Newspaper Page Text
SPEECH OF HON. W. C.
Delivered to the
Fe) l 0W Citizens of the County of Tal-
not:
■, appreciate the opportunity which
• l.is, occasion affords me to meet face
v lace so large a number of represen
tative people of the good county of
Talbot for the purpose of discussing
iili them candidly the issues involv-
in this campaign.
1 urn reminded that Talbot is one
[ the oldest counties in Georgia—a
countyi my fellow citizens, of which
you may be justly proud, for within
j ie r borders were born, and within her
’orders have lived, men who have
distinguished themselves in the public
service, and have illustrated your sec
tion and state in every walk of life.
Von have sent fortlt successful busi-
• ess men, eminent educators, minis
ters of the gospel, statesmen, soldiers
. n d patriots, and you can point with
i U st und honest pride to your glori
ous past.
! am also reminded that it was with
in this county that Capt. Henry Per
sons lived—a man who once so ably
represented this district in the halls
cf congress.
lam before you today seeking your
suffrage for the highest office within
the gift of the people of the Fourth
congressional district. Being a candi
date, asking your suffrage, it is per
haps proper that 1 give a brief outline
cf my life. I first saw the light of day
in 1866, in the good old county of
Carroll. When at the age of about
three years my father, who had suf-
tered heavily from tlfte results of that
bloody and disastrous conflict known
as the Civil War, in consequence of
which he was practically stripped of
all Ills property, saw proper to re
move with his family to Newnan, in
order that his children might be af
forded better educational advantages.
Prom that time until now I have con
tinuously made my home in the city of
Newnan. In 18S6, at the age of twen-
ty, 1 was admitted to the practice of
law, since when I have devoted my
lime to the duties of my profession
and to my farming interests.
Por eight years I was solicitor of
the City Court of Newnan. In 1904
1 entered the race for Solicitor Gen
eral of the Coweta Circuit. 1 was op
posed by two honorable and worthy
gentlemen—one in the person of Hon.
Sidney Holderness, of Carroll, and the
other in the person of Hon. J. Ren
der Terrell, of Meriwether. It was
a clean and honorable contest, result
ing finally in my defeat by a plural
ity of less than 200 out of a total
vote of about 12,000. But I quit that
campaign, my fellow citizens, in per
fect good temper, and took up my
duties in life with as much brightness
and hope the day after my defeat as
cn the day 1 entered the race. Apart
front holding the office of Solicitor of
the City Court of Newnan, and enter
ing the contest for Solicitor General
of the Coweta Circuit, I have never en
gaged in politics to advance my per
sonal ends;—but since I ltave been old
enough to vote, and even before, 1
have always taken an interest in pub-
•ic affairs. I have voted in every
election since I became of age, and
always taken a stand for one or the
other of the candidates before the
people. It has never been a matter
of doubt as to where I stood in any
campaign, either as to men or meas
ures.
Aside from this, I have been chair
man of the Democratic executive com
mittee of my own county; I have been
< hairman of the Democratic executive
committee of my Senatorial district;
1 have served as chairman of the Dem
ocratic executive committee of the
Fourth congressional district, and,
lastly, 1 have served as chairman of
the State Democratic executive com
mittee.
After my defeat for Solicitor Gen
eral 1 determined never to offer for
office again. I was satisfied with my
profession; I was content to remain at
home; but in recent weeks I have re
ceived many letters from various parts
the district—I have had numerous per
sonal solicitations to enter this race.
These solicitations became so urgest,
f '° frequent and came from so
many quarters, that I felt it my duty
to become a candidate for Congress.
On the 25th day of July the people
1 my home county met in mass meet
ing and unanimously presented me to
the Democracy of the district as a
'andidate for Congress, and from that
time I have been actively in the Tun
ing; and 1 tell you, my friends, 1 have
t-een “running some,” as the boys
would say.
1 °u are entitled to know the prin-
1 mles for which I stand. I have for
mulated a little platform which I am
going to read to you in a few minutes;
1,111 I want to tell you, my fellow citi
zens, there is more in the man than
' ere is in the platform. You know,
' -is thing of platforms reminds me
f a little incident that is said to
• ave occurred cn one of our southern
1 ’oins. As is well-known, it is con-
ary to the rules of the railroad com
panies for a passenger to stand on
1 e platform while the train is in mo-
non. As the story goes, a drummer
■ arded one of these trains, and in-
;v ted on standing on the platform
■ bile the train was running. The ne-
fro porter, a very polite darkey, ac-
casted the drummer and said: "Boss,
Voters of Talbot County, August 7
Of His Candidacy For Congress.
why don't you come inside and take
a seat? Don’t you know it's danger
ous to stand on tire platform while
the train is runnin', nnd don't you
know that it’s agin the rules of the
company?” The drummer, however,
persisted in riding on the platform.
