Fitzgerald enterprise. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1895-1912, 1906-02-15
GAINING GROUND EVERY DAY.

1t is not always safe to deal with opinion, but in
a campaign like this facts are the only depend
Bile indications.
Several weeks ago Mr.. Howell was in East.
man. 1t is said he went there because it was
regarded as Howell stronghold. He went
to Columbus first, choosing that place for the
unavoidable meeting with Hoke Smith because
it was generally understood to be the strongest
Howell County ia the state, and Eastman was
the second choice.
1t is interesting to note indifference in his
reception at Eastman and that accorded Mr..
Smith who was there last week. A comparison
of the two events is a fair indication of the
temper of the people.
report of Mr.. Smiths reception says:
The hall was crowded to OVERT >wing and
although every conceivable inch of space was
utilized, many were unable to gain ad mission.
The crowd was so large that the jury room
doors were opened into the hall and these rooms
we're packed with people. The double doors
forming an entrance to the court room we're
thrown wide open despite the weather and prob
ably one hundred people ianmed the passage.
way leading from the room to the stairs into the
hall.
The windows on every side of the room and
in the hallway were lined with men standing on
the stills, and altho tie position was a tri1e un-
comfortable, not a person moved during the
speech, which lasted for two hours.
Many additional chairs were brought from
down town stores, but instead of being used to
sit people they formed the props plauks on
which five and sometimes ten people stood,
A conservative estimate placed the number
who were turned away unable 10 fad a place to
stand on the second floor of the building at 200.
All of them. however did not leave the premises
but waited until after the speech and shook
hands with the candidate.
AS TO HOWELL AUDIENCE. IA '..
The audience was not composed for the
most part of women and childreo as was the
crowd that greeted Clark Howell when he spoke
here on January H. There we're, however, a
number of women present, but Their Weret few
children.
The local board of education was not pre-.
vailed upon to dismiss school and march the
scholars in body to the court house, as was
the case upon the occasion of Mr. Howell's
visit.
Mr.. Smith did not begin his speech until
nearly neon and the delay being occasioned by
a wait for the Dublin and Southwestern train,
which brought three or four hundred people
from Dublin and other sections of Laurens
county. ~.
Early in the morning Col Wiley J. Will
1iams presd ent of the local Hoke Smith club,
received telegram from Dublin asking him to
have the speaking delayed until the Dublin train
carrying over 800 passengers arrived The
rain from Dublin was polled and there were
only II men on board who failed to record them
selves as favorable to the candidacy of Hoke
Smith, and of these were non.committaL
Practically every mau who came on the
train wore Hoke Smith button on the lapel of
his coat, and as they entered the already crow
ded court house they sent up shout after shout
for the candidate for whom they propose to
vote-Hoke Smith.
When Mr.. Howell spoke here the day was
one of the most pleasant imaginable. The
weather was warm aud spring.like, the county
roads were delightful, and easily Travelled.
Such was not the case today. 1t rained all of
the night, the sandy roads were heavy and the
weather was too cold to be pleasant for even
north Georgian, to say nothing of the people of
weather.
The Postofice at Dormny Mill was discon.
tinued yesterday. The people of that section
will he SuOO1ied nv R r D. No from