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

Macon, Ga, August 10, 1912.
To the Democracy of Georgia:
Mr.. Slaton has been finally forced to
publish platform. All the good that is
in 1t at all in issue consists OF what he
appropriates from the views and poll
cies had been publicly advocating for
months.
For instance, to quote his platform
az abridged by himself, read as fol-
lows:
The protection of the states credit.
mo 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 a little later on, he
proposes, on the contrary, an additional
expense to be incurred for the devel-
opment Of our swamp lands" which
enterprise 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 forN-
The preservation of the Western ana
Atlantic railroad as property fon the
state" and that he is opposed to
Amy movement that might endan-
ger the Western and Atlantic railroad
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 we'll known, the railroad cor
porations In Georgia are in favor of the
preservation of the states road. just as
1t stands, that they may continue the
useful connections with 1t that they
now enjoy.
Mr.. Slaton is the candidate of these
corpora tons They understand Mr..
Slaton to mean that the present condi-
lions are to remain.
Recently, however, on entering the
race for the nomination, Mr.. Alexander
declared that he was strongly in favor
of an extension of the statefroad from
Atlanta to Savannah, not only because
it would be a vital improvement to the
property and to transportation IN Geor-
gia. but because such extension was alb
soIutelv necessary to the preservation
of the property.
While Mr. Alexander lives in Deca-
tur. DeKalb county, his law office ana
business and business interests are IN
Atlanta He is strong with the Atlanta
prohibitionists and other citizens In At
n
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 II
would enable it to invade Tor business
purnOses a territory now largely trlpu-
tarv to Augusta and Macon ana otner
smaller cities and towns. .,.,,
The proposition is very popular WIN
Atlanta people. and others along the line
would
Gifted. but is not popular with the peo-
nile Of the state at large. The masses OF
Tho neonle would seem to think that
Atlanta'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 geheraly,
most of whom would not be oenenteu
and some of whom would really be
damaged. 49,.
1t is estimated that the construction
and eouipment of this extension would
cost the state about $IO,0OO mile
or about twenty millions of dollars.
These two planks of Mr.. Stations
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 a strict construction and under
stand him to mean that he is only in
favor of the preservation of the prop
ertv 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
bv 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
to what is a too liberal use of the
pardonlng power" is left entirely open.