Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-07-01

T MAY dig my political grave" said
Ex-Governor Slaton, of Georgia, to
a friend. "but in this Frank matter
am not Jack Slaton. but the Governor
of this State. People have told me
that If I interfere in the Frank case
need never aspire to another political
Office within the gift of the State in
which I and my fathers were born, and
that efforts to resume the practice of
law within its borders would be futile.
What have I to do with either of
these? Jack slaton will take the
consequences of acting as Governor of
Georgia"
THE action is characteristic of the
man." said Stephen L. Snowdon, sec
retary of the New York Southern So
ciety, yesterday. For myself 1 am not
expressing an opinion as to whether or
not Frank was guilty. Opinion is di-
vided upon that question; but there is
not doubt in the mind of any South
erner with whom l have talked that
Governor Slaton acted according to his
best judgment"
Slaton is a big man physically. He
stands a little over six feet tall, is
200 pounds. He is an athlete, with
out a pound of superfluous flesh on
him. Morally he has shown his cour-
age a number of times. but never until
the mob moved on his home in Peach
tree road last Monday night was he
called upon to exhibit his physical
courage.
These are my people," he said.
Not a soul among them will do me
harm. I am going to speak to them
from the veranda and I am sure they
will go away without trouble. It may
be that a word from me will make
them disperse and prevent possible
bloodshed."
Friends tried to dissuade him. His
wife, Miss Sally Fanny Grant, as they
still call her with the Southern pro-
pensity for continuing the maiden
name of a woman even long years
after she has married. sat tight-lipped.
What do you say, Sally?" he asked.
"One bullet" interposed a friend.
from some irresponsible man will be
enough to do for you. Anybody might
fire it. Stay inside
"If you think you ought to go and
speak to them," replied his wife, you
go A bullet may be big thing, but
not half so big as the thought that
may come to you later that you were
afraid of it. know you're not afraid.
JaCkt SHOW In6 people IldJ you IlOl.
So he went to the veranda. and
showed himself to the people who were
threatening him. He comes of fighting
stock His father. the Major" w. F.
Slston. served through the Civil War
and then resumed his profession of
teaching. He is living in retirement.
but was one of the South's most con-
spicuous educators.
When Mr. Slaton was elected Gov
ernor in 1912 the States finances had
become confused. A large bond issue
was to mature in 1915 and the State
treasury was wrestling with deficit of
about a million dollars. Governor
Slaton urged that the method of as
sessing property for taxation be re-
vised. His political associates advised
against any proceeding that would
change matters. pointing out that some
years ago a Governor had advocated
and put through a somewhat similar
measure and that subsequently the
Governor. seeking reelection, had
been Overwhelmingly daflsed and the
law revoked.
Never mind" said S tot "If the
people do not want md .hy do not
have to have meA This is right
and I'm for it. This is the State
needs, and If can acebl IN it this
is what the State is goknd ASe, no
matter what happens tom
He staked the fortunes d.
ministration upon the me Vt
was enacted. The tax eou
was passed and during the
it's operation values
SS5 900. 900. a large prt
which had never paid