The Cordele dispatch. (Cordele, Ga.) 19??-1971, 1919-06-27

Atlanta, Cattle people Of the state
Of Georgia will finally settle, one way
or the other, at the next general election,
the capitol removal issue.
1t is to be definitely determined at that
time whether the capitol is to remain
in Atlanta and the necessary improve
ments and engagements are to be made
here, OF an adequate and fitting new
capitol building and governors mansion
are to be provided in Macon, in the cen
ter Of the state.
The Georgia Legislature at this ses-
sion will pass a bill, not as great
many people have seemed to believe, to
move the capitol" but to submit the
question to a vote of the people for their
determination.
A canvass of the state, county by coun-
ty, has just been completed and it is
found that generally speaking, the people
and the statesmen are of one mind on
the subject; they are in accord with
the opinion expressed by Governor Dor
sey some months ago: That the contin-
ued unsettlement of the capitol removal
issue has become bar and handicap cap
on the states business in more ways
II han one, and the time has come to
end the agitation" by putting it up to
the people to render final verdict at the
ballot box, and bring the thing TO
There are members of both houses
who will support the measure this year
to submit the issue to q vote OF the peos
ple and who, when it is submitted, Will
stand firmly in opposition to removal of
the capitol from the city of Atlanta
Among them are some who will return
to their homes and, in the campaign pc,
fore the people on the direct issue, will
seek to carry their county against It,
but they frankly occupy the position of
desiring the issue brought to its final
end at the earliest possible time, and
admit their conviction that there is no
other, as well as no more proper or
conclusive, manner of ending it.
Law Says People Must Vote
In no few localities in the state it
has been found the belief exists that the
location of the state capitol is fixed by
the state constitution. In other locali-
ties though these have been found TO
be but few there is entertained some
idea that the state legislature has the
authority to fix the location of the capt.
toll. and has passed upon the question.
Neither idea is correct . $780,.
The sole authority for future deter
mination of the question OF the capitol
after the adoption of the convention or
dinance has been by vote OF the peo-
pie of the state.
In the light of these, facts gentlemen
of both branches of the i9lS-zo L t,tso
DESTROYS of placing the capitol in the
center of the state, and those opposed
to any change from the present location
have announced themselves in favor
and support of the provision made by the
constitutional convention last held. They
recognize, as does the present state ad-
Ininistration, that the issue is one winch
must be speedily brought to a conclusion,
and they stand for making the required
legal arrangements to reach that con-
clusion this year.
Statewide political issues ordinarily
t0 without
necessity for meeting legal technlcallty.
This issue, however, is not OF the or
binary variety. Its final settlement can
come through no other legal means than
action on the part of the state legisla-
ture submitting it to popular vote.
That government founded on the con-
sent of those governed is the only 1lrm
and substantial kind.
Why the Issue Needs to Be Settled
For ten years there has been constant
ly growing an agitation for removal OF
the state capitol to ioca no +i nearer ef
its origin it was treated lightly, ana
ten years ago was probably not an is
sue of statewide Importance. Devel-
opment in that space of time OF the
wonderful wilderness and wild-land south
ern portion of Georgia into the greatest
farming trucking and fruit growing sec
ton of the southeast added sucn lmpe-
of the state government that it attained
the scope of big and broad state issue
several years ago. Four years ago rep
resentatives of a majority OF the coun-
ties in the state committed themselves,
not to a movement to remove the CAPT
toll from Atlanta to Macon, but to the
proposition that this issue is of such
size and Importance it must be passed
upon and determined by the voting pop
ulation of Georgia as a whole.
The magnitude which it has, or al
Z ready had at that time, reached manifest
ed Itself several years ago in the Geor-
gia LEGISLATURE when efforts were MADE
10 make disposition of the old and di-
iapidated house used since 1872 as
governors mansion. a piece or prop
erty acquired by the state from Mr..
John H. James, of Atlanta, at a cost
in that day of 100000 worth OF seven
per cent Georgia bonds Capitol re-
Inoval" prevented action then on the
ground that ''the people must settle the
issue by vote first
Subsequently,, or about three years ago,
efforts were made in the Legislature to
son estate real estate in juxtaposition to
the present capitol property, for the
purpose of erecting an annex building
in order that the present building, then
overflowing, might be relieved to some
extent of the pressure upon its 1ncreas-
ing inadeuuacy That effort met the
same fate Capitol removal" prevented
sction until the people should be allowed
20 vote on the issue.
The effort to negotiate sale of the
present mansion property and purchase
more suitable property upon which to
erect a new mansion suffered the same
experience. They all have been blocked
by the capitol removal issue"
Must Have More Room
Nearly three years ago Governor Har-
ria on his own responsibility, and in or
der TO make room in the state capitol
for the new members OF the state court
of appeals rented, in the name of the
state, and at very substantial rental