Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-03-31
Mr.. HARDWICk
ANSWERSMR
FLEMING.
CANDIDATE FOR CONGRESS SAYS
He DID NOT MIsoUoTE THE
CONGRESSIONAL
RECORD.

sANDERSVILLE, March 29-Hon. T.
". Hardwfck. OF Sandersville. who is
making the race for congress in the tenth
congressional district against the present
incumbent. william II. Fleming. today
answers the interview OF Mr.. Fleming on
March End. in which he stands by his
speeches which have been delivered on the
stump. When seen about Mr. Flemings
statements Mr.. Hardwick said:
I'm his interview OF March End. an
sxering my Thomson speech. my oppon-
ens Hon. VIM. II. Fleming. has seen nj
20 use some OF the harshest and bitter
est language / have ever seen in print
even m a heated partisan contest between
opposing candidates Of different political
parties. much less in a contest between
Fentlemen who are aspirants for the nom
nation OF the same party.
1t is quite apparent that he did not use
language universally considered Insulting
smong gentlemen for the purpose or with
the expectation OF provoking personal
difficulty between US, Tor IL must be re-
uembered that we were not face to face
when the words were used. but thousand
miles apart.
Besides. although am a youPger.. and
less experienced man than he, yet
think have highergreg gard for the digni-
y OF the ONCE 10 which I am an humble
asplrant than the present incumbent
seems TO display. and I shall use every
effort both 70 keep my temper and 10 pre-
serve my dignity during the tendency OF
the-conteSt between US
Fleming Is Mistaken.
Ny opponent takes occasion 70 say IN
the opening Of his interview that have
committed a 'falsihcation' OF the Demo-
cratic platform Of 1854. and observes that
50 complete was the proof that I did not
venture TO enter denial He is absolutely
mistaken I did not have before me at
the time my announcement was written
a copy az that platform. but undertook 70
quote Il substantially. and that L did:
have been perfectly willing TO rest on Mr..
FIeming's statement OF the differences an
the exact and literal words between my
ouotation and the platform. I used. very
nearly the words OF the platform. So
nearly its exact words that felt as II
would have been guilty OF plagiarism If l
had not put quotation marks around
them. The deduction I drew from the
platform and the idea I expressed was
the logical. indeed. the inevitable. conclu-
sion from Il. In his srejoinder' he quoted
the exact words Of the platform, but as
he was then charitable enough not TO
charge me with an intentional misquOta-
zion. and as the words used expressed
the same idea as those used in the party
platform. dismissed the subject from
my mind and IL my failure 70 refer TO IL
in my Thomson speech can be fairly term
ed confession OF any sort, then I wish
70 ask why he does not stand before the
people confessedly guilty Of having dodg-
ed every issue in this campaign, and OF
having failed 10 express himself on every
public question. for in my reply to his an
mounceufanf charged him with that. and
N none Of his numerous cards and in
ferviews' has he ever entered a denial
Fleming Is Childish.
so far as intentional misquotation OF
the platform Is concerned, the charge is
absurdly childish. for 1t certainly does
look as IL any sensible man would know
] would not be guilty OF that and then de-
liherately refer the public and my oppO-
nent to the source of the quotation, where
the mistake. IL any, could be discovered.
Mr. Fleming has simply lost his temper.
or he would not use such unjustihable
language
in his interview he charges me with
intended deception, with 'falsifcation.'
with fraud'-in THAI charged that
on a certain occasion. according TO the
Congressional Record. he had been greeted
with 'derisive laughter from his party
associates. the Democrats, in congress. If
his charge is true / do not deserve and viii
not ask the vote or even the respect Of a
single honest voter in this district: on the
contrary II IL is false he deserves and
should receive the condemnation and cen
sure OF every fair-minded man in the
district regardless OF his previous opin-
ions OF predictions. for unfair. unjusti-
fable and indefensfble treatment OF his
opponent In his interview he uses these
words: There Is but one place in the
Congressional Record where those words
''derisive laughter" occur in Connection
with any speech OF mine: they viii be
found on page 2o49 under date OF February
18th There on that page in print as plain
as type can make IL stares every reader
in the face the fact that the derisive
laughter came from the Republicans and
not. from the Democrats. etc"
There Was No Derisive Laughter.
The incident TO which he refers hap
pened OF course. for derisiOn Of him does
not seem to Dc confined 20 his party ssso-
ciates alone
But 8fr. Fleming misstates The Record.
On January =, fs11 on page So OF The
Congressional Record. the following ap-
pears Il do not give the whole coloauy be-
cause there Is only one specific denial on
Mr-. Jennings par0: Mr. Fleming-Be-
cause the chairman is not charged with
any such knowledge Of the purpose at all.
Derislvs laughter on the Democratic
side"
Moreover. this is not the only time the