Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-23
BY JAMES q. NEVIN.

BY JAMES 3. NEVlN.
Julian MCCurry's bill making 1t
misdemeanor in Georgia to spread
malicious gossip about women has
borne fruit abundantly in at least one
North Georgia county, wherein
young man recently was sentenced to
twelve months on the changing for
that very Offense.
the case was carried to court by
the young woman's father, and it was
the first case tried under the new law
in Georgia.
This law was enacted through the
persistent effort of Mr.. McCurry.
when he was "A member OF the State
Senate. He was induced to offer the
bin because of n happening In his
home county which suggested to him
the need Of just such legislation.
There was some difference Of opin-
ion IN the Senate when the matter
came up originally for passage, but
Senator McCurry soon Strengthened
out that. and persuaded the Senate
that through this law thousands OF
slanderers might be reached in Geor-
gin, and that the law itself on the
statute books would operate to guard
against much gossip of a malicious
character
law has been clearly demonstrated
and now that It generally is known
that such a law is on the statute
books, and that ut has teeth in it,
prosecutions of this character likely
viii be pushed wherever seems nee
essarv, until eventually careless
handling Of the good names Of wom-
en- In this State will become a rarity
Convictions under the law, more
over. seem likely to bring extreme
penalties At least. the first man
convicted under it got the very limit
Of the judges authority.
The Oglethorpe Echo says that DR.
L. g Hardman, OF Commerce, I'M
doubtedv win be a candidate for
Congress in the Ninth District
against the present Congressman,
Thomas NJ. Bell.
John ~ Holder of the same county
already is an announced candidate,
and with Holder and Hartman in the
raCe-and from the same cOunty-the
betting likely Is to be on Bell to win
At least, that's the way the politi-
clans from up there dope It out"
Just now!
Tenth District are getting so thick
that they VIII soon be In each others
way.
Joseph s. REYNOLDS has already an
nounced from Richmond. and Oswell
r. Eve. of the same county, is ex-
pected to follow suit. From Warren
County DR. Wyman Pitcher is dis
cussed as a probable candidate, while
little farther up Carl Ninson. in
Baldwin County, already Is squarely
in the race In Washington County
Judge h T. Rawlings has resigned
! the judgcshlp TO make the race, and
Willis Evans is said to be getting
ready to run again.
Pressure has been brought to
bear" on Judge Henry G, Hammond,
of the Augusta Judicial Circuit, to
stand for Congress, but the Judge had
rather remain In his present posi-
ton, where he will be allowed to be
Judge without opposition as long as
he wants to.
John T. West, OF McDuffie, is an
other man who has been urged for
Congress. but he has recently formed
partnership with Judge f. n. Cal
laway and former Congressman
Howard, and does not wish to play
politics Just now.
u. q. Fogarty former Solicitor OF
the City Court, and Congressman
Hardwicks campaign manager, has
been importuned TO run, but he has
refused so far to do so.
Outside Of the foregoing more or
less interesting complications and en-
tanelements, the situation in the
Tenth seems fairly understandable to
an Innocent bystander.
BY a majority OF 35 votes the peo-
pie OF the southern end of Montgom-
cry County have defeated a proposal
to cut new county from Montgom-
cry, to be known as Treutlin with
Sopertou as the county seat
The campaign was a heated one,
and, while the northern end of Mont
gomery voted heavily for the new
county, the Mt Vernon section went
almost as solidly against it.
This does not necessarily concluue
the matter. hut It will he used in the
Legislature as an argument against
the proposed new County of Treut-
lin.
II T. 4. Cantrell. OF Calhoun. will
only indicate a Willingness to ac-
tept il. it looks as If he may be the
next senator from the Forty third
District without opposition, Many
of his friends have lmpOrtuned him
to permit the use of his name as a
candidate promising him that IL will
not even be necessary for him TO
make campaign for the position.
Nj Cautrell is one OF the best
known and most successful lawyers
IN North Georgia universally es-
termed and respected. The next Leg
islature surely should be composed of
the very highest class OF men obtain
able for membership, as no Legisla
turc assembled IN twenty years has
bad more important matters 70 come
before ii than will come before the
one OF lgl5-l6 II is. perhaps, OF
Just such men as Mr. Cantrell that
the next Legislature should be com
posed
The Forty-third District is made
up OF Whitfield Murray and Cor
don Counties, and is one Of the most