Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-08-10
Speaker Holder Pays HIS
Respects to His Opponents
In Speech at C0vlngt0n

ernor, for no man should be COVER
nor of Georgia who could not be falr
to friend and foe alike, and no man
can be fair and just, who, has the
sentiments in his heart that Mr..
Hardwick evidences by his public
utterances.
"Why, my fellow citizens, am
surprised though that he is now re-
sorting to misrepresentation. A rev
days ago he said that my brother
had written to bothe Senator Smith
and Mr. Watson that he voted for
each of them, while here in my hand
/ hold a wire from my brother stat
ing that he never wrote either Sena-
tor Smith or Mr.. Watson a letter IN
his life. 1 cannot conceive why he
should make such charge, or why
he should bring into this campaign
nv brother, who has nothing in the
world to do with the race Tor COVER
nor, is not running for OFFICE, put IS
back in Jackson county timing the
soil as an honest farmer, endeavorlng
to earn a living as a good and sub
stantial? citizen.
I'm answer to my charge that Mr..
Hardwickl.is not noted for construc-
tive craftsmanship, but that he
rather, in his record, mao opposed me
constructive legislation passed in the
public interest, Mr.. Hardw1sk says
that he was the author Of the law
that disfranchised the negro in Geor-
gia, and that that was the greatest
piece Of constructive legislation ever
facts? Mr.. Hardwfck introduced
bill in the legislature of Georgia in
1898. In 1899 that bill received only
three votes. In 1900 he again intro
duced the bill and it received only
sixteen votes. In 1907, after one OF
the most spectacular races for COVER
nor this state has ever seen, bill
was introduced by Hon. G. w. Will
liams, of Laurens county, was passed
and became the law of Georgia, which
largely eliminates the colored voter
from exercising franchise. But, my
fellow citizens, that bill, with it's
property, it's educational, and It's
soldier qualifications, does not dis
franchise the negro of Georgia, be-
cause negroes register and vote I'M
der this bill, and it applies to all,
both black and white. alike. The fact
of the matter is the negro is disfran-
chised in Georgia in the white pri-
mary.
ct still say that in his public rec
ord he has not been builder, but
been for things which would benefit
and upbuild the state and nation, and
keep step with progress and develop
ment, but rather has been an oppo-
nent to all these things without Of
fering anything in substitution there
lOT. ~ was Ill lll0 SLotLS WIlSIG ZIG
had an opportunity to do a great
work that he developed into a critic
and an obstructionist He favored
DISTINGUISHING the negro in Georgia,
but favored giving him the ballot in
Washington so that the negro then
in that city. He opposed the ship
purchase bill, parcels post and the
federal reserve act, the best laws in
behalf of the masses that have been
placed on the statute books in the
last half century.
emphatically opposed to putting an
additional burden upon the property
that is already bearing its full
share Of the burden of taxation. But
do 1 stop there? No. The legislature
now has before it bill which, if
passed, and ratified by the people,
will enable the state to raise suf-
ficient funds to meet every fair and
Just demand without increasing the
tax system which, I believe, will ul
timately reduce the tax rate Of our
state to about one-half of what it is
property that is now bearing It's
share Of the burdens of the govern
ment must aid in sustaining her
worthy institutions and supporting
her schools, paying her teachers a
living wage, and wiping out the
y
obligation. While L am standing on
the watch-tower to prevent any in
crease in your tax rate, and endeav-
oring to get the legislation necessary
to give to Georgia schools their
needs, my opponents are both making
anywhere from one to three speeches
day. I do not believe that the
people of Georgia are going to pun
| ish me for staying at my post and
doing my full duty.
Mr.. Hardwick charges that some
| body is dominating the politics of
| Georgia, and yet he tells you that il
he is elected he will run everything
himself. How will this help matters,
pray tell me.
ION the question of free speech
| and free press and the right Of the
people to assemble, I am in thorough
accord with these great fundamentals
of Democracy. They are the prin-
ciples for which our ancestors in
that great revolutionary struggle,
made a great sacrifice. But who is
not in favor of these great inaliena-
BILE rights, guaranteed to us by the
constitution of our country?
81 favor the right of free assem-
blage, but when there is a gathering
of people who propose to destroy our
institutions, burn down our homes,
wreck and ruin our properties, and
above all, seek the destruction Of the
Democratic government, then the law
steps in and says you, must stop
you must dispense, and the law can
come in further and say you must
be punished. On this great question
the platform adopted at San Fran
cisco voices the very heart and life
of democracy.