Fitzgerald enterprise. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1895-1912, 1908-05-30
The Lion at Bay.

every quarter Dozens of corporation lawyers,
division counsel of principal roads, young
men who are anxious to attract the attention OF
the powers which have been dominating state poll
tics so long, and which are desperately seeking re-
instatement in Atlanta, assaulting the big
Governor at head, shoulder and flank. They are
eloquent, shrewd, talented ready men. Read the
list given out every day. They spring up be-
hind each bush in the state When it was an
nounced that Governor Smith would really have
opposition, party already organized, fully equip
ped with speakers and workers, was ready with
the hooks to start the attack. 1t was the same
party which had not been thoroly scattered. Like
L the followers of the mad prophet in the desert,
they had simply skunk away behind the hillocks
and dunes, and were ready to renew the charge In
every town and in every county these men got
busy at once. They made an appeal to the shops,
to the storekeepers to the bankers and to every
interest which had been touched by the national
or the international panic Against his horde of
assailants the Governor of Georgia has made a su-
perb fight. Even those who do not agree with
him on every issue, must admire the way in which
he has met and hurled back the army enlisted
against him. The picture has brought out the
sympathy of every voter in the state.
man of no very strong personality, but backed by
the most relentless organization, strengthened by
some great monied enterprises of the state, seeking
to punish the man who routed them two years ago
and to establish their influence in Georgia poll
tics for generations to come Now The Press and
the people have no fight to make upon the railroads.
Every enterprise in Georgia ought to be given fair
play and square deal. The people have always
oA01ou
war upon the corporations as business enterprises,
but upon some of their as political
agents, that was waged two years ago.
t'Here we have the situation, the one man,
massive mighty and defiant, the picture of the be.
leagured lion, into whose flesh the sleuths are
seeking to bury their fangs This is the issue of
the campaign; this is the picture presented to the
people today.
Do the people like the pictured After all the
rank and file, the working men and the farmers,
must settle this question. Are they in sympathy
with Hoke Smith or with the organized power
which is backing Joe Brown and which is trying
to put back the administration in Georgia ten
years? Does anyone doubt that MI. Smith, had
he so elected, could have made terms with some OF
these influences and been advanced high upon the
lists of the powers which now seek his undOlng!
The legal and forensic qualities would have been
rich requirement for the men who control; for the
men who shaped legislation; for the men who
had given color and touch to the laws of Georgia
for ten years past No one doubts that he could
have made advantageous terms had he elected to
ioin the ranks of those whom Mr.. Osborne calls
the mercenaries AS it is he is making the peoples
fight. Two years ago he scattered the ranks OF
these talented and tireess men. Hehas established
new order in Georgia. He called some of these
men by name on the stump; he broke their intfu-
enae in the state house and he relieved the general
assembly of regime which had been to intrusive
and nsistent. The people were back of him. He
won over all his opponents and established re-
form party in Georgia. Now the question is, is
the state going to rise up and entirely reverse this
proceeding? Are we going to be frightened at one
panic. and overturn every advance which has been
made in Georgia? Are we going to put a stigma
upon all efforts to reform and cut down the leader
who made the fight in the interest of the people:
Are the men of Georgia children who do not know
their minds and who fear to progress? The panic
has been mountain of hope to the opposition in
Georgia 1t doomed up just in time with all of its
ruin and slaughter houses as Mecca to the old re-
gime They have made obeisance to the goddess
of destruction and have welcomed the depression
because it offered chance to carry back the state
into old paths and worn out pastures. We sub
nit that retrogresson has never been the character
istic of Georgia people. We must foster our enter
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