Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-08-02
THE COUNTRY HOME
BY MRS. w. H. FELTON,

continued private control was first
submitted to the people.
Five to one, voted for the change.
The state then assumed control. IL
it had been Georgia, some leg1sla-
tor would have introduced a resolu-
ton (and if it had passed, in spite
of intense opposition by private own
ers), then it might have bone to
the voters with the opposition in
active service to retain control, but
the chances are against the suppo-
sition.
In the near future this identical
question is bound to come before
our Legislature. 1t is having hard
time already in the national con-
gress.
The fact is so potent that the wa
ter power of our streams, creeks or
rivers Tbelong to the whole people,
that one might suppose it would nave
strong friends everywhere. In Swift
zerland the people were in advance
of the politicians and got the first
vote on the subject.
Before 1875, all the records of
| births, marriages and deaths were in
| the hands of Catholics, where they
| outnumbered the Protest ants. In
Protestant cantons, the Protestants
| had charge.
The Swiss people took cognizance
Of the matter and placed the regis
tration in the hands Of the state.
There was only a majority Of eight
thousand, but the people were per-
The biggest fight occurred over
the purchase by the government of
the railroads. These railroads passed
over great mountains and descended
to deep valleys. Perhaps no country
| in had hiUhnr oSnnntS
lower grades. When the vote was
counted, between eighty-five and
eighty-six thousand voters demand
ed that the matter should be submit
ted to referendum of all the peo-
pie. Party politics did not enter
into the discussion.
| When the final vote was taken
more than two hundred thousand
voted for ratification of the law and
Switzerland took over all her rail-
roads without confusion.
1t is we'll known that Switzerland
kept out of the world war. All the
allied forces were near and adjoining
to this great mountain section. II
has no sea port to get away on the
reach. And yet Switzerland IS al
ways in a state of war prepara-
ton Practically every Swiss man
is a trained soldier. 1t is true that
all the warning nations might nave
swept Switzerland-as with Bosom
of truction-neverthele they
did not undertake to do it. The
brave Swiss won their independence
by the sword. It goes without say
/ ing they would employ the sword to
| maintain it. Nevertheless, Sw1tzer-
land stood erect and unmolested to
the time of armistice, November,
AS a rule, Europe is committed to
royalty. With the exception OF
France (and France is peculiar ma
ton in it's nethods), every one or
the fighting nations were under the
rules and regulations of kings and
emperors.
Switzerland is a constant rebuke
to monarchial government. 1t IS
an object lesson for those who are
attached to civil and religious liber--
ty. If Switzerland had been sucked
into the bloody vortex her Alpine
heights and tiny valleys would have
been sliced into many divisions, and,
been beaten with many stripes.
America could sit at. the feet or
Switzerland and learn many lessons
of national Wisdom and forethought.
It is not likely that any Of those
nations which rushed into the world s
war will attempt to overthrow this
gallant Swiss republic for years to
| come.
Let us hope that they may learn
| the proper lesson, and If change is
made, that more of these European
nations may take heed to the error
of their ways, and that the people
may be allowed to govern them
selves as free and untrammeled as
in the republic Of Switzerland.