Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-08-25
GOVERNOR IS STANDING
CAMPAIGN RIGORs WELL
In TWo-DayS' Tour He Makes
Two Speeches and Reach
eS Fort Valley

FORT VALLEY, Ca. Aug 23.-Gov-
ernor Nat E. Harris this morning de-
livered campaign address in Fort VAL
ley which attracted wide attention and
which brought him many assurances of
support. After two days of tour
which covered several counties, the
governor is in splendid shape, improv-
ing daily in his eloquence and making
speeches which draw round after round
of applause.
Governor Harris was introduced here
by Charles NJ. Gray, veteran and for
mer legislator, and entertained by
Mayor A b. Green. He left in an auto
to speak at Butler and Reynolds.
Governor Harris appearance in Nc
Donough and Jonesboro yesterday drew
him appreciative Audiences and the clos
est attention. At Jonesboro he was IN
troduced y w. S. Witham, an old friend
and president Of a string of Georgia
hanks. Mr.. Whitman is one of the most
uncompromising prohibitionists in the
state. At McDonough the governor was
introduced by Judge E. j. Reagan,
chairman of the Democratic state ex-
ecutive committee, who spoke in glow
ing terms Of the governor and cited
the precedent which gave a good ex-
ecutive a second term.
SECOND TERM.
In his address Governor Harris took
occasion to correct the report that he
had said publicly two years ago that
he would not ask second term.
This is positively untrue" he de-
clared. "At that time l did not antlcI-
pate asking for a second term and L
did say to certain individuals at the
beginning of the race that / did not
think / would seek reelection.
81 said: When you come to vote re-
member this may be the last time you'll
have to vote or an old Confederate. for
when five years are past 1 will have
crossed the bar or be too old The
five years referred to the one before the
successful nominee would take office
and the four years l expected him to
be accorded. But never did l say be-
fore a public audience that 1 would not
ask for a second term nor did 1 make
such a pledge to any man."
In speaking of DIR. Hardman, the
governor rebuked him for being in such
a hurry.
"If 1 had been defeated by one of my
opponents and had challenged him by
casting my hat into the ring just six
months and eighteen days after he took
office he would have had a right to say
my gall had busted" declared Governor
Harris.
AS for Mr.. Pottle, the governor merely
said he was surprised when the man
who had introduced him just three
weeks previously in glowing words and
who had then urged his audience to give
a second term to this excellent governor
had come to him and asked TO be re-
lieved of his obligations because he
wanted the office for himself.
"I asked him if he wanted to lake
back those kind words and he said he
didn't" said Governor Harris. How,
then, can he go about asking the peo-
pie to vote against a governor whom he
had paid such tribute?"
REVIEWS RECORD.
MY opponents have had but little to
say regarding my administration" said
the governor, who paused, to review the
work of the legislature and the execu-
tive department under his year in Office.
"All they can say is that they want
the office because 1t is high one. They
must produce better reasons than that.
eff 1 were the manager of big bust
ness enterprise in which you were stock
holders; if L had served you a year with
success and fidelity to your interests;
II your business were prospecting under
my direction and paying dividends; if l
was gaining constantly in experience
and ability. and if three men came to
you as stockholders in this business
and asked you to put me out and let
one of them in for no other reason than
that they were anxious for the job,
would you do it? 90 not think you
would"
Governor Harris was outspoken in his
views on prohibition and he described
conditions under the old law and the
new as a contrast which proved how
badly a change was needed. He took up
Mr.. Dorsey's remarks on the question
of executive clemency and showed how
Dorsey had Endorsed nineteen applica-
tions for clemency when he was de-
claiming that no pardon should be grant
ed unless new evidence was discovered
which would have changed the verdict.
when 1 reminded him of this he said
he couldn't recall a single one of those
cases." said the governor. II look upon
that as the most monumental example
of loss of memory on record
The governor is travelling by train
and automobile, stopping at many points
to greet his old friends, and standing
the trip as we'll as a drummer of thirty.
He will spend Wednesday night in Co
lumbus and Thursday at Americas,
where he has accepted an invitation to
address the Georgia state reunion of
United Confederate Veterans.