Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1924-07-28
hardwick Declares Statements
m Editorial Are 'Wilful and
Malicious Falsehoods
.(COntinued From Pace one

Continued From Page One)
and the appointment came to me
unsolicited. directly from the late
President Harding, who appointed
me as a democrat to fill a place on
q bipartisan board that had been
filled ever since the creation IT
that board by another democrat,
Senator Thomas, of Colorado. No
conduct or action of that board
while was a member or prior here
to, was ever challenged or criti-
cised in any way by any investigat-
ing committee of congress. SO much
for misstatement No. l.
2. The editorial states that az
the convention of 1912 said was
a progressive democrat. That is
misstatement No. 2. Neither 1912
nor at any other time nave ever
labeled myself as progressive dem
oerat, although l have always
thought and still think that all real
progress must be along the line of
Rdhering to fundamental principles
and doctrines, and that no true pre-
gress can be achieved in any other
way.
8 The editorial states that told
che khan that II would like to JON
your order after my term as gov
ernor expires" That statement is
both literally and substantially false
did decline to join the Elan while
was governor, but never express
ed purpose nor entertained de-
sire to join it at any time. The
statement has Already been branded
by me as false and neither Mr.. Will
liams nor Mr.. Harris can make a
falsehood anything except false
hood by repeating it.
The editorial states that |
made the dedication speech of the
imperial palace" That statement
is untrue. The fact is that / did
make short address on American
ism on the occasion when resi-
dence was presented to Colonel
Simmons by some of his admirers
and friends. l had no objection
to making this address because, at
the time, SO far as any Information
that then had disclosed, the sol
called Khan was merely a secret 81.
ciety and had not developed into d
political organization and had not
undertaken to regulate the conduct
OF citizens outside of the law and
outside of the courts. When these
developments came about year la
ter / did not hesitate for a moment
TO take issue with the klan organ
ration with respect to them and to
warn the khan that it mas unmask
and must keep within the law. |
did not hesitate for one moment to
take this course, although l fully
believed when / did take it that it
would defeat me for reelection as
governor of Georgia.
8. The editorial states that |
practically announced as candi-
date for the United States senate
In an address before the Twenty
one club of Atlanta, secret poll
teal society formed to tight the
Ku Klux Klan.."
The above statement is untrue in
substance at least. 1t is true that
some few weeks ago | did make an
address to number of gentlemen
who were said to belong to what is
said to be called the Twenty-one
club. What the Tenty-one club is
did not know then and l do not
know now. At the time | made
the address / had no earthly idea of
becoming candidate for the senate
and hoped | would not he candi-
date for any office. The address
referred to was made in ublic and
not IN any secret session and in
that very address l condemned all
secret political societies an took ex.
exactly the same position towards
them all that have always held and
now maintain.
Favors arcel Post.
6. The editorial states that | vot-
ed against the parcel post. That is
untrue. voted for it. did, how
ever, vote against the unreasonable
increase of the weight limit up to
200 pounds because / did not be-
heye the government ought to 60
into the business of a general car
rler of freight through the post
office department.
Z. The editorial states that