Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-08-02
Georgia Congressman Says
McDuffie Man Did Not in
Any Way Aid His Race
Against Fleming in 1902,

Especial Dispatch to The JournaL)
AUGUSTA, Ga, July SIN an in
terview here today Congressman Hard
wick gave out the following statement:
81 am much pleased with the situa-
ton throughout the district. 1 do not
believe that Messrs. Fleming and Wat
son have a reasonably sure support of
carrying but one county, Glascock, with
lighting chance of these others. If
my friends in Richmond are not mis-
taken as to the situation here, Mr..
Fleming's convention strength cannot
be over six votes and may not be but
two.
Washington, Wilkinson, Hancock,
Baldwin, Jefferson, Taliaferro, Nc
Duffie and Columbia, besides Richmond,
are. I believe, reasonably sure to stand
against Mr.. Watson and his candidate.
Warren and Lincoln will be hard
fought, with the chances in our favor.
MY information is that Glascock
will probably go for Fleming. In this
connection 1 think it necessary, in the
interest Of truth, and for the informa-
ton of those who wish to know the
real facts, that the statement so indus
triously circulated, and so much over
capitalized that 1 defeated Mr.. Flem-
ing in 1902 by the aid Of Mr.. Watson,
is totally and absolutely untrue.
NO HELP FROM WATSON.
| Mr.. Watson did not vote for me in
| 1902 against Mr.. Fleming. He did not
vote at all in the primary Upon my
request, and with my express state
ment that / merely asked him for them
| because files of his paper were not in
the state library and no one else could
/ furnish them but himself, he did let me
have for use in joint debate certain
| copies of his defunct newspaper.
Watson not only did not vote for me
against Fleming, but also, so far as l
| am informed or have ever heard, he
never lifted his hand, raised his voice
or used his pen in public or in private
| to aid me in defeating Fleming in 1902.
| During the hitter campaign of two
years ago, In my open letter of May %,
/ 1910, I-stated these facts and even Wat
son was utterly unable to deny them.
the only attempted refutation being the
claim of his son. Mr.. Durham Watson,
that his vote, first solicited by Mr..
| Fleming and promised to him and CAPT
talized on the stump had bene finally
| cast for me. So much for that.
Watson did not elect me in 1902. He
did not even try. He did not even cast
his own vote for me. He did not make
me in 1902. he could not unmake me in
| 1910, and unless I greatly mistake the
| independent manhood and Democracy of
the district he can not unmake me in
1912. l still defy him to do his utmost
and still ask the district to choose be-
| tween US.
! But how stands the present candidacy
of Dir. Fleming? The people of this dis
trict are more interested in present
conditions, than in past history or even
| in past romances. He was led into
the ring, string battered, by Watson, at
a time when neither Mr.. Fleming nor his
closest relatives and friends even dream
| ed of such a candidacy. Only a few
days ago Watson determined that Flem-
ing should be his candidate, named I'm
as such in a large public meeting at Beals
Springs, in Warren county and appoint
ed a committee OF ardent Watsonites and
primary boilers, headed by Major Nc
Gregor Durham Watson and Watson S
lson-in-law, to come to Augusta, wait on
Mr.. Fleming and induce him to run.
After about So hours of careful con-
lsideration,' if we may believe the press,