Fitzgerald enterprise. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1895-1912, 1905-09-14
WHERE DOES HE STAND?

The attitude of candidate for public office,
says the ring organ in an editorial published
this morning, should be that of man who pro-
claims TO all the world:
Il stand here fatty on the record of my
public service. That record is open to all men,
friends or enemies. Puncture it, dissect it,
tear it in shreds, IF YOU CAN. l expect, de-
mand that you gauge my course in the future
by my course in the past. 1t is the only logical
ground on which / can possibly appeal to you
for support I am not asking that you take my
word for any deed or policy of my public career.
The record is there in plain and unequivocal
terms. wish no exemption for single one OF
it's chapters: submit each one to your scrutiny
from preface to fiuis, whether fms was written
yesterday or ten years ago."
This is exactly what Hoke Smith does. He
stands fatty on his record, and not all the mud
finging of his opponent is sufficient to make 1t
appear other than clean and high one. 1t cam
not be "punctured, dissected, or torn in shreds"
as the editor-candidate of the ring organ, with
his traps and charges, has doubtless learned
for the editor-canddate has devoted the opening
months of the campaign to that task, instead or
accepting Mr.. Smiths challenge and meeting
him on the stump in discussion OF current is
sues. His record is there in plain and un-
exuivoca1 TERMS" and "he wishes no exemption
for single one of it's chapters" for 1t stands
on it's own merits and all the fakes, traps"
and perversions of it's opponents have been I'M
able TO besmirch it, The fakes have either
been exposed or CONFESSED THE RING ORGAN,
the traps have closed reent1essly on the would
be trapper himself, and the perversions have
been of such transparent nature as to need
only citation of the plain truth to make their
character plain to the public.
Mr.. Smith has from the frststood out in the
open and proclaimed the things for which he
stands.
But where has his opponent been all this
time?
For what does his opponent stand? What
definite principles has he enuncated?
What does he think of the issues of the day
in Georgia?
We have heard his charges of various
natures against Mr.. Smith, and we have heard
the answers to them. We have seen him
through his newspaper give currency to baseless
SANDERS on his character. We have heard him
confess to having set traps, to deceive the public
in order to make little temporary political cap
ital, and we have seen him catch himself in those
traps. But of his definite principles, we have
heard nothing from the platform, and read no.
thing in his newspaper.
Mr.. Smith stands for square deal" be-
tween the public and the railroads.
Where does his opponent stand with regard
to the present railroad issue? If not for per-
petuation of ring rule and railroad domination,
for what? Why is he silent?
Where are the plain and uneq uivoca1 terms"
of his proclamation to the people?
1t is not enough that the editor-candidate
write editorial essays concerning the attitude
which candidate for governor should assume.
The public expects him to assume that attitude
1t is, to quote again, the only logical ground
on which Chez can possibly appeal for support"
Hoke Smith stands for certain well.defned
and definite principles What does his oppon-
ent stand for? Let him answer in those plain
and unequivocal terms which he recommends
for aspirants to public Office.
n 81
1t appears that the people of Fitzgerald
have been very ungrateful toward Editor Mer-
GER. We are surprised at their guilt of such
thing.-Brunswick Journal.
The people of Fitzgerald are all right. We
mean the good people and the decent people.
There is an element here on which we have
made relentless war for six years. dating to-
morrow the 18th day of September.) Very nat
urally these people are bitter against us. We
have invited their antagonism, and still in
vite it. We hope never to be dscredited with
their friendship.