Fitzgerald enterprise. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1895-1912, 1908-05-19
governor Smith Has Done Well;
No Man Could Have Done Better. }"

From watson Jc1crsonan Magazine september, 1907
'The Georgia legislature has adjourned. BY
law, the session is limited to 60 days. This, of
course gives great advantage to those who OPP
pose new legislation If the presiding officer is
not in sympathy with proposed measures, and the
opposition on the floor is led by some versed
in parliamentary tactics, it is obvious that day af-
ter day can be consumed in systematic o5struc-
ton Such a minority can thus block legislation
and defeat the majority. handful of corpora
ton attorney and agents can set aside the verdict
of millions
1.-THE legislature was not in sympathy with Gov
ernor Hoke Smith Many of the members belong
to t'the old gang" The people who had elected
them had not been made acquainted with the true
nature of their legislative records.
''Under difficult conditions Governor Smith
has done well. No man could have done better
In spite of lobbyists and obstructonists, he wrung
from the legislature a sweeping good law which
gives the railroad commission the power of the
state in dealing with public service corporations.
He also secured the passage of Il bill which re
deems the main pledge of his campaign-tO wit,
the Acknowledgement bill. If no other achieve
ment stood to his credit Governor Smith would de-
serve the grateful thanks of all white men who
realize that independence in politics is utterly i'm
possible in the south while the negro can be used
as balance of power. To free the whites, polit
cal privilege has to be taken from the negro. Gov
ernor Smith. The Jef1ersonian welcomes you to
the great class of men who will battle for ideal
''You have taken your place beside those COVER
noIs whom the people delight to honor! Folk, of
Missouri; Broward, of Florida; Hughes of New
York; Glenn, of North Carolina; Swanson, of Vir
gnia; Conner of Alabama; had already written
their names on the rock of public confidence; and
now Smith of Georgia, is inscribed
"Some day, our prond old state will send you
to the senate
'What may not be done by cooperation
Congressman Hardwick, of Georgia, had long
struggled for the disfranchisement of the negro;
Mr.. Watson had long struggled to brake the bonds
by which Yankee corporations, acting under the
name of the Democratic party, held the south in
political slavery.
Speaking in Atlanta during the presidential
campaign of 1904 Mr. Watson pledged himself to
aid the Democracy of the state to remove all fear
of ''negro domination, " by depriving the negroes
of political privilege.
Since there was other way under heaven
by which the whites could be made free, the dis
reimbursement of the negroes was imperatively de
handed
'fShortly after Mr. Watson's speech, Congress-
man Hardwick came to Mr.. Watson's house and
suggested state campaign on that lne:-the
Democrats to run strong man pledged to disfran
chisement and Mr.. Watson to throw his strength
to this candidate The rest is well known. Mr..
Watson kept the faith and helped to win the fight.
Governor Smith has kept faith and redeemed the
pledge. BY loyal and earnest cooperation, a great
work has been accomplished.
THAT GOVERNOR SMITH HAS DONE
EVERYTHING IN HIS POWER TO KEEP
HIS CONTRACT WITH THE PEOPLE NO
ONE CAN DOUBT. He will fight it out on the
line if he has to hold the legislature on extra SEES
sion till Christmas; and nothing is more certain
than that public opinion will compel the legisla-
ture to keep the campaign pledges of 1906"
The Ro+fon HaC Oronnpd 0uf nf The EoP