Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-06-22
4 Business Man Suggested
For Governor of Georgia
REFRESHING and wholesome sign It
is when the public, seeking to fill


positions of governmental trust,
turns to sure-handed, broad-sighted men OF
business. Time was when service OF thus
nature was considered the peculiar ii not
exclusive province of so-called professional
men, or rather of one particular set within
that class-the followers of what Falstatf
termed "o1d father antick, the Law Nor
was it required that the political aspirant
know much about law, If he had ready
tongue, an oily palm, an air of self-impor-
lance and an eye for the main chance. Our
first President, it is true, was a surveyor,
and Georgia's first Governor re-eminently a
philanthropist and man of affairs. For the
most part, however, the business men
(amongst whom we include all those en-
gagged in productive as distinguished from
a merely consumptive and loquacious life)
have been so absorbed in practical problems
and SO averse to lime1ght that they have
played an all too minor part on the political
stage.
Blu. happily a change seems coming to
pass: not that business men are seeking Of
fice but that office is seeking business men.
Up in Gordon county, for example, citizens
have projected a movement to put Felix
Jackson, of Gainesville, into the race for
Governor of Georgia. Mr.. Jackson is bust
ness man of the highest American type
energetic constructive, LIBERAL sound in
judgment, progressive in spirit, unwearying
in workmanly patriotism. Reared in Cor
later at Calhoun, he went to Texas while
still a youth and launched upon notably
successful business career. Merchandising,
banking. ranching and other fields of enter
prise claimed his effort, and in each of
them he not only made mark for himself.
but also contributed to the advancement and
prosperity of community interests. Thor
ough Georgian that he was, however, Mr..
Jackson found his heart wandering back to
old scenes and old friends so continually
that at last he returned and settled at
Gainesville, where since he has resided. In
that city and district he has stood always
ready to cooperate for the common good,
investing with an eye to public needs,
well to personal interest, and lending him.
self unstlntedly to every deserving cause.
When America entered the war, Mr.. Jack
son, having rendered his services to the
Young Mems Christian Association, in whose
affairs he had long been generous worker,
was sent overseas. The Y. NJ G. A. officials
and military authorities at the front were not
slow to perceive his capacity for initiative
and administrations; they assigned him the
highly responsible post of regional director
of the Associations work in the Rheims sec
tor.
1t is cheering sign, we say, when the
public turns to business men Of this type
for governmental service. Whether Mr.. Jack
son will accede to the request of his friends
or with what impetus campaign in his be-
half will go forward, if undertaken, The
Journal does not know, it's interest in the
matter being simply that Of an observer and
welcomer of wholesome tendencies in the
Commonwealth life. But we do know chat
the problems of government today are
largely problems of business nature; that
an ounce of common sense and fair play
will go further than a pound of polit-
ical theory and fine promises in han
ding the publics affairs Alright, and
that never did the sage of old speak
more truly than in saying, ''Seest thou man
diligent in business, he shall stand among
rulers" 1t is rule of this character
straightforward, dependable, efficient, sin
cere-that public office needs; and it is just
this kind that the people are coming more
and more to prize.