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About The Henry County weekly. (McDonough, GA.) 18??-1934 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 19, 1910)
The Henry County Weekly VOL. XXXV 10 Judge Dupree Replies To Opponents’ Attacks. The Letter Below Answers Each Attack in Detail. States How He Will Administer the Law as Judge. To the Voters of the Flint Circuit: Since my announcement for the position of Judge of the Fiint Cir cuit, I have tried to conduct my candidacy on the high plane'which should be required of all seeking this honorable position. In not a single instance have I said or uttered a word in dispar agement of my opponent. But it has recently come to me tjiat an entirely different course has been pursued touching my candidacy, and that siatements have been made, ruthlessly attacking, by in nuendoes and insinuations, my honor and integrity. To these charges my self-respect •ompels me to make defense, which I now submit to the fairness and honest judgment of the people. It has been charged by my op ponent’s friends that because the present Judge of the Flint Circuit has seen fit to give me his sup port, that I would decide cases in his favor without regard to the sacred oath I must take if elected and to the detriment of other members of the bar and other parties litigant. This attack upon T honor and integrity, as well as the attack upon the Judge of this circuit should meet with the dis approval of every fair-minded man. The present Judge has simply favored my candidacy as others lawyers have favored that of my opponent. To be a judge takes away no right of citizenship, nor destroys any bond of friend ship. Every citizen, however humble or exalted, has the same right to speak a word for a friend or recommend any one he chooses for official position. The attempt to deny him this right, because he did not choose to recommend to his friends my opponent, instead of myself is puerile and no fair minded man will ever deny to an other the same right he claims for himself. The Judge has asked his friends to me and I appreciate his support as I appre ciate the support of all my friends. But why should I be influenced by my friends and my opponent not in fluenced by those supporting him. Does he mean that he is so much better and higher than I am, or that his supporters are of a higher class? Will the support of him by the Hon. B. S. Willingham at Forsyth, influence him to allow Col. Willingham to run things in Monroe county. Will the support of him by Col. Y. A. Wright in Jackson, influence him to turn over the judicial direction of the cotinty of Butts to him? Wil the support of Col. J. W. Shell in Fay ette, and other lawyers in other counties influence him to turn over to them their respective counties to their judicial adminis tration? I SAY NO, and make no such charge. I could make the charge with just as much truth as the one made upon me that be McDonough, Georgia, Friday august 191910. cause Judge Reagan has chosen to given me his support I would turn over the business of the whole circuit to him. The charge is unworthy of those who make it and I resent it with all my nature that I would be re creant to my trust. Secondly, not satisfied with the attempt to reflect upon my integ rity as a man, they have gone further and charged that I am too slow to transact the business of the courts —that the court needs a business man to run it —that my opponent can do twice the work that I can —that the court has been run too slow heretofore any way, and that there is a demand for a fast Judge. In reply to this charge I will state that I have been Judge of the County Court of Pike for sixteen years and that when the City Court of Zebulon was established last year I was asked by both the bar and the people to accept the judgship and against my request or desire. If I had been unbusiness-like in my methods and unjust and unmerci ful in my rulings or unfaithful or ' incompetent in the discharge of duty, I surely would not have been continued in this kindly rec ! ognition without protest from ! some of my fellow-citizens. It seems to have remained for the distinguished cotton manufacturer lawyer of Griffin to discover that I cannot keep pace with his won derful business capacity. I have devoted my life to the practice of my profession and home affairs and educated my children and have not had the opportunity of laying aside the stocks of large flourishing corporations, in which others make the increase; but I do claim however, a legal knowledge sufficient to discharge the duties ; of the office to the satisfaction of the people and I will endeavor to keep untarnished the judicial er mine and see that equal and exact justice is-administered to all who come into court. I believe that sufficient time should be given for the proper consideration of all cases, know ing that a hasty consideration oftentimes results in mistrials, new trials and the defeat of justice! In this connection I will say that if I am elected Twill properly dispatch business and I will, see that the humblest and poorest man who comes before the court shall have the same opportunity of defense and the same treatment at the hands of the court as the richest and most exalted of my fellow-cit izens. This has been my rule for many years and will continue to be so in all courts in which I have the honor to preside. In this con nection I will state that more than half the cases tried in the Superior Court are the same class of cases tried in the County and City Courts in which I have had long Odd Fellows Meeting at Rex. The meeting of the Odd Fel lows at Rex which was to be held on August 31, 1910, has been post poned to September 7, 1910. There will be the Division meet ing of this order at Rex on that day and all Odd Fellows are in vited. experience and the transition from the lower to the higher court will not cause any delay in its business from the inexperience of the judge. Thirdly: Not only is my integri ty attacked and unfitness by slow ness emphasized, but it is claimed that all the secret orders in the Flint Circuit will support my op ponent. In reply to this I will say that I do not believe that