Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-07-04

This is not a fight between Macon
and Atlanta 1t ought to be entitled,
the City Of Macon versus the State of
Georgia ''-Chairman Black of the Citi-
zens Committee
That puts the issue precisely. If it were
merely question of one town or another
getting the capital the State at large might
look neutraly on save for a natural wish
that the communty's whose established
rights were attacked should be indicated
against aggressive coveteousness But
more than this is at stake-incalculably
more. There are only some forty-siX thou
sand people in Macon, and only some one
hundred and ninety thousand in Atlanta.
But in Georgia there are between two and
half and three million. Shall the inter
ests of those millions be sacrificed to the
ambition of a few? That is the question.
Shall the taxpayers of this entire Common
wealth, burdened as they already are, be
saddled with yet heavier loads simply that
small group of promoter may profit? Shall
the convenience of all whom business or
professional duties call to the capital be dis
regarded simply to satisfy local whim?
Shall the concord and cooperation in which
Georgians now are working for their great
common interests be turned into strife and
bitterness simply to grant one city special
privilege at the expense of it's neighbors?
12con versus the State-that is the case.
n the capital was established at At
anta by vote of the people, on terms which
left no doubt of the intention of perma-
nency, the public took it for granted that
this matter was settled once for all Ac-
cordingly there erected at a cost OF a
million dollars, an administration building
which had and still has, hardly a peer IN
all the South and which could not be dupli-
Gated today for twice or, perhaps, three
times its original cost Around this center
he States activities grew and it's purposes
developed, year after year, decade after dec
AIDE. Laws were passed, business was
transacted, plans wee made, all upon the
assumption that the capital would remain
!Xed as the people had ordered. Moreover,
as time with it's rigorous tests went by. the
"lsdom of Atlanta's having been chosen as
lie permanent seat of the States govern
Nent became more and more manifest. This
city proved to be, the voters had toreseen,
the approximate center of population and
II industry and CONNER ce as we'll. 1t prov
ed to be pre-eminently the center Of rail-
way communication, as is evidenced by the
TACT that upwards of one hundred and thir-
ty daily trains pass through Atlanta.
Further, the city grew to be the financial
center of the entire Southeast and as such
won for Georgia the Federal Reserve Bank
of the Sixth district. BY virtue OF it's ex-
cellent facilities for communication and it's
'asy accessibility from all parts of Georgia
and of the South, it became also the center
OF divers other Federal activities which con-
3ern the entire State and oftentimes the en-
tire region. Thus in Atlanta the capital is
rooted in most advantageous conditions
which have been long developing and
from which it could not be torn I'D with
out incalculable injury to the interests of
me State and the people. The money cost
alone should give pause to even the rashest
promoter OF the removal scheme. Think of
pending from three million to five million
n more dollars of public funds on this pre-
'osterous folly at time when the States
essential institutions are crying fora suDport
ana the states purse is too poor to pay bills
long overdue! Think of loading down the
farmers and merchants and citizens gener-
ally with the added tax burden of these mill
mons or dollars merely to humor few neo-
pies heady whim. And then think OF nm
roofing the capital from the environment
"eSI suited to its business and to the needs
ana convenience of the public, merely, IN
please an itching palm! Verify verify this
IS a case OF Macon versus the State
Never were there wider and richer op-
portunlties than today for Georgia's ad-
vancement. Never did the times ring forth
d finer inspiration for the generous co-work-
ing of all her people There is prosneritv
enough and glory enough for every town
from the mountains to the sea without one
thought OF envy or one .narl of i'll will. But
we snail not reap these goodly harvests if
we fall to fighting one another We cam
uot promote our Individual interests if we
destroy our collective interests We cannot
uppulld our own town by seeking to iniure
our nelghbors We cannot be true TO orr
own community if we are false to the hiph
est good of the Commonwealth Not hv
pickering and strife such as a capitalre
IhoVal election would inevitably bring on
put by goodwill and cooperation can the
interests OF Georgia and of her cities one
ana all be advanced. We have too MANY
lerUle acres to drain and clear. too MANY
streams to dredge and harness for water
power, 100 many mines to open too MANY
industries to develop, too many reckoning
helds OF trade to explore, too many high
ways to build, too many children to educate
TO waste one day or one dollar in warning
over question that was settled permanent
ly and satisfactorily Iorty-two years ago. To
'alse this issue now il to raise it against the
peace and prosperity of Georgia. Atlanta
may be depended upon to withstand with
all the v1gor of her being the fight which
mas been launched against her interests
But the case of Macon versus Atlanta is of
scant concern to the Legislature and to the
people at large as compared with the case
OF Macon versus the State That far-reach-
ing issue touches the interests of all Geor-
glans, and touches them perilouslv. Tn
Jusuce to the State, the Legislature should
rule decisively against extravaganza ana
strife. anu
"a