Fitzgerald enterprise. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1895-1912, 1911-10-24
The Politics Of It

an article on the first page of the
Atlanta Constitution, of Oct 23rd
criticising the administration of the
State Game and Fish Department
More than once before the Con-
stitution has published statements,
calculated, if not intended, to pre-
JUDGE the public mind against the
administration of this department.
nave not noticed them for the rea-
son that as public official | held
that criticism is not only proper,
but often wholesome, and, when
based on facts, perfectly legitimate.
The article referred to in Mon
days Constitution purports to quote
a South Georgia farmer. W. R. Lyer-
sly, (the syllahles of his name seem
to be transposed in view of the
want of truth or reason in the
statements.)
He boldly declares" an opinion
and cites fact or facts that are
merely matters of political bias in
his mind. Indeed, we doubt if there
exist South Georgia farmer, prom
lnent or otherwise, by the name Of
Lyersly. The whole story was
was evidently concocted by a CORE
spondent of the Constitution in the
city of Macon, for political purposes,
and without regard to the farmers
interest in the new game law.
AS to what actuated the Cover
nor in selecting the Commissioner
| al not prepared to say. He
probably appreciated the personal
that has existed between
us long before he was appointed to
a place in the Cleveland cabinet,
(appointed by Mr.. Cleveland, per
haps to pay a political debt, and
without regard fer his splendid
ability)
As to the appointment of a war
den for Fulton county | have no
apologies to make. The place is q
quasi state office, and there seems
to be no good reason Why a citizen
Of TalIiaferre or Of Ben iill County
would not be perfectly eligible, and
his appointment fair and right. His
main duty is to sell license to hunt
in the other counties of the state
and while it might be that the Con-
5titution would want to see Fulton
County hold all Of the good Offices
we cannot understand why any
South Georgia Farmer" would
be interested.
The purported idiocdc statement
10 Farmer Slylyer to the effect that
the deputy warden would divide
the fees on the county warden is
merely a matter Of ignorance on
the part Of the South Georgia Far
mer," such deputy Wardens do not
divide the fees with the County
Warden any more than a private
citizen would. The imagination Of
the Macon Correspondent is fruitful
if not founded on facts.
The bitter resentment" Of Far
mer Slylyer, (rom South Georgia.
that the first violation Of the game
law was by one of the deputy game
wardens is unfortunate in view Of the
fact that he forgot TO state that the
errin8 warden was prosecuted by
the administration, Cthe present
administration" for political pur-
poses possibly Farmer Slylyer
was not sure of his facts when he
states that the incident was not
during the proceeding Of
of the convention at Macon.
| hold that the administration needs
no defense, and will need none
further than the correction of mis-
statements made for political pur-
poses by those who are opposed to
the present administration"
| have not known, and do not
know, and have not made any effort
whatever to know anything of the
political affiliations of one fourth of
the wardens | have appointed
What | have learned on that line
has come to my knowledge unsolicit-
ed.
In several instances 7 hammered