The Marietta journal and courier., 1918-08-30
LR. SMITH RESENTS
BILL HARRIS CHARGES
editor Atlanta Journal:

"Editor Atlanta Journal:
oMv attention has been called to
uersonal attack upon me as a private
citizen by William ]. Harris candidate
for the United States senate, before
an audience of citizens of Pulaski
county on Saturday last, and will you
not be generous enough to permit me
to reply through the columns of your
paper to this charge.
"Mr. Harris charged first that j.
R. Smith is political CRATER, and my
replv to this is that he is a political
liar. and that this charge is outside
the male of common decency unless
supported, when made, by facts, which
he failed to do and which he can never
dc. because no such facts exist and are
not therefore obtainable from any
source on this earth.
az have never supported any man
for public office with the hope of re-
ward any greater than that received
by any other citizen in my state. L
was chairman of two of Governor
Browns campaigns for governor. He
lives at Martha, and letter address
ed to him there, by either Mr.. Harris
o. any of his supporters will bring
he answer from him that he had new
er paid me one cent for services rem
dered, nor did / ever seek or receive
at his hands political favor.
81 served on Governor Harris cam
paign committee in his first campaign
A letter addressed to him at Macon
will bring an answer that he did not
pay me one cent for the services rem
dred, nor did during his incumbency
of the office ever seek of receive a
o, rsonal or political favor.
81 served on Governor Hugh M.
Dorsey's campaign committee, and
a letter addressed to him at the state
capitol will bring forth an answer
that never received one penny from
him, nor have | ever asked him for a
personal or political favor.
II supported President Wilson in
all his campaigns in this state and a
letter addressed to him at Washington
will bring back the reply that l have
ntver received one penny for services
rendered, nor have l ever asked him
for persoal or political favor.
"Yet William J. Harris would JUS
tify his candidacy for the United
States senate by an attempt to be-
smirch my character before the peo
pie of my native state and anon
whom l have lived for more than a
half a century.
''Not being satisfied with this he
attempted to question my loyalty by
saying that am not sending my boys
10 the war.
"Replying to this Infamous charge
and insinuation, let me say that |
have but one son and before he was
out of his teens he twice voluteered
to enter the service of his country as
a private and without seeking the aid
of either Harris, Howard, or any 9TH
er politician to get soft job, and he
was turned down on his physical ex-
aminations.
Now in Naval Reserve
"Not being satisfied he went to
Clayton, Ca, to recuperate, and i'm
mediately upon his return volunteered
to enter the service in the navy, and
on the 18th day of July of this year,
he stood his physical examination and
passed, and is now in the Naval Re-
serve, anxiously awaiting his call to-
gether with his comrades and friends.
"And yet this man in his despera-
tion for public office stands before
Georgia audience and charges that
my boys are not going to war. He has
previously stated while speaking of
relative, Captain Harris, who is with
the expeditionary forces in France;
HE Captain Harris) has probably