The Cordele dispatch. (Cordele, Ga.) 19??-1971, 1916-10-25
Reflected Dissertations
BY MAX (. LAND.

| have been asked several times
since the recent state convention to
give my views and conclusions upon
it's actings and doings, but have de-
ierred doing so until it is almost too
late. Individual views are sometimes
accurate and sometimes inaccurate
and this is generally on account OF the
point Of view, which is SO often in
fluenced by the side party happens
to belong TO politically.
Having no ambition personally Tor
the political game, / viewed it merely
as a spectator. Georgia public affairs
have long been most spectacular and
at times dramatic, but always interest
ing for those who like politics. rms
recent state convention was more
democratic, quiet orderly than any
we have had for the past ten years
BY more democratic Imean that 1t was
more like a free for all game, with
less Of the slate making, bosslsm ana
steam-roler autOcracy Yes, 1t was
indeed a free fight and for this reason
;eemed to give more satisfaction than
anv convention in recent years.
There is another truth about 1t, IL
was made IN largely OF very young
men, and there was undoubtedly the
smallest crowd attending a convention
in recent years.
As to the contested place-Court OF
Anneals positions, those who had the
10 rpest number of boosters got the
places regardless of how the people
voted. AS to how the people voice
WAS not much considered or discussed
but it was question as to VINO cotilc
get the convention votes. The candl'
dates who were alone were left alone,
and those who had the boosters won
Here is another sure thing: The so
called state ring which was broken
and shattered when HOke Smith walk
ed through Georgia ten years ago, was
back on the job, with full regalia ana
aasv running machinery. This crowd
will likely stay on the job for another
ten years, and then will come defeat
and may be another Hoke, and such
is life.
Here is a most serious question;
Money and money alone will control
Georgia politics and Office holding un
/ less the people do something in the
very near future TO prevent 1t. II
was never intended that our state
house Offices should be held only by
he rich. Is the ability and character
of a man TO count for nothing, abSo
iutely nothing unless he has money?
What can we promise our boys to de
liver them such a country where man
hood, self respect, character and a5ili
~ are turned down for the dollar
This is no phantom for the horror is
already at our door. There is no use
or a man to have ambition or aspi.
-ations unless he has lot of money tc
go with it. There is q remedy for
nearly every disease and to bring
about right conditions the people viii
have to demand that our law makers
pass a law which will prohibit any
candidate for q state-hOuse office go
ng further than merely announcing
his candidacy in the papers, and Their
II limited number of words.
The county unit plan and the popu
lar vote plan is still a matter of con
siderable talk whenever politics arc
discussed and it was heard a gooo
deal at the recent convention. That
vas largely unit vote crowd, how
ever, and it was hard to tell whether
they reflected the sentiment OF the
state or not | am of the opinion that
he majority plan is the most popular
" it'll the masses, notwithstanding the
old argument that the city politicians
Will control, They will do it anyway
under any rule if permitted. The
1nit rule is undoubtedly more the in
iiv:dual and exclusive property Of the
professional politician. 1t is natural
rcr it gives him more leverage than
he other plan. The popular vote plan
IS more democratic, and the demo.
Gratis would have won the presidency
forty Years ago, and only eleven years
atter the war if it had been left tC
majority rule, Samuel TiIden won
he popular vote over r. B. Hays, and
hould Lave !oen president 1t was
he same way with Harrison and
cleveland in the second race Mr..
Cleveland had the popular vote, bu
Mr. Harrison had the unit vote