Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1925-07-15
A Platform for a Real
Governor.

$1,000 AN~~AANAJ oSJNcA@ All : III LiiC
Atlanta Constitution outlining
REAL platform for a REAL
governor, written by Rev, c. NJ.
-edbetterP of Nashville, Ga.
After mentioning the names of
several Georglans WHO are said
to aspire to the CHAIR of me Chief
Executive, Rev. Ledbetter says:
/ would like to see some one
run or be run for the office with
something like the following for
platform:
1. | believe in the Ten Com
mandments ard the Sermon on
the Mount, and that they were
given to man by the Almighty as
the principles to regulate the con-
duct of all men both in office and
out. / propose to let these prin-
ciples control me both as pri-
vate citizen and as governor of
the state should / be elected.
2. I am opposed to the spoils
system in politics, and if elected
! hereby give notice that / will
not appoint any man to office
because he has supported me, or
refrain from appointing one be-
cause he failed to support ne.
On the contrary ] will in all my
appointments be governed by
what | believe to D. best flr tie
people Of the state. | promise
furthermore that l. viii not APP
point any man to office whose
moral character is questionable.
Being a Christian myself | will
seek out the men whom / have
reason to believe arc true to God
to be placed in official position.
3. | am in favor of a system
Of taxation that is just and fair
to all persons, both natural and
artificial. Corporations and pri-
waite individuals should be treated
with the sane consideration and
fairness. That is not true in
Georgia today.
II the above three planks are
not big enough for some fellows
to stand on the following could
be added: Il viii put up in my
office the following notices to
be read every morning as I enter
and every afternoon as | leave:
Wisdom, Justice and Modera-
tor" and "What doth the Lord,
thy God, require of thee, but to
deal justly, love mercy and walk
humbly before thy God"
These are ideal things | know.
They are high principles, such as
al good men can indcrse. I sub
init that they are rot too high for
he guidance of the people of a
great state like ours. The man
who canAot put these as the guild
ing principles OF his l.fe is not
TO he 60. egIor of this e~mmon-
wealth. Ler some cone out on
this kind Of platform and then
let the pepole of the state get be-
hind him and elect him and it
would be the best advertisement
Georgia has had for half-a-cen-
utry. Some are talking about
raising 100000 to advertise the
state. But to elect a man whose
past life would justify it on this
platform would advertise Geor-
gia better than 100000 Spent in
the ordinary way Of advertise
mont, and I am not opposed to i
advertising. i was raj led in the
printing office and believe in first
class advertising. But for Geor-
gia to adjourn petty politics and
run the state on the principles
enunciated herein, with some man
whose record supports it, would
attract to our state thousands of
families IS permanent citizens,
and the class this would attract
would be the best class to be
found on the face of the earth.
To run our old state on this plan
for two or four years would make
Ter blossom aej bloom as a use,
and a big rose at that. There
would be only one difficulty l can
see. A governor like this with
the people behind him, both the
political parties would want to
steal him and make him president
Of the United States We have
men big enough for this.
The reverend gentleman has
framed an IDEAL platform, but
il S one that would elect a REAL
nam, a man in whom the people
had confidence.
Georgia needs leadership. I'm
til some outstanding man comes
forth, a veritable Moses, most of
our efforts viii be in vain.
Georgia must be revamped
from start 10 finish. Beginning
with our State Constitution, we
should 90 down the line in a SEN
sible, business-like way, elini-
mating the politician and placing
the State once more in the hands
Of men who desire 10 serve their
fellowa end rot themselves.
Some day Georgia will do that