Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1925-01-01
Editor w. T. Anderson Discusses
States Needs and The GoUernorship
Declares He Would Like to Be Type
OF Executive Whose Chief Aim Is
to Serve People of Georgia


few days ago, signed by Nelson M.
Ship, editorial writer for the Tele-
graph l was in Washington City at
the time, and upon returning found
that Mr.. Ship, my associate on the
Telegraph, had taken the liberty of
making some remarks in connection
with the highway department, cou-
ping my name up with more or less
talk by well-meaning friends OF mine
in reference to my becoming a can
didate for governor. \Some newspa-
pers have construed the article as
my announcement.
Frequently | have been asked if
| intended to be candidate. My
answer has been an emphatic no.
have made speeches all over the state
urging the people to get behind the
road department and build roads as
foundation for the development of
our state-as sort OF pillar under
the edifice AS a prelude to my re-
marks on the subject of roads, it has
been almost an invariable rule with
me to announce at the outset that
what | intended to say had no polit-
ical aspect - that | was not can
didate for any office, and did not
expect to become a candidate; that
there was no office [ would ask a
voter to give me.
Despite what has been said on
the subject, and what has been con-
strued as more or less of a declara-
ton by me, directly or indirectly,
wish to repeat as emphatically as l
know how to say it, that | am not
now a candidate for any office, either
by appointment or election, and do
not expect to become a candidate. |
want Georgia to build roads and
school houses. | want the state to
stand fully abreast of lany other
state. l advocate ample funds for
the purposes named. The aptomo-
biles are paying six and half mil
lions of dollars annually in tag and
gas tax, and if this were r1t entirely
on the roads, we should be able to
enter upon a road and school pro-
gram that would make Georgia grow
by leaps and bounds. Some argu-
ment has been made by me as to
the advisability of issuing bonds.
am first in favor of financing the
road building in ample amount, out
of the revenues already levied which
are being diverted from the channels
where l think morality DEGREES they
belong. If we can't get those funds,
then issue. bonds but build the
roads, of permanent material, regard
less. Then build and develop and
coordinate the schools of the state.
so that they will function most eff
ficiently and economically. l am in
favor of uniform school books, print
ed or furnished by the state at the
lowest possible cost-but not free
school books. I paid for my books
and what education | received, and
regard it as the best investment |
ever made. 1t is wrong to bring up
the youth or a people in the idea that
the state must do everything, and
that individual responsibility is sec
ondary
These are few of the things l
have advocated, entirely imperson-
ally, apart from any political phase
l was unselfiSh in it, and am so yet
1t of course goes without saying that
no native of this state would be un-
mindful of the great compliment that
is implied in coupling his name with
the high office of governor. l am
but normal human being. Nothing
would give me greater pleasure than
for the people to indicate their faith
in my ability to render them service.
And if it we're possible for the peo-
pie to so express themselves, nothing
would give me more pleasure than to
serve them to the very best of my
ability.
But I desire no fofice, seek no
honors. The running of newspaper
which is devoted to the interests of
the people, to have them believe
in it and support it because of their
faith in its sincerity and integrity, is
glory enough for me- The Tele-
graphs subscription list has grown
to nearly thirty thousand. We are
installing new press, which will
print four sixteen page papers at a
time. This enormous investment is
made necessary by reason of the
growth of the paper and its effort to
serve its large clientele promptly and
efficiently. If my friends will let me
alone, shall be happy to continue in
my efforts to give Georgia the best
possible to publish.
However much I regret to say it.,
the suggestion of my candidacy is
exceedingly distasteful to me. 1t seems
to me that to have my efforts dis
counted by the fact that | am in pol
itics or possibly will get into politics
will, be the most unfortunate thing
that could happen for the newspaper
which l publish Everything it advo-
Gates will be reckoned from the stand
point of political purpose I can new
err be credited with sincere motives.
If I should be elected governor, then
everybody will Immediately speculate
that I am to run for the senate.
That is what has happened to
every. governor who has yet occupied
the chair.
"And we have seen all of these gov
ernors, however good their intentions
get out before the people on such plat
forms as to secure votes. Then when
they get into office they are suspect
ed OF being senatorial designers, and
the Legislature goes to the capitol and
proceeds to nul1ify and make impos-
sib1e every plank in the gubernatoria1
platform.
Ihe consequence is that Georgia
never gets anywhere. We are filled to
the brim and running over with poll
tics.
''As long as Georgia is like this,
one man is as good for a governor as
another We act as if it doesn't make
any difference as to Georgia's pro-
gress or welfare She stands right
where she has always stood, in order
to make the new governor mark time.
81 have no desire nor would | con-
sent to become that kind of a govern
or. The only kind should want to be
would be on a platform that the people
believed in, and that the legislature
would believe in and try to make efec-