The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1918-08-23
BY S. F. G.


in Della Thursday When he open
cd rl his audience numbered about
FIVE hundred, overlooking the court
room. When he concluded, his au
dl.ors had fallen off tc about $50, the
others having stated tier curiosity vi
become Disguised. Although he stated
at the beginning that he was going to
NEE: the issues of the campaign aud
render full account Of his steward
Snip" his speech really amounted 10
shameful attempt 70 cal1or'l2%c
his stand on the various measures
which he has promulgated or oppos-
ed. His speech was good only as
an example OF demagoguery and will
prove to have added nothing 10 his
strength in Irwin county.
The speaker was introduced by Mr..
Mr.. l.. 4. Tucker, of Oci. a. Mr..
Tucker stated truly that ii was an
Insult to a man to call him disloyal
for voting for the man OF his choice.
But if a man insults his own intcli-
gcncc by choosing wrongly and vot
ing for candidate who has persist
emily voted against every measure
that man wants or worked for every
measure that man does not want, it is
only just to call him, as VIM. J. Har-
ris says, unwise.
Hardwick opened his speech with
assurances of loyalty, making some
Of his hearers recall the old adage
that actions speak louder than words.
He declared himself heartily in ia
vor of war and said that the best
policy was for America to win it
quick. He said that it was his opin-
ion, founded on the statements OF
American officers, that il the Allies
held the line all summer as they are
doing now, that peace would come
during the winter. Hardwick's speech
elected its first applause when he said
that the Allies now had the upper
hand in the war situation for the first
time because the American soldiers
were there in force. The speaker fail
ed TO refer at the moment to the fact
that lie had worked tooth and nail to
Z keep those Americans away from the
battle line where they are now fight
ing SO valiantly--for patriotism and
not pay--to keep the German menace
away from American shores.
AT this juncture, while his audience
was enthused over his glowing trib-
ute to the American soldiers Hard
1 wick saw good opportunity to put
y across A@sne tsffy and attacked his
epp6neL Iwho have been laying bare
his public record and predicting his
overwhelming defeat. THE people Of
], Georgia have got a darn sight more
nj sense than these people think they
have" acclaimed the staunch defender
OF the dear peepul." This was re
ecivd with applause. During my
long career in public life | have never
lowered my arms in defeat" con-
! tinued Hardick, "and with you people
behind me | never shall" This brag
received considerably less applause
The newspaper or man. whoever
wherever, or whatever it be, who says
am not just as loyal as any other
man, is contemplate liar" And this
remark received even less applause.
Some Of Hardwicks Record
Hardwick then proceeded to attack
the loyal newspapers of the state in
q vengcful manner. He said that he
was being opposed by the "me-too"
pcwspsEers of the state The CAM
@paign inst him, declared the candi-
date. was ganda started by the
big New York newspapers controlled
by big business" to defeat him and
the country newspapers were simply
me too" Just why the vested in
terests" of big business should op-
pose Hardwick he never fully explain
Jed Certainly almost every vote he
has cast in the Congress of the United
States has been in favor of the big
interests. He worked for the express
9companies against the farmers on the
Parcels Post bill He worked for the
big fertilizer interests on the bill to
give the farmers the surplus nitrate
from the government plants at cost
Saying the farmers reminded him of
title birds with their mouths always
zen to get something for nothing
eHworked against and succeeded in
.efeating the Ship Purchase bill in
the interests of the ship trusts whose
business the bill would have hurt, sue
ceeding in almost starving to death
thousands of Georgia and southern
farmers during the dark days of 1914
when cotton was selling for SC and &c
II America and for Zoe and SOC in
gland, but could not be transported
= account of shortage of ships
rrtainly the big interests could find
fault with Mr.. Hardwick's stand
those questions.
Attacks Newspapers
But to continue with Mr.. Hard
~ Ks grievance against the newspa-
pc . in other campaigns he said
II; newspapers have taken sides with
va pus candidates, the Atlanta Jour
ma Tor one and the Constitution for
dnather, the Macon Telegraph for one
an6 the Macon News for another, the
\ Sa annah News for one and the Sa-
\ vanah Press for another and so on,
n this campaign they are going
lame way, all united against me-
Mining must be rotten" So spoke
Andidate and so spoke he truly
truly than he professed to re-
- There is something rotten in