Finally, the negro porter again spoke
to him, saying: “Look here, boss,
come on in and set down; dont’ you
know that a platform ain't made for
nothin’ 'cept to git in on?” (Applause.)
Nevertheless, I deem it proper to
state briefly some of the principles
for which 1 stand.
1 favor the enactment of
a law providing for a system of rural
credits, whereby the farmer may
borrow money on his land on long
time, and at a low rate of interest.
1 approve the law enacted during the
present Administration which revised
and reformed the tariff. The Demo
cratic policy is now, lias ever been,
and will continue to be, iu favor of a
tariff for revenue only; and that, in
fixing duties, they shall be lower on
the necessities of life than on the
luxuries. As a high protective tariff
is the “mother of trusts,” all good
Democrats have been trained and
taught to oppose a tariff designed for
protection only. The formation of the
great trusts was made possible under
a Republican tariff, and I favor the
policy of the present Administration
in its efforts to break up these iniqui
tous and unlawful combinations in re
straint of trade.
I am opposed to negroes holding
Federal offices of any kind or char
acter. (Applause.)
I am opposed to Republicans hold
ing office under a Democratic ad
ministration.
1 am in favor of the doctrine enun
ciated and upheld by Andrew Jackson
that “to the victor belongs the spoils.”
(Applause.)
I heartily favor the extension and
improvement of the free rural mail
delivery service, and insist that the
compensation of carriers shall be bas
ed upon mileage covered and not upon
the number of pieces of mail matter
handled.
I am in favor of the parcel post,
and such extension of the system as
will result in the "greatest good to
the greatest number.”
I am in favor of farm demonstra
tion work, to be conducted under the
auspices and approval of the U. S.
Department of Agriculture.
1 am in hearty accord with the move
ment to secure appropriations from the
Federal Government for the construc
tion of good roads.
I am in favor of the currency reform
law enacted during the present Ad
ministration, and believe its beneficent
results will prevent financial panics
or stringency in our money centers.
I am opposed to Federal Judges be
ing appointed to office for life. (Ap
plause.)
I am in favor of the general Gov
ernment regulating, but not confiscat
ing, ail interstate transportation and
public utility companies.
1 insist that public officers should be,
in fact as well as in theory, the serv
ants of the people.
I am an earnest believer in the ab
solute separation of Church and State,
and opposed to any religious sect exer
cising a controlling or dominating in
fluence in the affairs of government,
either State or National.
Now, my friends, I have not time
to discuss at length the separate
planks of my platform, but I wish to
call your attention to two—one fa
voring appropriations by the Federal
Government for construction of good
roads, and the other which favors
farm demonstration work under the
auspices and approval of the U. S. De
partment of Agriculture. I have nev
er been charged with being a dema
gogue, and since entering tills race it
has been gratifying to me that no in
dividual has said or published that 1
was other than a clean, honest man.
1 prize this appraisement more than
I would the honors and emoluments
of public office.
But, going back to the two planks
referred to. Dong before 1 became a
candidate for Congress-—long before
such an idea entered my mind—1 had
taken the position that in matters of
national legislation the farming Inter
est had been overlooked and neglected
I have ever insisted that it was the
duty of our lawmakers to give more
attention to our great agricultural in
dustry, for upon its success depends
the prosperity of the nation. There
was a time when many of our farmers
rather ridiculed the idea of being
“taught how to farm;” but 1 undertake
to say that within the past ten years
the farmers of this section have be
come Convinced of tiie value and 'prac
tical results of scientific methods as
applied to agriculture. Within the pe
riod named, greater strides have been
made along this line than during any
like period in our history. Under this
system of training the farmer boy of
today is producing from 40 to 100
bushels of corn upon land that hith
erto gave a meager yield of 10 to 12
bushels per acre. Twenty years ago
such a thing was unheard of. Year
after year magnificent crops of oats
are produced by the application of
modern scientific methods. Bounteous
forage crops are produced. There has
been a marvelous development in the
raising of hogs ami cattle of improv
ed grades. We are stendily reclaim
ing and building up our lands. in
deed, tlie development of the agricul
tural and cattle industries lias only
fairly begun, while the South's cotton
practically clothes the world. Have
you thought what a rich heritage this
is? Have you thought of the multi
plied uses to which cotton is being
put in these modern times? Why, my
friends, the so-called felt lint that you
wear is largely composed of cotton.