these great and benevolent institutions can be used to advance the political* in terests of any man. No man has a higher regard for these orders than myself and I would not for the sake of this office attempt to drag them into the political arena to promote my political ambition. To turn them in this direction, if it were possible to do so, would be to make them political ma chines, to foster political schemes and advance the personal inter ests of men. In this great coun try ail moral and religious insti tutions should be kept separate and distinct from politics. I have organizod no lodges since my candidacy was contemplated among the people whose votes I was to solicit. I have been to no secret order meetings or church to influence them to give me their support.. I believe that the church and state should not be united, and that true benevolent institutions should never so far forget themselves as to be used for political purposes. I repeat that 1 cannot believe that this charge is true and that our great benevolent institutions will band together for my defeat. Fourthly, it has been charged that if I am elected judge I willbe too lenient with the violators of the law. I state now what I have always stated in private, that I will try each case on its merits and tnflict such punishment as the law prescribes and, where discretion is in the. Court, I will exercise that discretion ' . righteous judg ment as I see .t. If one deserves severe punishment it will be ad ministered; if one does not deserve severe punishment he will never receive it at my hands. With charity for all, and malice for none, I will administer the law without fear, favor or affection. If my friends can influence me, why is not equally true that his friends, environments* and large corporate interests can not as easily influence him. In conclusion let me say that I will not use any* unfair methods to obtain this office. In invite the scrutiny into my life. If I ever err ; I trust that it will be on the side of mercy; for I love both jus tice and my fellow men. I stand for law and civil righteousness, unmoved by the spirit of commer cialism into which I have never entered; and if I am elected, I will serve you in the fear of God and uninfluenced by friend or foe, however mighty. I will appreciate the vote and support of all the people. I am, very truly, E. F. DUPREE. Every Man Must Vote In His Own District Act of 1908 Changes Former Meth ods and Customs. Section 2 of the New Registration and Primary Act, passed in 1908 by the Georgia Legislature, reads as follows: . “That no elector shall vote in any primary election, in a militia district othen than the one in which he resides, or if in a city, in a ward other than the one in which he resides, if an elec tion procinct be located in such ward." This applies, beyond any possibility of dispute, to the coming State Primary election on next Tuesday, the 23d instant. So let every voter remember that he cannot come to McDon ough and vote in this Primary if he does not live in the McDon ough militia district. All should bear in mind that they must vote in their own home precinct, whatever and wherever that may be. Heretofore those who lived in a district not containing an in corporaten town could go to the county seat and votje. This can not be done any longer. HENRY COUNTY TAXABLE ~~ PROPERTY SHOWS INCREASE. Consolidation For 1910 Completed and Shows Nearly $300,000 Increase. NEARLY 1,200 DOGS RETURNED ALSO. Mr. T. T. Barham, our clever Tax Receiver, has just completed the consolidation of the tax re turns for 1910 and they make an excellent showing for Henry County. He has received the following letter of appreciation of the same: Office of Comptroller General, Tax Department. Atlanta, Ga., Aug. 13, 1910. Mr. T. T. Barham, R. F. R., Luella, Ga. Dear Sir: Your Tax Digest for 1910 has been received, examined and found correct. The book is one of the best received this year. The handsome increase in values shows that you have been careful arid diligent, and that your peo ple are prosperous. I thank you for your fine work and the promptness with which you have finished the Digests. With best wishes, I am yours truly, W. ivl Wright, Comt Gen. For this year are returned 2,723 polls, an increase of 215. Acres of land returned are 196, 762, an increase of 12,922. The aggregate value returned for this land, including buildings thereon, is $1,404,935; an, increase of $100,615. The aggregate value of City or Town Property returned is $467, 882, and increase of $55,979. Value of shares in any state or national bank of this State is re turned at $148,669, an increase of $19,119. Capital in bank as sinking fund or surplus, and undivided profits, is returned at $13,500, an increase of $2,500. Value of stocks and bonds is re turned at $2,860, an increase of $860... Amount of Money and debts, pages $« a Ye?ir notes and accounts, etc., is retur ned at $278,038, an increase ul $147. Merchandise and are re turned at $189,756, an increase of 1 $35,865. Iron works, foundries, etc re turn $1,200, an increase of SSOO. Value of household and kitchen furniture, Pianos, Organs, Libra ries, Pictures, etc., is $141,745, an increase of $17,940. Watches, jewelry, etc., are re turned at $7,007, an increase of $1,192. Horses, mules, and other stock are returned at $361,973, an in crease of $54,755. Carriages, Wagons, buggies tools, etc., are returned at $lO9, 580, an increase of $11,425. Cotton, corn, etc, and provisi ons are returned at $23,104, a de crease of $3,435. Value of corporate franchises $10,790, an increase of $4,317. * Tax on professions $340, an in crease of S4O, being returned by 2 new doctors and 2 new lawyers, Aggregate value of whole of property i5'53,336,499, an increase $288,543. QUARTERLY CONFERENCE NEXT SUNDAY. ; The Quarterly Conforance will meet at the MHJonough church next Sunday, the 21st instant. The presiding elder, Dr. J. 11. Lakes, will preach at 11 o’clock in the morning. Quarterly Conference will meet at 3 o’clock in the afternoon. ' Let us have a full attendance at both services. J. E. England, Pastor. Closing out Ice Cream Freezers, Preserving Kettles, Etc. Variety Store.
