Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-07-10

TOM LoYLESs EXPLAINS.

TOM LOYLESS EXPLAINS.
COME folks discuss, and others
cuss, Tom Loyless of the Column
bus Enquirer-Sun for the unusual
frankness of his editorial The hui
morist, Walt Mason, once published
weekly newspaper in a little city
Of the Middle West, the masthead
of which bore the motto, Independ-
ent as a Hog on Ice. That is Tom
Loyless all over. He never hesitates
to say what he thinks-let the chips
fall where they may, to mix metaph-
ors bit. Tom is printing some
plain and pointed paragraphs on the
present political situation these days,
which are adding considerably to the
gaiety of the populace-or the dis
comfort thereof, depending upon the
possible personal alignment. of the
reader. he is going into the heart
of the political differences in a way
that is done by no other political
commentary of the present in Geor-
gia. We believe one Of his recent edi-
torials maye be of interes. So here
goes,
WHY, WE CAN SWALLOW"
HARDWICK IF WE HAVE TO.
Lots of folks have said some hard
things about Tom Hardwick. (But,
perhaps, we should be more respect
full and refer to him, always as Gov
ernor Hardwick.) Maybe, We lave
said some pretty hard things about
him, ourselves, in past political bat
ties. For, truth to tell, we never
voted for him once, because it has
generally so happened that his poll
teal views and ours didn't, at the
time, coincide.
But there is one thing we have
never said about him ourselves, nor
even heard anyone else say about
him, and that is, that anybody ever
controlled him.
We have even heard it said that
'fthis is one of his troubles that
he has head of his own, and, thinks
and says what he pleases.
And we believe this to be a fact
indeed, we know it to be a fact--and
this is the one thing that we have
always had to admire in him, even
when we voted against him.
And it is just this spirit of inde7
pendence, this unwillingness to be
controlled, that got him into consid-
cradle political trouble a few years
ago-cost him the senatorship, in
fact-and that is now giving him an
other fight for his political life.
Before, it was Mr.. Wilson who
couldn't control him-though that is,
or should be, past issue with al
reasonable men-and now it is Mr.
Wilson's bitterest enemy and most
seurrilous traducer, Tom Watson
who can't control him.
And so, Tom Watson is backing
Cliff Walker for governor to punish
J Hardwick, Just as Mr.. Wilson backed
Bin Harris for the senate-only tC
see him makeup TO Watson almost tbs
minute the latter get Up there, II
spite Of all the unforgivable insults
Watson had hurled at the man who
put Harris where he is.
We have TO confess, therefore, fol
Just certain amount of admiration
for the man who wouldn't take order;
from Wilson and who won't eat out
of Watson's hand---aa compared witt
the man who has done both.
And, feeling thus, we find it con
siderably less difficult to swallow q
few planks of his platform that we
don't ike, OF forgive a few past per.
formances bat we didn't approve
than we would find it to support :
man in whose personal and poIitica
Independence we haven't PARTED.
Of confidence.
Yes, give US, every time, man
who when he is wrong, is so deac
wrong we can have no doubt about
him; hom we know just where t.
find whenever we look for him -
man who has the courage Of his con
vietions, be they right or wrong. Blu
may the good Lord save Us from this
slipper-footed fellow whose tracks
you never can find-sxcept you lool
for them in somebody else's tracks.