Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-07-08
THE HAWKINS CHARGE.

a MERICUS is in the limelght
=. again. Representative Ed Nc
Michael, of Marion county, who has
been a determined foe of the state
highway department, startled the
Georgia house Friday in the course
Of a lengthy and bitter speech, by
reading a letter from Joe Hawkins,
of Americas, accusing w. A. Cross
land, federal highway engineer for
Georgia of claiming a personal profit
to the extent Of $4,000 in the pur-
chase some months ago by the state
highway department Of its rock quar-
ny in Ebert county.
This charge is serious, and should
be sifted to the bottom-either prov
ed or disproved. However, inasmuch
as it is made against a federal EN-
ployee and not against any person
connected with the state highway de.
partment, it should not be permitted
to prejudice any mind against the
state highway department, in which
the people of this section as a whole
have had great faith, until the facts
are ascertained. Discussing the
charge, James A. Holomon, writing
in the Atlanta Constitution, says
81 say without fear or favor that
the introduction in debate Of such I'M
supported and unsworn testimony,
vague and indefinite, in connection
with a discussion of reports made
entirely upon the evidences of sworn
witnesses-and concerning an Off
cial of the federal government who
is not in anyway connected will
the state government of Georgia, or
its highway department, was an eff
fort to appeal to prejudice and pas
sion, and was a method of fighting
the highway department that is UNI
worthy of the gentleman from Ma
rion, or any other member of the
Georgia legislature.
eff Engineer Grassland, of the gov
eminent service, is guilty of wrong
doing he should be discharged from
his position; and if guilty of a crime
he should be punished by law
IF any member of the Georgia
highway comission, official or en-
ployee, has now or has ever had, any
personal interest, directly or Indirect
ly, in any supplies sold to the state,
or has ever financially profited to
large or small extent, in any of the
transactions of the department, he
should be discharged, and if guilty
of crime should be punished
But to take an alleged unsupport-
ed statement against a federal en-
ployee, and to convert it into a SEN
sational attack upon the state high
way department in order to stir up
luminosity and to arouse the passions
and prejudices of members, and to
feed the sinister and insidious under
current of rumors as to graft and
corruption, emanating from enemies
of the department, is to abet and aid
in a propaganda that real men and
true men and conservative men ought
not to encourage.
Joseph Hawkins, who is alleged
to have written the letter introduced
by Mr.. McMichael, was a former
engineer Of the state highway depart
ment, and was discharged, according
to my information. 1t is understood
that he has been sowing seeds OF
poison against the department since
even if his alleged statements re-
garding Grassland are correct-and
/ do not know anything to support
or deny them-they do not involve
at the present stage, certainly, any
State of Georgia official or EN-
ployee; nor do they show any care
lessness or Indifference or incompe
tency upon any Georgia official Of
employee.
until, by investigation, sucl
shall be proven, then any charge, by
innuendo, or direct, is not only pue
rile but bordering on the libelous."
According to the report, the Ell
bert quarry has met the expectations
Of the state department and in every
q way is satisfactory and worth every
cent paid for it. Now that the chal
lenge has come in a form that must
be cleared up, we believe those in
authority should not hesitate to take
all necessary steps TO get at the
truth and see that the guiltyare pun.
ished il anyone is guilty, or close
the mouths Of the aecusers, if theiI
Afcueafiona are false