Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1916-03-17

illustrated than in the present day at
titude toward the future of the Western
and Atlantic railroad. Five years ago
scarcely a newspaper in the state
would have thought for a moment OF
advocating the sale of the Western and
Atlantic. Today newspapers all over
Georgia are pronounced in favor of
that policy, and the sentiment of the
people themselves indicates a division
on the subject not heretofore known.
The Albany Herald goes so far as to
declare that the state road ought to
have been sold twenty-five years ago.
The state should have retired from the
railroad business, says The Herald,
when it established the railroad COM.
mission for the purpose of regulating
rates and preventing discrimination. II
continues:
We have only recently witnessed
tie disgusting spectacle of the
state refusing to charter rail-
road because it's line would become
competitor of it's own railroad
property. And yet the state has
enacted laws and established a
railroad commission to encorage
and maintain competition in the
railroad business. A great state
ought to be not only honest, but
consistently fair, and the state of
Georgia can be neither, where rail-
roads are concerned, so long as it
owns railroad for which it de-
mands special privileges and i'm
munities, including exemption
from taxation.
The Americas Times-Recorder takes
similar position. Referring to the re-
Gently enacted resolution Of the Mari
eta Chamber of Commerce, The
TimesRecorder reiterates it's formerly
q MI hot -, u
Should be sold. 1t points out that
Governor Harris has not come OUT
fiat-footed for the sale of the road. but
puts the people on notice that it is a
matter for careful and thoughtful con-
Sideration." The Times Recorder sug
gests that Governor Harris has a
magnificent opportunity to formulate
some definite policy with reference to
the Western and Atlantic which will be
for the best interests of the state, and
to urge its enactment by the legisla-
ture.
So far as the Constitution is concern
ed, we are not prepared to say off-hand
at this time that the state road should
be sold. We are inclined to believe to
the contrary. We believe the state
would be infinitely better off under a
good lease satisfactory safe-guardel
aud yielding return commensurate
with the value of the property.
Recognizing the present trend OF
public sentiment as illustrated both In
newspaper expression and general
view, it is remarkable fact that with
the future Of state property worth
approximately $20OOO,OOO directly at
stake, not single candidate for gov.
ernor has come forward with any def.
mite statement on the subject. There
is no candidate who has a. yet pro
ncunced outright either for the sale or
for the lease of the property.
The people of Georgia are clearly
entitled to know whether candidates
stand for the sale of the property o.
against it. We should have a full and
free argument on both sides, and not
see this great property sacrificed or
the interests of the state in it endang-
cred because the candidates are afraid
to speak out.
Here is something well worth while
being made an issue in the campaign.
Let the candidates for governor, pres
ent and prospective, come out fat
footed and tell the neOple Sactlv wha.