Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-09-07
Maj. McGregor Pleads
For Clifford Walker
Free School Books and Abolishing Tax
Equalization, Main Platform

Z Free School Books and Abolishing Tax
Equalization, Main Platform
Ngpres sentative audience of Ben
Hill County citizens greeted Major Nc
Gregor of Warrenton, who spoke here
Saturday morning in the interest of
Hon. Clifford Walker for Governor.
Wesley R. Walker, former representa-
tive of Ben Hill County and a former
supprter of Thomas W. Hardwick in
troduced the speaker, who kept the
close attention of his audience for an
hour and forty-five minutes. Major
McGregor was instrumental in hav-
ing free school books introduced in the
Fitzgerald Schools twenty-six years
ago and through the success of this
Innovation in public instruction, the
Peoples party urged its adoption thru
ou the state and later secured its
adoption in the platforms of the dem
ocratic party. Reviewing the politi-
cal history of the State for the past
twenty years, Major McGregor gave
as the reasons why Senator Watson
has SO frequently used his efforts for
the defeat Of recent governors for
their second terms, when he had
helped them to their first. as Hoke
Smith, Brown, Harris and Dorsey,
that they each had promised the adop-
ton of free school books for the rural
schools and each had failed to carry
out their pledges.
The Major literally flayed Hardwick
Tor his alleged failures in carrying out
any of the promises made to the peo-
pie in the democratic platform on 1920
He said in part: "Never had any
candidate for Governor made so many
promises as Hardwick made in 1920
and no governor did ever fail so ut
terly to keep his promises Hardwick
promised the repeal of the Tax Equal
ization act, but when elected used every
means to defeat its repeal. He prom
Used to protect the interests of the peo-
pie in the State Railroad and mortgage
ed its revenue for five years, depriving
the children of the State of the school
fund, of which these revenues are
part.
Instead of abolishing useless offices
as promised, he endeavred to hoist 9TH
ers upon the people, through his ad-
vocacy of an income tax. The taxes
have not been lowered as promised,
useless offices have not been abolished
and no constructive legislation has
been put on the statutes of our State.
The speaker scored Hardwick for
employing efficiency experts to exam
inc into the affairs of the several state
departments at great expense to the
tax payers. The Major alleged that
Hoke Smiths reestablishment of his
citizenship in Georgia was done for
the purpose of again making the race
for the senate or in the event of Sen
Watson's death, to be appointed by
the Governor for which purpose he
came down from Washington to give
Hardwick his support and to form the
combination of all Watson forces.
The Major paid his respects to some
of the city newspapers, especially the
Columbus Enquirer and the Macon
Telegraph for their change to Hard
wick whom they so bitterly fought
two years ago. .,.-... -
In urging the voters to support Cliff
ford Walker, the speaker asserted that
he would make every effort to i'm
prove the rural schools, introduce free
school books in all the schools and
NEE the added taxes by bringing the
invisible property to the attention
of the tax collector which is claimed
at this time to fail to bear its share
of the States government expenses.
Complimenting A. o. Blalock, can
didate for Commissioner of agriculture
as a man of ability, but no farmer, he
stated that the combination of Anti
Watson men in he state had made ev-
cry effort to get ]. ]. Brown to run
for governor. so as to elect Blalock
for Commissioner of Agriculture and
so secure the large retenue of workers
in the department as a nucleus for a pc
1itical machine for their own uses.
Brown, he said wavered in his deci-
sion to make the race for governor
and Blalock entered the race against
him in in the hope of building up a
Hoke Smith, Hardwick and Soule ma
chine. In closing Major McGregor
predicted the final victory of Clifford
Walker on September 18th and the op-
ening of an era of prosperity for the
State under reduced taxes and greater
opportunities.