The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1925-06-30
What's the Matter With Georgia?

1t seems that nowadays no newspaper Is
complete without using the question above
Indeed, it is the vogue to not merely con-
/ fine the query to unAarng title on the
editorial page but to nightly shout it in
Aambouyant type on the very front page.
Not being a diagnostician of accredited
standing. we have no desire or intention OF
breaking through the circle of gathered ex-
perts Many eminent consultationists have
called themselves to the patient, and the case
seems to have given rise to a variety OF opin-
ion In fact it begins to look doubtful if any
diagnosis OF measurable agreement will be
reached.
The truth is, it has been hard matter to
make the patient admit he is i'll. And how
can you expect eminent diagnosticians to
agree when patient is so perversely obsti-
nate as to refuse to furnish them with any
subjective symptoms?
Is it possible, after ALL there is nothing
much the matter with Georgia?
Who started this whats the matter with
Georgia" anyhow Who foisted the habit
on us?
Perhaps some clue may be found by listen
ing to the eminent diagnosticians They con-
tinue to ask the question with a professional
flourish which bespeaks much practice. At
times they quit vocing the inquiry long
enough to declare what they observe as OBJ
jective symptoms, with supporting proof of
amazingly contrived statistics. Poor roads, !"
'literacy," nothing spent Tor schools, mig
gardly support of state institutions" are
scraps OF the medley Having picked their
t.. t,a;- cal
data, these gentlemen seem determined to hold
the patient down until he swallows all OF the
mixtures they would prescribe
Here's your panacea," one group shouts
'bonds, bonds. bonds" Take this another
says-"the income tax" This is the remedy"
says a thrd-"a new taxing system which
will treble our income" The thing, of course,
to do is to convince the patient that he is
really ill in order to make him swallow the
medicine. SO the steady chorus OF whats
the matter with Georgia." goes on.
The facts that Georgia is spending more
on federal aid roads than any other southern
state, that it is spending more for common
schools as state than nearly any other
state, that it is spending a great deal more
than half million dollars year for higher
education, and that, with the counties and
political subdivisions considered, it is con-
tributing some twenty millions a year for ed
ucation, that it is spending more for tubercu
lar patients than any other southern state, that
it is giving three-quarters OF million a
year to its state santarium, that its annual
budget is now some seventeen million dollars
seem to have been entirely ignored.
The truth OF the matter is Georgia has
been, and is, receiving at the hands OF its
own people world of unfavorable advertis
ing which is utterly without any foundation Of
fact In some instances well-meaning but mis-
guided citizens have been responsible. In 9th
ers-and we are frank to say we believe these
to be in the majority -propagandists, with
certain selfish purposes or pet schemes to
serve, have spread the SANDER Of Georgia's
utter iuferority
1t is true that this state is not all that it
could be or should be- But none OF the 9th
ers are, either We have long way to go yet
in the full development OF our magnificent
natural resources. But, all things considered,
our stride has kept pace with that OF our
neighbors. We are going to keep making
normally and sanely and lastingly
Georgia, more than any other state except
Virginia perhaps, caught the staggering blow
of the civil war. 1t rebuilt from the ashes,
splendidly and permanently, with fine faith
and courage 1t has suffered in recent years
from a depression which practically wiped
out the gross returns OF an entire cotton crop,
from the ravaging pest which has come near
to robbing it OF any profit from its chief
crop. Yet it has never given up. More than
that, in spite OF what it has suffered it has
its rank as one of the substantial
commonwealth of the union. Last year it
ranked second among southern states in in
come taxes paid the federal government
1t is time to call halt on this SANDER of
the state.
1t really ought to be made felony for
anybody else to ask, Whats the matter with
Georgian"