Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-08-24
FORTDENOUNCES
MANAGER PLAN
Lawyer Takes Issue With Propon-
ents Of Change Of
Government

James A. Fort in statement re-
garding the city manager plan Of
government, has the following to
say in opposition 10 the change:
The way to get out of debt is
to spend less than you receive. If
you speculate in get-rich-quick laws
and 100 per cent oil stocks the re-
suit vii be the same. Zeal and good
intentions will not save you. You
are bound to lose in the end.
To-day we are in the hands of the
thinkers. They revise, amend and
side-step. Side-step, amend and re-
wise
Would you revise and amend the
Bible because some of our citizens
go to hell? Do you think you can
stop the operation Of natural and
Divine law by tearing out the Ten
Commandments? The remedy is not
to undertake 10 destroy the law but
to improve conduct
Would you destroy our city char
ter because some Of our pur||c Of
ficials have failed in the discharge
Of their duty?. Will you listen to the
song of the spendthrifts and permit
them to pass the buck" by plead
ing that their failure is due to the
system rather than to their own
shortcomings?
Less than a hundred years ago
our fOrefathers drove the Indians off
and cleared and cultivated these
very lands. They put into operation
the system of government that we
have every right to look upon as
a precious heritage. Win you per-
init a few politicians to convince you
that we have become so weak kneed
and corrupt that we are unable and
unfit to administer this government
handed down to US by the fathers?
Must We go in supplication to some
stranger and beg him to take our
affairs in hand and regulate our
lives, our liberties and our proper
ties?
What interest would manager
have in our affairs, why should he
run the risk of running his reputa-
ton to straighten out our Difficult
ties?g Only for one reason, and thafz
is to get his pay. Will he serve you?H
No. He will serve the men who hire
him, and their friends. What man.
ner. of man would accept the posi-
ton of manager? He is subject to.
be discharged at the whim of the
commission; he must please the com.
mission at all times or he will be-
summarily dismissed. A man out off
job might agree to act as manager;
on the theory that he has everything
to gain and nothing to lose. CAM
you imagine a man with executive
ability giving up a good job to ac7
cept any such uncertain employment
Any man who accepts the place puts
himself in a compromising positions,
would We be justified in abani
doning system that has worked for
almost hundred years, for a new
system, the true character of which.
is not fixed by time and habit? The
constitution of Georgia of 1861 makes
this very clear, it says: No govern
ment should be changed for light or
transient causes; nor unless upon
reasonable assurance that a better
will be established
"On September ~, you will be
called upon to vote on the adoption
of the city manager scheme of gov
eminent. The bill provides that
majority of those voting shall de-
termne the matter The burden is
on the proponents Of this Bill to con-
vince you that you will be benefit
ed by this change, otherwise as
prudent citizen you will be bound to
vote against it"