The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1917-03-20
Stranger Within Thy Gates
From the Telfair Enterprise.

1HerS is CHdL mas So Inucl bearing
on the opinion a visitor forms of your town
as the treatment you give him while within
your gates" Nearly every favorable opin-
ion is based on the hospitality of the citizens.
The physical appearance of the town nor its
commercial activities have much to do with
the forming of an opinion either way.
A Dawson citizen writing in The Dawson
News a few days ago calls attention to an
occurrence there that is daily happening
somewhere. A party of people came to Daw-
son to trade, and while there the ''lion-heart-
ed" constable arrested them for not having
new auto license tag. The writer says:
Are there not many little things which
mean too much for Dawson to have our
officers run the risk of wounding the
feelings of visitors, of strangers, and
depicting their purses to the emolument
of the officials of the town and county
while, at the same time, causing these
strangers within our gates" to go awav
with very "bitter tastes" in their mouths
and swearing vengeance against Daw-
son? Did Dawson add anything to its
good reputation when four individuals.
visitors from neighboring county, who
were here to trade with our merchants
and business men, were hailed before the
court and stripped of $1,000 each SIM
ply because they, in another county,
had inadvertently overlooked the mat
ter of an auto tag for few days? No.
Not only that, but these same individ-
uals will blame Dawson for what they
will feel was very close to 'hold-up.'
Dawson is not in class by itself in this.
1t is common practice in many small towns
to pounce upon the visitor for the least in
fraction of the local or state laws, while the
prominent" citizen is allowed full sway in
these matters. The officers feel that they can
swell their income, and since the visitor will
ia on hIc
will be promptly forgotten. But that is not
so. That visitor may be commercial trav-
eler, and if he is he makes many towns
throughout that section, and he is only hu-
man; therefore, he proceeds to tell these 9th
er communities how he was held up at such
and-such town. He may be so human that
he will elaborate on the indignities he suf-
fered, and in time the town officials act will
do his city an irreparable injury
There is case in mind right now that hap
pened few weeks ago. A travelling man
was passing through small town in this Sec
ton of the state, and accidentally ran over
a citizen. At the trial it was shown that the
travelling man could not possibly avoid the
accident, and was therefore held blameless.
But here is what happend: After getting out
OF his car and rendering what aid he could
to the injured man he got in his car and
proceeded on his way. After he had gone a
warrant was sworn out and officers in near
by city notified to detain him. He was car
ried back and tdied with the above result
Now, who is the better off for that Incl
dent? Why could officers not have investi-
gated the matter at once? If they had the
man would have possibly felt no resentment
whatever AS it is, he is "sore" on that
town, and wherever he goes he will knock"
it as a "hold-up" town. And the town will
suffer.
Don't be too ready to make the passing
stranger 'pay the freight" Many of the To-
cal laws he may be ignorant of. If, on in
vestigation, you find such is the case courte-
ously warn him. There may be cases of will
full violation of local laws by visitors, but
they are few. Above all, don't treat the
visitor in such a way that he goes off and
advises his friends to ''hide under the train
seat" when they pass through your city.
Better that he say: "Why, that is the most
pleasant little city I was ever in. Every
body tries to see how nice they can be to
a stranger"