making Georgia
the richest state in the union. But
grave dangers threaten If a lease 10 made
without the fullest understanding by
the people of their rights, and 1 warn
them soIemnIy against the danger Of a
hasty lease years before the matter has
been canvassed or the need arises.
81 say to the people now, from an ex-
tensive knowledge of this great property,
that if the present road and its appur-
tenant rights be leased for double what
we now derive from 1t, we will not be
getting half what ii Is worth.
PLATFORM VIOLATION.
81 protest against this threatened vio-
Iation of the platform pledge that no
lease should ever be made without full
warning to the public and full oppor-
tunity for the public to. make its will
known.
mo such warning is given by this be-
lated declaration. three days before the
election, Of a lease to be made during
the coming administration.
Against II, say that that no lease
should be made during the next admins
tration. On the contrary. full and ade-
quate steps should be taken for the most
complete ascertainment Of all the pos
sibilities connected with the road. and
the people Of Georgia with complete in
formation should have the opportunity
to express their will about it" "'S