Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1920-08-01

ct and the democratic principles an
inundated by the patriotic men gath
cred from every part of our land and
country, who have given US declara
ton that is far superior to that given
by it's opponents.
son state matters | have issued a
platform Of principles which speaks
for itself. Only one matter Of State
interest does Mr.. Hardwick advocate
and that is a longer term of the COM
mon schools and better pay for the
teachers. When did Mr.. Hardwick
become so tremendously interested in
tbs educational welfare OF the mass
es? Have you ever heard before Of
his being interested in the masses OF
the people or the common schools?
"What remedy is he offering for
the financial situation of our state at
the present time? Absolutely none. In
Georgia's financial stresses there is
one of two things she can do: either
to add to the burden of taxation by
which the owner of visible property is
already weighted down, or she must
find some other re course to take bet
ter care of her schools, provide bet
ter pay for her teachers and to give
to the Confederate soldiers, those
grand old heroes, the pensions to
which they are entitled.
81, for one, am unalte cably and
emphatically opposed to putting an
additional burden upon the property
that is already bearing its full share
of the burden of taxation. But do |
stop there? No! The legislature now
has before it bill which, if passed
and ratified by the people, will ena-
BILE the state to raise sufficient FUNDS
to meet every fair and just demand
without increasing the tax rate of the
state one penny In fact, we are now
working on a tax system which, |
believe, will ultimately reduce the tax
rate of our state to about one-half
of what it is today.
For Sharing of Taxes
at simply proposes that the prop
erty not now bearing its share of the
burdens of the government must aid
in sustaining her worthy institutions
and supporting her schools, paying
her teachers living wage, and WHIP
ing out the treasury deficit, and meet
ing every obligation. While | am
standing on the watch-tower to pre-
vent any increase in your tax rate,
and endeavoring to get the legisla-
ton necessary to give the Georgia
schools their needs, my opponents are
both making anywhere from one to
three speeches a day. | do not believe
that the people of Georgia are going
to punish me for staying at my post
and doing my full duty.
what does Mr.. Walker, my oppon-
ent propose to do for the people of
Georgia? Have you found where he
has taken position on single ma
tional or state issue? He does not tell
you where he stands on anything eX-
cept that he is in favor of common
schools, good roads, and good church
es. He gives you no bill of particulars
bv which he proposes to achieve these
results.
81 tell you now that in this legisla
ture we have placed on the statute
books laws that will ultimately result
in giving Georgia one of the best ed
vocational systems of any state in the
South. We have provided for longer
terms for our schools, better pay for
our teachers; provided for rural high
schools, and have done much else
that will drive away from the shores
of our state the clouds of illiteracy
and gloom.
eve have also passed laws that will
give to the State of Georgia, in the
years to come, more roads and better
roads than any other state | know
of in our land. While Mr.. Walker is
talking about favoring these things,
l, as a member of the legislature,
have helped to get them. There is on
ly one thing Mr.. Walker does do. He
says he wants US to return to the
normal times that existed before the
great world war My friends, that
means six and seven cents cotton. 1t
means starvation wages. Does he want
to see a return to those times when
hundreds of merchants were forced
into bankruptcy AMI ruin? Does he
want to return to those times when
our manufacturing plants were losing
money each year? Does he want to
see a return of those times when
hundreds of people were walking the
roads and streets, begging for work?
Does he want to see us return to those
times when hogs and cattle could
hardly be sold on the market at all? I
know too well that some profiteer-
ing has gone on in our country, but
while that is true, the financial con-
dition of hundreds and thousands of
people has been greatly improved.
Gentlemen, let me have forty cents
cotton and I am perfectly willing