Fitzgerald enterprise. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1895-1912, 1905-06-13
The people" and the "Wlde-Opensrs.

ed large part of its editorial page last week TO
the Editor of this paper and what we say
here is said in all kindness TO Artie and his
clever, able assistant Clarence 3. Lee. We love
both the bows and will see that they go not
far astray.
AS to the wide open" element, we will not
waste our space or valuable time now on that
question, everybody who knows anything, knows
of the deplorable fact that such an element does
exists, has existed in Fitzgerald since its foun-
dation and that its influence has been FitZger-
AIDS damnaton.
Arties Jones knows it. Clarence Lee knows
it, EVERYBODY knows it. And every good cit
izen deplores it. But what we want to pay par
ticular attention to is most remarkable utter
auce.
Alb! the uncandid rascals they deserve
sound thrashing. But the writer has adopted
the doctrine of non-resistance which puts that
method of reproof out of the question. Now
let every reader of the Enterprise, who has
watched our record and our efforts on this line
read the following critically and he will wonder
at the lack of candor and honesty of the writer
ia Artie's little paper.
Every man who knows the Editor OF
the Enterprise will understand that the Editor
of the People never expected anybody to believe
one suggestion or intmation it was probably
written to tickle the fancy of the wide openers"
or to mislead some stranger not familiar with
the facts. Read it, here it is in glarng type
"There has been opportunity for the Enter
prise to get into this fight good and strong at
its pleasure, had it desired to grappe with the
real octopus rather than with some respectable
party who merely differs in opinion from it.
houses
existed here almost continuously, which fact
was known to the Enterprise. Why has 1t not
tackled this proposition rather than make
grand stand play by having special ordinance
passed. every feature of which is already cover
ed by state law, and whose only result will be to
keep some poor devil from getting Sunday
soup bone newspaper or glass OF soda water.
There is a difference between tin soldiers and
the real article"
Doesn't the Editor of the People know that
the Enterprise has grapp1ed with the real octo-
pus'from the very first issue Of this paper, Sep
TENDER IS, 1899? He does indeed and most of his
readers know it. And they know too we'll for their
satisfaction, that this graphing has not been in
vain. We make it point not to go to press with
an issue of the Enterprise without something
intended for the moral uplift of Fitzgerald
some blow directed at this real octopus"
Then why does the uncandid writer in the Peo-
pie attempt to mis1ead by asking this fool ques-
ton? Why has it not gone on record, when
every week in the six years it has listened to
abuse from the lips of some wide opener"
who resents our relentless campaign against
vice.
The persistence of the Peoples lack of can
dor, Chat candor that ought to actuate every
man who attempts to influence public oqiuion)
pals on us when it asks why have special or
dinance passed" etc? The editor of the People
understands that we do not have ordinances
passed, ma ority of the council are with the
People and the wide openers and "agin" the
Enterprise, we could not have an ordinance pas
sed if we wanted to.
In passing let us say to the everlasting
credit Of the city council, they did pass or
dinance No. 200, and that much is to the honor
of Fitzgerald. 1t is an indication of moral tone,
if accomplishes other result. The
writer in the People knew, or ought to have
known, that we never requested the passage of
the ordinance. We told the council that we did
not suggest it, that we were not responsible for
it. Right here we say, we approve almost YER
batim the platform of the People on the question
of Sunday opening.
We have constantly approved it in the
League and out of it, in theEnterprse aud out of
it, everywhere, and at all times. We would
allow bakeries to sell bread and other eatables
at all times" We would allow meat markets
to deliver meat Sunday mornings" for precisely
the reasons suggested by the People, to-wit: Ito
,l,,@o for1 t1ox,