The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1916-09-06

L
As to local option, | care not to
say further, than call the peoples
attention to the fact that so late
as 1906, certain candidate for
| Governor carried 120 counties, To-
cal option being one Of the planks
in his platform. Shouldn't this
be sufficient, Mr.. Crisp, to make
your political post-mortem liq-
uor thunder" sound downright
amusing?
Another reason assigned by Mr..
Crisp's circular why should not
be sent to Congress is, that / vot-
ed in favor OF FREE PASSES in
1904. He is right about this vot-
ing, but all wrong in his assign
ment OF reason why | should be
defeated. This was another meas
ure in which the legislature was
almost unanimously in favor Of.
Mr.. Crisp was also in favor of
this at that time, as he, together
with all the other Judges in the
state, were enjoying the privilege
of FREE PASS, due to special
courtesies extended them by all
railroads. 1t might have been
wrong, which | now grant it was,
but all the BOYS WERE RID
ING, and they hated to give up
the FREE PASS. Besides, Con
gressmen from the Third District
for years and years used a free
pass. When Mr.. Crisp first en-
tered Congress, he was entitled to
one, and we presume he knew
what course to pursue to obtain
| it. This FREE PASS thunder is
just as CHEAP AND SILLY as
all the rest of Mr.. Crisp's com
plants, and can't possibly appeal
to anyone except those already in
sympathy with his cause.
| am also accused in this circu-
lar of voting for bill providing
for the use of money to corrupt
elections" in 1897. This is the
first time | ever heard of such a
bill being before the legislature.
The natural order of things.
measured by the rule of SELF
PRESERVATION, would have
caused me to oppose such a meas
ure had such ever come before
me; for, my political strength has
always rested i'll the hands of true
and loyal friends; | have never
sought office, or been honored to
office, through or by the influence
OF money; have never been bur
dencd with money to that extent.
Finally, Mr. Crisp's circular
calls attention to the Ault Inves-
tigating Committee, of my de
partment while Commissioner of
Agriculture, and cites the report
of this committee, as a reason
why should not be elected to
Congress. In this citation | who'll
ly concur, and especially urge
that the people take Mr.. Crisp's
advice and investigate this re-
port. 1t can be found in full by
referring to the last four pages of
the address | issued to the people
a few days ago. On this report,
coming from my enemies, | am
willing to stake my whole official
career. Let the people read this
report and find the real truth. So
frantic in this connection has Mr..
Crisp grown, that he actually
calls attention to the fact that, by
cause of my rigid inspection sys-
tenn of fertilizers, 10 per cent of
the fertilizers fell below the stan
dard. Is it possible that he has
become so excited that he really
don't know what side of the ar
gument to plant himself upon?
Should | be discredited, as Com
missioner, because l found by in
spection of the farmers fertili-
ger that 10 per cent failed to come
up to the requirements of law?
Why, Mr.. Crisp, that's what the
inspection of fertilizers are made
for, and to further enlighten you
on the subject, | can furnish YOU
a good number of names within
your own. and other counties,
who forfeited, by way Of large re-
bates, due to this discovery
J through my inspection system.