Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-05-18
GOV. HARDWICK
SAYS ABBA. WILL
NOT BE JUNKED
Endorses Emphatically Movement to
Protect Peoples Interests

TO urge the general. assembly at tn
coming session to give the voters O
the state the right to say whethe
bonds shall be issued for the purchas
OF the A. B. & A. if that road is fore
ced on the block and there are no bid
'derS for it as going concern, wa
passed at the state wide mass meet
ing held at Moultrie Tuesday unde
the auspices of the Association for til,
State Ownership of the A. B. & A
The resolution was introduced b,
Senator John H. Jones of Lagrange
at the close of the meeting at which
addresses were made by Governo,
Hardwick, Mayor James L. Key, O
Atlanta, Senator L. R. Aiken, O.
Brunswick, Representative A. J. Per.
ryman, of Talbotton, Representative
w. B. Mann, of Brunswick, Senator
Manson of Fulton and a number Of
Others.
The meeting made it clear that the
state is not in the market for rail
road and does not want the A. B. &
A provided there is any other person
or corporation who wants it and will
keep 1t as going concern.
Governor Hardwick was one of the
chief speakers on the program. He
declared at the outset that there had
been things said by some of the speak
ers with which he did not agree. He
insisted, however, that he was in &C
cord with the general viewpoint OF
the meeting. He gave it as his per-
sorial opinion that there was not much
danger of the A. B. & A. going on the
scrap pile, but said that he sympa-
thized with the view point of the peo-
pie living along the line.
He also pledged his help in having
the state step in in case no other ac-
ton can be taken to save the line as
going concern. He declared that
this was no opportune time to talk
about bond issues, but asserted that
he believed the people of the State
would approve the purchase of the A.
b. & A. if it is shown that nothing else
on earth can save it for the great ter
ritory that it covers.
He also made it clear that he was
opposed to government or state own
ership of railroads and that the state
purchase of the A. B. & A. would meet
with his vigorous opposition.
Governor Hardwick also declared
that as long as he was governor not
a single mile of railroad track should
be torn up until the United States
supreme court had ruled that such
a step could be taken. He declared
that in his opinion the law would
prevent the dismantling of a railroad
line.
IF while I am governor, he said
there is any attempt to scrap the A..
b. & A., l will instruct the attorney
general to intervene in the name of
the commonwealth of Georgia and get
the highest court in the land to rule
on the question of law involved"
He referred to the fact that two
railroad lines in the state had been
dismantled but said that the United
States supreme court was not ap-
pealed to in either case.
Mayor James L. Key took charge
of the meeting following a brief word
OF welcome extended by City Attorney
T. Q. Bryan. The meeting was
called to order by C. L. West, presi-
dent of the Moultrie Chamber of Com
merce
In the beginning Mayor Key ex-
planned the object of the meeting and
declared that no collateral issues
would be introduced The thing we
are interested in is saving the A. B.
& A. from the scrap heap. We don't
propose to have the state buy the
road except as last resort. The only
thing we are asking is that steps
being taken so that the state can
act in case of dire necessity. What's
wrong with that?
Mayor Key declared that there was
a strong possibility of the A. B. & A.
being scrapped, and asserted that
now was the time to act before it was
too late. He said that organizations
in every town and community along
the road ought to be formed and to
take an active part in the movement.
Lucheon for Visitors
The meeting was a great success
Yrom every standpoint and the move
lnent to save the Atlanta, Birming
ham & Atlantic from the possibility
Of being :unked was launched wltr
enthusiasm.
Headquarters at both Atlanta and
Rrun wick vii carry on re cam.
ipaign trt,I ne Legislature votes o.
of properly submitting the constitu-
stional amendment to the people will
be continued until the date of the cleo
ton. At noon all of the visitors were
rendered luncheon at the Y. M. C.
A.. Hon. w. c. Vereen presided and
called upon several of those present to
make brief talks. Among those re-
spending was Editor Gelders of Fitz-
gerald, who stating that he was a d.
ciple of Sen. Thos. E. Watson and
consequently committed to the princi-
pie of government ownership Of rail-
L. l. L