Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1916-08-22

constituted the policy of the conserva
tive wing of the Democratic party, ant
l represented that wing of my party
l was not then, and the voters viii
not now, criticize me for my action il
the hoary past. The voters of the dis
trict fully understand that these
phantom-like issues are conjured be
fore their minds to Offset and obiter.
ate the VACANCY, THE BARREN
PAGES WHERE Mr.. CRISP SHOULD
HAVE WRITTEN A RECORD OF
THE SERVICES WHICH HE REND.
Erred THE PEOPLE WHILE REP
RESENTING THEM AT WASHING.
TON.
MY RECORD AS COMMISSIONER
OF AGRICULTURE.
Nothing seems to give Mr.. CrisI
greater pleasure than to assail my
record as Commissioner of Agricul.
ture. From the very day thatnit be-
came evident to him that would en-
ter the race for Congress against hin
he has busted himself to "dig-up" my
record as Commissioner.
/ therefore charge him with willful
and malicious Misrepresentation when
after such searching investigation on
his part he mis- states facts that are
matter of uncontradicted record. All
of us have heard the old maxim
Figures don't lie, but liars do dabble
with figures.
Repeatedly, Mr.. Crisp has charged
in his campaign speeches, among
other things, that
For the last year of my oppon-
ent's administration as Commissioner
of Agriculture he turned into the
State Treasury 100000 as the total
proceeds of his department, while his
successor for the year 1913 turned
over to the state treasurer as a total
net proceed of this department the
sum of 5000, 100000.
He argues that this difference of
$11O, 100000 in the amount turned over
to the state treasurer by me and my
successor, respectively, shows gross
incompetency, and he even boldly
hints at dishonesty in the administra-
ton of affairs of this department dur
ing my administration. My self re-
spect forces me to brand such vile
suggestions as malicious and wilfully
concocted campaign misrepresenta-
lions, and the author knew them to be
such when he permitted these charges
and insinuation to pass his lips.
Il am proud of my record as Com
So - rf
defy any man to disprove that the De-
partment of Agriculture did not make
it's most progressive strides during my
Administrations
The investigation of the department
mentioned by my opponent was, as ev-
cry one familiar with political history
knows, retaliatory politics, Matched by
those who felt offended because l had
Joined the progressive wing of the
Democratic party, taking an active
hand in the passage of the various re-
form measures during the years of 1906
to 1911, inclusive. Jack Slaton, who
also aspired to gubernatorial honors
in 1911 and 1912, tenderly nursing this
political assassin of my gubernatorial
aspirations. When the resolution sug-
costing an investigation was presented
in the Senate, Mr.. Slaton left the pres
ident's chair and appealed most pas
sionately that the senators vote for the
resolution. Need | say that when he
subsequently appointed two senator's to
serve on this committee he selected
those whom he believed were my enc
mics and his friends?
Prior to and during the progress OF
this investigation my political enemies
promised one sensation after another
They had secured a committee in nc
way friendly to me, but in justice to
the gentlemen of the committee,
must say that they treated me fair
and that was all asked of them. Zeal
ously these gentlemen labored to dis
gorge and divulge the rotten conditions
which vicious reports had rumored ex-
listed. To make their investigation COM
plete, the General Assembly provided
them with an expert accountant When
the dense cloud of malicious reports
had been cleared away by a most
searching investigation, the committee
was honor bound to give the depart
ment, as we'll as myself, clean bill OF
health.
1t is true, the committee found, as !
had found prior to the investigation
that several of the two month men
who had been commissioned as inspec-
tors did not render good and efficient
service; some even drew their sala-
ries while they were sick, JUST AS
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS DO. IF
IT'S NO CRIME FOR A CONGRESS-
MAN TO DRAW HIS SALARY WHILE
INCAPACITATED FROM DUTY,
SURELY THE SAME PRINCIPLE
WOULD NOT BANKRUPT THE
COUNTRY WHEN APPLIED TO AN
HUMBLE FERTILIZER INSPECTOR.
Following this investigation, the
laws relating to fertilizer inspectors
were changed, during the session OF
1912; also the law fixing the salary of
oil inspectors. During this session,
gasoline was made subject to inspec-
ton, thus materially increasing the
gross earnings of the department.
During my entire administration the
law provided that / should pay the ex-
penses of the department out Of the
gross receipts and turn the surplus
49, f.,4o -