Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-04-23
.HARDWICK DEFENDS HIS
POLICIES, SCORES PRESS
Crowd Hearing Him Smaller
Than One at Deans
Meeting Later
Especial Dispatch to The JournaL)


CARROLLTON. Ca, April 20.---After
Senator Thomas W. Hardwick had
launched his campaign for reelection
with a speech in the Carroll. county
court house in this city this morning.
Colonel II. H Dean, the well-known
Gainesville lawyer came forward as an
opposing candidate at . O'Clock in the
afternoon and replied to Senator HARD
wick with a speech on the public square.
Senator Hardwick was heard by an
Audience estimated somewhere between
200 and SEQ people, while the audience
that heard Colonel Dean was very much
larger. probably being nearly twice as
large.
senator Hardwick was given re-
spectful and attentive hearing and oc-
casionaIIy was applauded. His meet
ing was cordial, but could not be call
ed enthusiastic.
On the other hand, Colonel Dean de-
livered such an effective arraisnment
of Senator Hardwick's record of oppoSl-
ton to President wilson's war measures
and his general attitude of opposition
10 the progressive measures of the ad-
ministration prior TO Americas en-
trance into the war, that his audience
was aroused to a high pitch Of pa
trfotic enthusiasm. and Colonel Dean
demonstrated rather conclusively, by
calling for a vote of support for Senator
Hardwick on point after point, that the
Hardwick sentiment IN Carroll county
and the city OF Carrollton is certainly
not as strong as Senator Hardwick must
have been led TO believe.
Senator Hardwick defended his record
in the senate on two main grounds:
First the principle of non-interfer-
ence BY government with business al
NNtf
banking and currency, upon which me
whole structure of American business
has been built up, and which was gross
" violated when the government em-
barIled upon the dangerous expedient OF
nrice-fixing under the guise Of wartime
necessity.
Right of Free Speech
Second. the right of free speech and
a free press, which is guaranteed by
the constitution, and which has been
cast to the winds in the hysteria of the
present war.
ON the first principle Senator Hard
wick defended his opposition to the
food control bill. the fuel control bill
and other war measures; while on the
second principle he defended his right
10 differ with the president and express
his views on the floor of the senate and
elsewhere.
The senator attacked the newspapers
with extreme bitterness. characterizing
ALI newspapers as liars and all news
paper men as liars" and charging them
with heap ping on him the most bitter
campaign of abuse and calumny that
any man ever suffered in the history
of this state" and charging that their
opposition 20 him grows out of the fact
that he put through the senate, at the
behest of President Wilson, a bill in
creasiEg the newspaper postage rate.
He further asserted that the news
papers of this country are not giving
the people the truth about the war, and
declared that when he wants TO get
the truth he goes to the English news
papers
Comparing himself to the Holy Saw
Tor. Senator Hardwic6 told his audience
that he is now passing through his ''po-
Iitical Gethsemane," and that the news
papers and politicians have fastened on
his brow a crown of thorns.
Tie claimed that the loyalty of the
newspapers of Georgia is nothing but
Zip loyalty" and that they showed it
by demanding that he oppose the pos
t. &c rate increase. Notwithstanding the
presidents Endorsement of the bill.