The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1919-07-01

Atlanta, Ga-The people of the state
of Georgia will finally settle, one way
or the other, at the next general electloh'
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. or 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 SEES
sion will pass a bill. not as q great
many people have seemed to believe 10
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 1t is
| found that generally speaking, the people
/ and the statesmen are of one mind on
the subject: they are in accord Wltn
the opinion EXPRESSED by Governor Dor
sey some months ago: That the contln,
ued unsettlement of the capitol removal
issue" has become bar and hanolcal
on the states business in more ways
lend the agitation by putting 1t up To
the people to render final verdict at the
ballot box. and bring the thing 10
close. -
There are members of both. houses
who will support the measure this year
to submit the issue to vote OF the PEG,
pie, and who, when 1T is submitted, WI
stand firmly in opposition to remoyal OF
the capitol from the city OF Atlanta
Among them are some who Will return
to their homes and, in the campaign De
fore the people on the dlrect lssue "" II
but they frankly occupy the positlon o
desiring the issue brought TO us INA
end at the earliest possible time ant
other, as well as no more proper Of
conclusive, manner of ending 1t.
Law Says People Must Vote
+ In no few localities in the state II
has been found the belief exists that tht
location of the state capitol Is fixed b9
the state constitution. In other local.
ties though these have beer; FOUND q
be but few = there is entertained some
idea that the state legislature has thF
authority to fix the location or the cap1'
toll and has passed upon the question
Neither idea is correct: 49,
The sole authority for future deter
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; o g &c enc
Iature representing both factions-thos'
DESTROYS of placing the capitol IN I'M
center of the state, and those opposed
to any change from the present locauoi
have announced themselves In faVo
and support of the provision maze by tn'
constitutional convention last held. me.
recognize as does the present state al
ministration, that the issue is one Wnlcf
must be speedily brought to conclusion
and they stand for making the required
legal arrangements to reach that con
Statewide political issues ordnaril!
go directly to the people. without an!
necessity for meeting legal technicailty
This issue. however, is not OF the or
binary variety. It's final settlement cal
come through no other legal means THAI
action on the part of the state legisla
ture submitting 1t to popular On V9 PIE ron
sent of those governed is the only firm
and substantial kind. ..,.
Why the Issue Needs to Be Settled
For fen wears there has been constant
| " growing an agitation for removal o
| the state capitol to a location neare
| the center of Georgia. At the time o
! its origin it was treated lightly, AM
| ten years ago was probably not an is
! sue of st tie wide Importance. Devel
! opment in that space of time of tn
! wonderful wilderness and wild~land south
ern portion of Georgia into the creates
| farming trucking and fruit growing sec
ton of the southeast added such impe
tus to the desire for central location
of the state government that it attained
| fhe scope of a big and broad state isSu
| 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 tn
proposition that this issue is of sucl
| size and Importance it must be passe'
upon and determined by the voting pop
| uiation of Georgia as a whole.
The magnitude which it has, or al
! ready had at that time, reached manifest
| ed itself several years ago in the Geor
gia Legislature when efforts were mad
to make disposition of the old and di
lapidated house used since 1872 as
erty acquired by the state from MI
| John H James, of Atlanta. at a cos
! in that day of 100000 worth of sevel
| per cent Georgia bonds. Capitol re
| ground that the people must settle tn
| issue by vote first"
! Subsequently, or about three years age
! efforts were made in the Legislature t
have the state purchase from the Jack
son estate real estate in juxtaposition t
| the present capitol property, for tn
| purpose of erecting an annex buildir
| in order that the present building, the
| OVERLOOKING, might be relieved to som
extent of the pressure upon its lncreas
same tate Capitol removal prevente
action until the people should be above
to vote on the issue.
The effort to negotiate a sale of tn
! present mansion property and purchas
! more suitable property upon which
erect a new mansion suffered the sam
J experience They all have been blocke
by the capitol removal issue"
Must Have More Room
j Nearly three years age Governor Har
ris, on his own responsibility, and in or
der to make room in the state capitC
! of appeals rented. in the name of tn
] state and at a very substantial rental