Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-05-14

antasonism during the period Of
the war is the counterpart of his
reactionary policy before the war
began. When a far-seeing presi-
dent had recommended the estab-
lishment of a great nitrate plant out
of which we could acquire the ma
terials for war and agriculture, he
fought that; and, magnificent in the
stupidity of his clustering con-
servatism, denounced the proposal to
furnish the by-products of the nj
trate plant as fertilizers to the
farmers, and said that il was con-
trary to the principles of a f-ee
government He lives in a forgot
ten past.
He opposed and fought the parcel
post
But perhaps the most unfortun-
ate thing that Senator Hardwick or
any other senator ever did to the
American people was his opposition
long before our entrance into the
war to the presidents proposal of
merchant marine. If Senator
Hardwick had never done any other
foolish thing on the face of this
earth, that act alone ought to be
demonstration enough of his total
want of statesmanship. Today we
are holding back troops. Today we
are afraid to send our men to
France in sufficient numbers be-
cause there are not merchant ships
enough to keep them in the neces-
sary supplies. We are bending ev-
cry energy to build ships and are so
far barely abel to keep pace with
their destruction. If the far-seeing
policy of the president had been
carried out at that time, this war
would not only have found us ready
with sufficient shipping, but it is
altogether probable that the album
dance of our shipping resources
would have deferred the Germans
from their attack upon our rights.
He opposed the child labor law,
which is so essential to the up
building of the manhood OF this
country and the prevention of
that greedy policy which has enas-
culated our population to the point
of danger.
When the proposal was up to pre-
vent a nation-w wide strike by COM
polling the experiment recommended
by the president for an eight-hour
day, he arrayed himself in factious
opposition to that.
FIGHT ON sEDTTIoN
LAW MOST sHA1EEFUL.
II should undertake to enumer-
ate every instance in which Sen
ator Hardwtck has occupied a re-
dictionary position I would tire the
patience of this audience by relat-
ing them.
But of all the votes that he has
cast to the injury of this country
and to the aid of it's enemies, none
exceeds in shamefulneSs his vote
but a few days ago against the Sc
dition law. The records in the bu-
reau of investigation will show
that the most serious evil we have
had to contend with during the past
year has been those flannel-mouth-
ed scoundrels who have spoken
from every stump. and whispered
in every corner words of antago9
nism for the purposes of their
government, and suggestions of
disloyalty, running from the basest
of falsehoods, all the gamut to
open treason. The mails have
been constantly full of complaints
overwhelmingly harassed by re-
ports of evil-minded men who have
opposed the sale of bonds and
Thrift Stamps, and sought by in
uendo to dissuade the brave youth
of this country from service in it's
armies, teaching hostility to the
government and INSTRUMENTATION in
the ranks, denouncing the president
in the vilest language and openly
declaring their preference for Rus
sian autocracy and German tyranny
rather than the peaceful life of a
free American
1t was to meet these evils that
the bill was passed but a few days
ago by congress making these sedi-
tious utterances and this treason
able advice a felony punishable I'M
der the law, when the evil doer
should be found guilty by a jury of
his countrymen. Senator Hardwick
can never wipe out the black record
of the shame that he and one other
Democrat alone-and that Demo-
crat coming from a state largely
populated by Germans-were the
only two Democrats who cast their
votes with the Republicans in OPP
position to the purpose of this
poison of these serpents. Though
he had previously voted for the es-
pionage law, he declared in Sep
TENDER last that IT was the one re-
greet of his life that he had done
so.
I shall not weary you by com
menting on his opposition to the
policy of national prohibition.
"a a hn noOnIa a< GonrOfo
too we'll acquainted with that effort
on his part to obstruct their high
purpose for IL to be necessary for
me to refer to that subject.
P0SSESSoR OF
EG0rIsn6'
In the splendor of his Napoleon
ic egotism he has constantly de-
clared that he is not willing to beia
rubber stamp senator to vote for
everything the president recon-
mends. The trouble with Senator
Hardwick is that he is a rubber
stamp senator to vote against ev-
erything that the president does
recommend.
am no more disposed than he is
to assert as a universal proposition
that a senator should vote for ev-
erything that the president wants.
and 1 don't suppose that President
Wilson expects any such rule, but
when it comes to choosing between
the wisdom of Woodrow Wilson
and Thomas W. Hardwick, am
prepared to say with all modesty
that / would prefer a senator who
would always vote for what the
president advises rather than one
who invariably votes against the