Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-04-27
Campaign for State
Ownership Alb & A.
Being Pushed Ahead
Place for Big Meeting Is To Be An.
nounced At Early Date

The proposed State ownership of
the A. B. & A. Railway Company is
in no wise affected by the recall of
the invitation of few citizens of
Fitzgerald for the meeting to be held
here May 4th, according to telegram
received by the Leader-Enterprise
from the officials of the association.
The place of meeting will be changed
by the executive committee of the
Stat Ownership association and an
nounced very soon. Local differences
arose after the mass meeting was
held here and had unanimously voted
to invite the association to meet here
on May fourth, when small commit
tee met with G. c. Smith, Vice-Pres-
ident of the Association for State
Ownership of the A B. & A., at the
Chamber of Commerce. Mr.. Smith,
who was for years superintendent of
the the A. B. & A., in irs early history
and very popular with Fitzgerald cit
liens as we'll as with his former en-
ployees, many of whom have been with
the A. B. & A. since the first train
was run into the city, and who are
now On strike here, was accused by
S, G. Pryor, Jr., as working in the
interest of the striking employees
and heated argument resulted, which
divided the sentiment of the members
of the Chamber of Commerce.
In his speech before the mass meet
ing. speaking from his personal ex-
perience with handling railroads and
oeiunct properties, Mr.. Smith had
stated that in his opinion the A. B. &
A., was suffering from wrong medi-
cine being applied through mistaken
diagnosis of the troubles affecting the
finances of the A. B. & A., from
which partisan friends of the officials
Of the A. B. & A. judged that Mr..
Smith was trying to emDarass the
present receiver of the road and re-
scented it. A committee. a majority
If whom arc known partisans of the
officials. in short order, revoked the
invitation, justifying their action on
the ground that so large undertaking
fo- this city should have the unani-
nous support of all of its businessmen
which of course WAS impossible to
secure.
The opposition charged that 1. Gel
defs, editor of the Leader-Enterprise,
who wrote the resolution, endorsing
the purchase OF the 4. 8. & A. by the
state, and Attorney A. J. Mcdonald,
who introduced the resolution were
acting for and in the interest of the
striking employees, which charge
both deny and its author S. G. Pryor,
r.. knew to be untrue, as he was
sitting beside Mr.. Gelders when he
wrote the resolution after Mr.. Smith
had finished his speech.
With only one voice opposing its
passage as introduced, the resolution
was adopted by vote. OF more than
three hundred representative citizens
present at the court house, Tuesday.
The sentiment for the purchase. of
the A. B. & A. as aM extension to the
State Road and for its ultimate pro-
lection is strong throughout the state
and the movement will gain strength
enough, it is thought by its promoters
by the next session of the Legislature
to secure sufficient support by its
members, both in the Senate and in
the House, to submit Constitutional
amendment to the voters of the State
in the next general election.