The Marietta journal. (Marietta, Ga.) 1918-1944, 1919-07-11
Atlanta Citizen. Pro-
test Against Capt.
tai Removal.

FTNHE citizens and taxpayers of
the city of Atlanta and Full
ton and DeKalb counties
earnestly appeal to the citi-
zens and taxpayers of all sections
of the state of Georgia to join
in the patriotic purpose Of de-
feating the pending bills in the
legislature seeking to remove the
state capital to Macon. and they
appeal to the various commercial
bodies. chambers Of commerce,
; municipalities and organizations
Of every kind to urge upon their
members in the house and the
senate by telegram. by letter and
personal interview to vote against
these bills, for the following,
amongst other good and sufficient
reasons:
I. Because such an agitation
will embroil the different sec.
tons in the state in strife and
animosity... divide the people.
commercially and socially. and pre-
vent the state and her citizens
from securing their share Of the
prosperity and development which
is at hand during the reconstruc-
ton period following the great
war which has Just ended. This IL
peculiarly d time for . continue
ton of the united. harmonious
efforts Of all the citizens Of al
sections to upbuild Georgia, adj
vance her superb prestige in bust
ness, finance and general growth,
and to discourage all discord,
strife. division and bitterness.
2. Because the present location
of the state capital was deter
mined by vote Of the people, and
with an agreement on the part Of
the city Of Atlanta that In con-
sideration Of Its location being
would donate the site where 1t Is
now located, which was done for
the purpose of the capitol. and
in addition contributed in money
the appraised value Of the Mil
ledgeville capitol buildings, and no
public necessity for the present
removal Of the capital exists. but
1t is against the public interest
and alone sought to crafty the
ambition of a rival city.
g. Because the taxpayers are
already heavily burdened with
federal taxes recently levied to
pay the war debt, and the state
already has a heavy floating debt
of her own. has no constitutional
right to issue bonds to build the
capitol, and cannot use the sale
of any of the present capitol
grounds or executive mansion ex-
cept to pay the public debt with
out violating her word to her
bondholders; the cost Of a capitol
and executive mansion at Macon
of equal capacity and facilities
to that now possessed by the state
in Atlanta. even though all the
ground is donated, would cost the
state some four or five millions
- doll ~ hn
of construction, and will further
heavily burden the already op-
pressed taxpayers. In the mean
time all the other developments
of the state are suffering for
lack of sufficient support, and
any increase in taxes should GER
tainly go first to schools, roads
and the many other branches that
are now insufficiently cared for.
4. Because the bringing on of
an election for the removal of the
capital will tend to demoralize the
public. and will inevitably place
the balance of power in the hands
of irresponsible elements. largely
comuosed of those who are now
wisely disfranchised from voting
under our constitution, by failure
to pay their taxes. Such cam
paign will put upon the state this
class of probably one hundred
thousand white and black voters
now disqualified. by causing their
taxes to be, paid in order to get
their votes. and they will there
remain a menace and a danger
to our institutions for all time to
come.
5. Because the Federal Reserve
bank, United States court of APP
peals, military post, base hospi-
faI federal prison and the various
other federal activities, and he
line of general business now To-
Gated in Atlanta. enable citizen
having business at the state CAPT
toll to conveniently attend to mis-
public or important duties by
making only one rip, whereas. II
the capital is removed to Macon
it would require a trip 20 each
place.
6. Because the railroad facili-
ties Of the state are sure that the
location Of the capitol in Macon
would inconvenience greatly
increased number of people over
what its remaining in Atlanta, by
requiring them to change trains
and making the trip difficult to
reach the capitol.
For these and other good reasons
that could be urged, it is of the
greatest Importance that these
bills in the legislature be defeat
ed and the state allowed to con-
tinue on her line of progress and