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September, 1922
THE ATLANTIAN
15
Hardwick Campaign Committee
GIVE REASONS WHY
Governor Should Be Re-Elected
In undertaking the management of Governor Hardwick’s
campaign for re-election the Committee feels that it may
not be inappropriate for it to make a brief and temperate
statement to the public.
In the first place we believe the present contest for Gov
ernor is wholly uncalled for. The people of Georgia, in our
opinion, did not desire it, and do not now desire it. They
are passing through a most critical and trying period. They
are fully occupied with their personal affairs and business
concerns and have no wish for a heated political contest this
year, which, by all ordinary rules, is an “off year” in State
politics. Unless any Governor of this State has made a
dismal failure in the performance of his duty he is entitled
to a second term without opposition, for it is manifestly
unfair to subject him, before a year of his administration
has passed, while the Legislature is in session, and public
duties are pressing him, to a political contest for which he
has little or no time, unless he neglects his public duties.
This is the rule suggested by fair play and by common
sense. There have been only a few exceptions to it in the
political history of the State, , and looking back, most fair-
minded people will admit that these exceptions have not
promoted better political feeling or better political conditions
in the State.
The argument in favor of a second term for any Gov
ernor who has been fairly successful in his administration,
becomes, in our judgment, an unanswerable one when it is
made for an Executive, who in one short year, has made the
State as able, as courageous and as brilliantly successful a
Governor as we submit to the people Governor Hardwick
has made.
In one short year of administration he has so wisely
managed fiscal affairs of the State as to wipe out a Treasury
deficit of substantially three million dollars, and to put the
financial affairs of the State on a sound and stable bhsis.
This has been accomplished in a period of profound finan
cial stress.
He has, during that period, successfully maintained the
position that appropriations by the Legislature must not
and shall not exceed the revenue of the State, And that in
come and outgo must be carefully and accurately balanced
against one another.
He has recommended and secured the most rigid economy
in Legislative appropriations, the appropriations for 1922
having been reduced substantially one and one-half million
dollars below those of 1921,
He is now engaged, with every prospect of success, in
the important arid essential work of establishing for Georgia
a complete and modern business system for the transaction
of its fiscal affairs — by budget and audit — a system by
which he purposes to throw the same safe-guard and checks
and balances about the public expenditure that are employed
by all large business concerns—to the end that the public
money may be wisely and economically spent, and to the
end that every tax-payer may find out, at any time, just
how every cent of it is spent.
Without in any way assailing the good name of Georgia
and its people, on the contrary upholding them; on all oc
casions at home and abroad, the Governor has firmly stood
for the maintenance of law and order, for the protection
of life and property, for decency and just dealing, and
against invisible government of every sort, from every
source.
In short, in the opinion of this Committee, Governor
Hardwick has already proven himself one of the ablest and
strongest Governors this State has ever had, has given to
the State a business administration of the highest and best
type, and has displayed wisdom, conservatism and a rare
courage in the performance of the duties of his high and
difficult office.
For these reasons, we submit that he is entitled to a
second term without opposition, and with or without oppo
sition, that he deserves and will receive'an overwhelming
endorsement from the people in the coming primary.
Very respectfully,
ARTHUR LUCAS, Chairman, Fulton.
JOHN N. HOLDER, Vice-Chairman, Jackson.
A. A. LAWRENCE, Vice-Chairman, Chatham.
CHAS. L. BARTLETT, Vice-Chairman, Bibb.
BARRY WRIGHT, Vice-Chairman, Floyd.