The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1914-11-26

ticipated in a nomination and then
voted against the nominee. Nor can
[ understand how any man possessing
the slightest conception of political
or moral obligation can do so. The
only criticism that e. B. Daniel and
Progressive" can truthfully make
of my political record is that, on this
occasion, I refused to vote for either
of the Democratic candidates, when
I had not participated in the nomina-
ton of eithr. My criticism of them
is that in August, in a Democratic
primary, they voted for Joe Brown
and Rufe Hutchens against Hoke
Smith and Tom Hardwick, and after
the two latter gentlemen were nomi-
mated in that primary, they voted
against them in the November cleo
ton, and in favor of their oppo-
nents, the so-called Progressive can
didates. [ am perfectly willing for
the people to compare my conduct
with theirs and say who committed
the greater sin.
Before closing this article I must
notice the charge made by Progress
sive" that had sworn enmity to the
Populists because they had voted
against me for Representative
There is not a word of truth in this
statement. | made two races against
their candidate for Representatives,
and was elected by a good majority
both times. Why should 1 hate
them?
Yes. I fought them, and fought
them just as hard as I could until
the party disbanded. They fought
me just as hard, but both fought a
fair square fight, always above the
belt, and no bushwhacking on either
side. But after the war was over
we both quit fighting, as honorable
opponents always do. 1t is only the
bushwhackers that fight on after the
war is ended, and I will leave it to
E., B.~Daniel and Progressive" to
carry on this old fight. The former
Populists and myself are now politi-
cal, as well as personal friends. In
the fights between the Democrats
and the Populists there was no such
thing as Populist participating in
a Democratic nomination, and no
such thing as a Democrat participate
ing in Populist nomination. Both
sides would have scorned such a
practice. They preferred to fight in
the open, like the brave true men
they were. There is no longer any
fight between the former Populists
and myself. Since they came back
into the Democratic party I have
voted for a number of them for
Office, and hundreds Of them have
voted for me. Practically all of them
voted for me in 1902, and nearly all
Of them voted for me in 1906, when
I had opposition The little oppo-
sition that I had in that race in my
own county come from Democrats
who had personal grievances against
me, and not from the former Popu-
lists. I am charged by Progressive"
with an inordinate thirst for office,
which he says grows as I grow older.
However, he admits that l have al
ways been elected, when I had
strong opposition, and when I had
none, and he knows that I have not
asked for an office since 1905, when
I retired with a majority of 1900
votes to my credit. Does this look
like a chronic Office seeker? It is
true that I am growing old. but am
)still able to fight political BUSH
whickers like E. B. Daniel and "Pro-
gressive," who vote in all the Demo
cratic primaries with no intention of
abiding the result if their candidates
are defeated therein, and I trust
that my strength will hold out and
enable me to keep up the fight until
they are eliminated from the Demo