The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1920-09-21

unnecessary, and declaring that the
public records of each are already
known to the voters. He invites
Hardwick to discuss his (Walker's)
public record whenever and wherever
he sees fit.
Refuses to Allow Contest.
The state subcommittee affirmed
the action of the Decatur county
executive committee in refusing the
request of Mr. Hardwick for re-
count of the ballots in that county.
The request was based upon the al
legation that forty-one men whose
names were not on the registration
list were allowed to vote in Decatur
county. The Decatur county commit
tee, by a vote of z to 6, refused the
request on the ground that it was
not made by Mr.. Hardwick person
ally or by any person authorized to
act for him, and on the further
ground that Mr., Walker was not no.
titled. Claiming that these grounds
were technical preteXt for denying
him a recount of the ballots Hard
wick in person appealed to the
tee contending that the Decatur
county contest was filed by friends
of his at his specific request and
authority, that Mr.. Walker was CIV
en- notice by letter, and that friends
and lawyers representing Mr.. Walk
er were present at the hearing before
the county committee. "All we ask is
an examination of the Decatur coun-
ty ballots on the merits of our con-
test" said Mr.. Hardwick. I'VE ask
you not to refuse us an examination
because of technicalities. If | car
ried the county, after throwing out
the unregistered votes, l want it. II
Mr.. Walker carried the county l
want him to have it." In his state
ment Mr.. Hardwick reviewed the
situation in Decatur county and SAID
the committee there had refused him
fair hearing. He referred also to
the situation in Barlow county,
where his said gross irregularities
were discovered in the election. Mr..
Hardwick said these circumstances
coupled with others, convinced him
he had won the nomination in the
first primary on a fair count. He
claimed that with the illegal bal
lots thrown out he would have a
majority. of the 81 votes in Decatur
county, which would insure him the
four votes necessary to give him the
nomination.
Says Contest Not Filed Regularly.
Clifford Walker, the former attor-
ney general and rival candidate for
governor, was present at the meet
ing of the subcommittee as an in
terested spectator. He did not make
a statement himself, but Judge Sam
Bennett, a prominent Albany law
yer spoke for him. Judge Ben
nett contended that the Decatur
county contest was not filed in &C
ccrdance with the law governing
contests. He said it was not filed IN
Hardwick's name, that Hardwick
W, uld not necessarily be bound by it,
that there was no way for the sub
committee to compel compliance with
its decision if it reversed the decls-
iol of the Decatur county commit
tee.
When Mr.. Wakes was asked for
a statement, he said:
~ am glad the contest was not
sustained. l want the people to de-
eide the issue between the policies
I represent and the policies repre-
scented by Mr.. Hardwick. Their de-
cision will be in my favor, of that
/ feel certain. If the Decatur contest
had been sustained I would have
brought contests in Ware, Hall and
some other counties"
There was a prolonged discussion
by the subcommittee before the &C
ton of the Decatur committee was
offered.
jill. Miner, of Dodge county, who
made the motion to affirm, declared
this action would make many votes
for Mr.. Hardwick, but nevertheless
he did not see how the sub-commit-
tee could justifiably reverse the De-
catur county committee. He further
stated that he was not a Hardwick
man