Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1916-08-21
GOVERNOR WENT
SQUARE At ISSUES

/ ATLANTA, Ca Aug. Ex-Governor
Nat E. Harris has been gratified for
the past two days by the stream of let
tiers. kilograms and personal callers
congratuiating him upon his courage
in vetoing the so-called Neill bill, pro-
i yiding for a second run-off primary
a change In the rules of the race in
Georgia after the race had been we'll
under way. Even some prominent
Georgians who had been favorable to
Governor Harris campaign wrote and
called to congratulate him.
Some of the inside history of that
last night of the legislature leaked out
today when a representative told of a
visit to the governors Office on the
night of the closing session.
I'VE had a delegation from house
and senate to call on the governor
when the bill reached him and protest
against a veto, which we heard was
coming" he said "The governor
heard US and shook his head.
All right it will beat you,' de-
clared one of the most prominent SEN
ators. AS for me, I'm going home and
work against you
I" I'm sorry, Senator replied the
old governor, but I'd rather do what's
right than have another term. And he
signed the brief veto message and sent
it back, where the house sustained it,
Next morning that some senator APP
peared in the governors Office.
" I came in to say I'd slept on it,
he explained, and I've changed my
mind. admire your courage in veto
ing that bill promptly and sending it
back to the house, virtually defying
them to pass it over your veto. I'm
going home and take off my coat and
work to carry my district for you"
Had Governor Harris lacked the de- !
cision and courage to send back the
bill within ten minutes he might have
held it up for five days after the ad-
journment of the assembly and then
vetoed it, leaving the legislature pow
erless. But that isn't the governors
way.
Governor Harris message vetoing
the bill is regarded by many as mas
terpiece of executive wisdom. Briefly |
summed up it stated
'The bill seeks to lay down a differ
ent rule for the primary than that fixed
by the executive committee, under
V hich the candidates entered, and is,
therefore, unjust to them. But my
reasons go further than this.
"The bill applies to the primary of
September u and was passed by leg
islature of which the governor, who is
candidate, was part. It would sub
ject him to great criticism, either that
he was trying to help himself if he
signed it, or is afraid he would inIure
his own chances if he vetoed it.
THE bill limits the discretion of the
party and makes statute law out of
what should be subject to party reguIa-
ton
THE bill would render race so
costly for the two men in the second
| primary that none but very wealth
man or one representing some wealthy
interest believed to be in jeopardy
could afford to aspire for Office.
THE evil the bill was thought to
remedy, abuse of its powers by con
vention, could have been handled by
providing rules for the convention reg
ulating ballots, for instance, by pro-
viding that the lowest man should be
dropped after a certain number of bal
lots had been taken"
1t is an open secret at the capitol
that the bill was drawn in the Offices
Of a prominent railroad attorney, sup
porting one Of the candidates.
| Governor Harris win leave Monday
fer tour of the state lasting several
weeks. He expects to speak in every