Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-11-01
THE FACTS IN THE CASE.

Inc uSuauy Well-IniOImeu OdlCou
Citizen is decidedly misinformed when
it imputes to w J. Harris "the stain
Of the Macon convention" and alleges
that the nomination of Hardwick by
that convention was largely attribut-
able" to the present chairman of the
/ federal trade board.
This is so grossly incorrect, so ut
terly at variance with the facts, that
we are surprised at an editor so fair
and so able as Editor Shope, giving
public expression to it.
e. j. Reagan was chairman Of the
Macon convention. If he had permit
ted Slaton to address the convention,
T. S. Fielder would have been chosen
senator 1t was Slaton's purpose to
withdraw, and to urge his delegates to
vote for Fielder
The next day Chairman Reagan did
permit Mr. Fielder to address the con-
vention-and Fielder withdrew in
Hardwick's favor
AS a matter Of actual fact, w. =.
Harris had nothing whatever to do
with Felder's withdrawal Neither did
Hardwick. Nor did Hoke Smith.
Hardwick and Smith and, of course,
Harris, were as much surprised as
were the Fielder delegates, and the
Hardwick delegates, and the Slaton
delegates.
T. j. Simmons, Jr., and Dupont
Query, of Macon, and J. Ben Jackson,
Of Grays, prevailed upon Mr.. Fielder
at the last minute, to withdraw his
name They did so because they
thought that Hardwick's nomination
was Inevitable, probably coming on
the next ballot-and they wanted Fe,-
der to emerge from the convention,
even though a defeated candidate, with
as much credit as possible-with some
claim upon the nominee They pre-
sented these views to Mr. Fielder, con
yinced him that he could not be elect
| ed, and that Hardwick was certain to
be, and accompanied him to the con-
vention hall, where he secured the
privilege of the floor without further
conference with any one.
1t developed afterwards, of course,
that if Fielder had only held out he
would probably have been nominated
himself The Slaton delegates, with
certain defeat staring them in the face
their project of forcing a deadlock
having failed-were even then schem-
ing to assist Fielder
But the Fielder leaders preferred
Hardwick to Slaton-because Fielder
and Hardwick had affiliated in the
same political school-and they were
apprehensive of a deadlock, and be-
lieved that a deadlock would result II
a Slaton victory in another race be-
fore the people.
! These are facts-the real, honest-to-
God truth of the matter w. ]. Har-
ris was no party to any of it, He was
q spectator at the convention, like
( scores of others. He probably had his
preference, and he doubtless throw
his influence to the man of his choice
Iiut in the actual decision, he did not
lift the weight of finger
The Macon convention was an abom-
Unable affair. 1t was a disgrace to
Georgia politics, but it was natural
product of the convention and county
unit system. 1t was convention
where the politicians, instead of the
people, reigned supreme w. J. Har-
ris was not one of the principals in
it, and consequently he could not have
acquired any stain in, or because o!
lit
i The Dalton Citizen may or may not
! support Mr.. Harris for the United
States Senate, but In simple justice il
ought to be fair TO him.