The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-04-29
HARDWlCK AND FLEMING.
JOINT DEBATE BEGINS IN TENTH
DISTRICT.

Donent Divide Time at LincolntOn.
MIR. Hardwick Goes Into Great De-
tail as to the Differences Between
Himself and Mr.. FIeminG-The Lat
ter Makes Manly, StraightfOr-
ward Reply, and Says He Is Will
ing to Leave IL TO the People of
the District.
washington, Ga. April 2S.-Con-
gresham w. H Fleming and Hon. T.
w Hardwick, candidates for congress
from the Tenth District, met in joint
debate at Lincolnton to-day. The
speaking was not characterized by any
thing sensational on part of the speak
ers Hardwick in speech of one hour
and fifteen minutes opened the debate
and complimented the people Of Lin
colnton on their reputation for fair
play. He said he had endeavored for
three consecutive times to get Fleming
to meet him, but without success. He
notified Fleming OF to-day's appoint
ment and the joint debate was agreed
to. He said he would not criticise
Fleming for not leaving his Congress
icnal duties, but he would criticise
him for harsh language used in the
campaign. He spoke of Fleming's un-
just language in saying he had falsi-
fed Congressional records. He was sat
isfied, however, with Mr.. Fleming's
apology. He did not want to be elected
on the dement's of his opponent, but is
running on the merits of views of his
own. He said Jennings announcement
for reelection dealt only with his OPP
cised Fleming for submitting the mat
ter of unjust criticism about falsifica-
ton of records to three arbitrator of
his own choosing. The speaker said
he had been fought in more ways than
any little fellow that had aspired for
office. He said Jennings friends had
gone to POpulists in the district and
called him "Wardwick, the Boykin
Wright of Washington county" On
the other hand they tell the Democrats
that debt of gratitude is due Augusta
for defeating Hon. Thos. E. Watson
in 1892. If such charges would hold
good he, Hardwck, would not get
vote in the entire district. He said
he wanted to leave out religion and
past political chaos and wanted a white
primary, regardless of past party affil-
iations. He would not encourage Bit
terness among white people. Dsunion
of the white meant that the money and
liquor will control office. He paid a
tribute to the workings of the pri-
mary, and referred briefly to the one
issue between himself and Fleming,
VIZ: the negro suffrage question. He
said Fleming termed it a dead issue,
but overlooked the fact that some of
the states of the South had passed a
bill DISTINGUISHING the negro. He said
he had not promised If he reached
Congress to have the fourteenth and
amendments of the constitu-
ton repealed, but does promise #
elected to put Georgia on record as to
the question, and let the people of the
North know of the condition of the
negro in the South. He referred to
Mr.. Watson as the instigator of free
rural delivery, who was laughed to
scorn at first, but now all congressman
are esDousing the same thing. There
was great applause when the name of
Watson was mentioned in this con-
nection. He said the people of Geor-
gia would disfranehise the negroes if
given an opportunity. The last Leg
islature was too cowardlY to pass the
bill. He said If the friends of
Fleming could point to one thing he had
done for the good of all the people in
the district he would retire from the
4oNN' = ANAiAAAes 1Aetu SolAtll Tess Iul dl
free delivery than any congressman in
Georgia except the member from the
First district, which district appeared
not to want it. He said Fleming had
no influence in Congress, which re-
mark brought forth derisive laughter
of length. that he was the cause of
Flemlng's constituents getting more
garden seed than usual He criticised
Fleming for his vote against his party
on congressional ruling, and charged
him with printing speeches in the con-
gressional record which were never
delivered. He said if he, Hardwfck
was not elected, the Tenth district
would be without a representative in
Congress as the present representative
was no leader among the Democrats
Passing to his famous suffrage bill
the speaker accused Mr. Fleming of
helping to defeat it, He stressed the
fact that Washington county had not
had a representative in Congress in
more than sixty years. Said the honor
had gone to Richmond eighteen years
in succession and that Richmond
thinks she owns the job He ridculed
Fleming's ability, saying if man like
Stephens or Toombs was running he
would not aspire for the position.
Congressman Fleming in a speech of
one hour and a half said that he want
ed the people of the district to be the
judge OF his work as member of Con-
gress, and that all Office holders get
rothlns but adverse criticism from
those who want to get the office. He
appealed to the common sense of the
people, saying he did not own a seat in
Congress. Referring to the matter of
falsifying congressional records, he
said Hardwick was talking about one
thing and he another, that derisive
laughter made no impression on him.
He said 1t was natural for him to at
tempt to refute Hardwick's statement,
but did not remember such an occur
renee, that in looking over 1000 pages
OF record it was very natural to over
look something. When he realized he
had made a mistake he wrote a man
ly card. His competitor construed the
card as an apology. He was warned
by a wise policition not to write the
card. He said some men would not
have acted as his opponent in this
matter He mentioned the arbitration
matter, saying he went to three men, a
Democrat, a Populist and a Republi-
can, and stated the case to them. With
one accord they said he had done ev-
erything required. 1t remained for the
learned gentleman from Washington TO
attack a hard-earned reputation. He
said he had intended to remain at mis-
post until his opponent said he was
nonentity, then, of course, he came
home to defend himself. He spoke of
receiving free passes, saying it was
something new for a congressman to
be attacked for not accepting them
Then he spoke of his record in Con-
press and said he cOuld NOT convince