Our wool clothing, so-called, is practi
cally made of cotton. The very silk
that our. good women wear is princi
pally made of cotton. Our linens nrc
largely cotton. Electricity, in its vari
ous uses, consumes a vast quantity
of cotton. The wires are insulated
with cotton. The railroad companies
are large consumers of cotton. The
very plush sent upon Vs fitch you recline
when riding on a ruil\\iy train in this
country is made of nothing more nor
less than cotton. The makers of au
tomobiles demand a great quantity of
cotton for the manufacture of
so-called rubber tires and leather (?)
furnishings. 1 might further multiply
the various uses of cotton in all lines
of manufacture.
Now, as to good roads. Can you
conceive of any public improvement
which would more directly benefit the
people of this section than good roads?
After the Civil War we were mighty
poor in this country, and are Just be
ginning to recover. It is a great bur
den to tax the people of tile several
counties for the construction of good
roads. We are making magnificent
headway, but need help.
1 am in favbr of efficient transpor
tation facilities, and of reasonable ap
propriations for our navigable water
ways, but am opposed to extravagant
appropriations for this object to the
neglect of our public roads. For ex
ample, if big appropriations for the
Chattahoochee river be desirable, how
vastly more important to the country
at large would be liberal appropriations
from the Federal Government for good
roads? Congress has been appropri
ating large sums for the waterways
from time immemorial. If it be sound
policy to appropriate the people’s
money to rivers and harbors, in the
name of common sense should not the
same principle hold good as to ap
propriations for the construction of
good roads? My honorable opponent
has been in Congress nearly 18 years,
and during his service lias secured ap
propriations for the Chattahoochee ag
gregating hundreds of thousands of
dollars—but so far as the records show
not one dollar has he secured to pro
vide good roads for his district. Why?
But, my friends, 1 must hurry along.
I am now going to discuss another
phase of this campaign. As you have
been recently advised, Judge Adamson
is also a candidate for this high of
fice. Permit me to say right here that
so far as I am concerned, this cam
paign shall be absolutely devoid ol'
"mud-slinging.” I propose to pitch my
campaign upon a high plane. If 1
cannot succeed by fair and honorable
means, let me go down in defeat. I
shall be guided by the rule which
controls in what we lawyers know as
ejectment suits; and that is that the
one wiio sues must recover upon the
strength'of his own title and not upon
the weakness of that of his adversary.
It is upon this principle that 1 pro
pose to conduct my campaign.
But, my good old friend. Judge Ad
amson, lias made a record. He is be
fore the public, and it is entirely le
gitimate that I refer to his public acts.
He lias the same right to refer to
mine. 1 am deeply pained to observe
that Judge Adamson appears to have
displayed a little spirit of resentment
because 1 have entered this race. Fol
lowing tiie announcement of my candi
dacy Judge Adamson sent out an in
terview from Washington. What did
lie say? Here is what lie said: "I am
greatly surprised at the position of
Mr. Wright, on whom 1 have relied as
my friend and supporter. 1 have paid
my assessment, announced my candi
dacy for re-election and am confident
of success. As soon as the press of
public business will permit, and I can
learn the issues Mr. Wright proposes
to make, I will communicate with my
constituents direct, though it will be
impossible for me to leave Washing
ton to conduct a personal canvass.”
What’s the spirit of this interview?
Doesn't it mean that “I, Judge Adam
son, who have represented the Fourth
district of Gebrgia in Congress for
eighteen long years; that I, Judge Ad
amson, who have been so popular with
tiie people of this district; that I,
Judge Adamson, am to have opposi
tion at this late date, and from whom?
From Will Wright, of Coweta, my
friend and supporter?” He says he
lias announced his candidacy, jmid his
assessment and is confident of suc
cess. Nobody criticises him for that.
He iiad a perfect right to announce for
re-election, to pay his assessment; but
did he really have cause to be sur
prised? Why surprised? ] had sup
ported him loyally for 18 years. How
much longer, for conscience sake, did
he expect me to wait for him to re
tire? He makes me think of a man
who ran for a county office in my
county. He had held it a long time,
WRIGHT
, 1914, on Behalf
but finally bad opposition, whereupon
ho wont about with a very Injured air,
saying: "Book here, do you know that
follow Is trying to take my office away
from me?” My fellow citizens, the of
fice of Representative of this district
belongs to tiie people and not to W.
C. Adamson or W. C. Wright, or to
any other individual, or set of indi
viduals; and it is for the people to
sny wiio shall represent them in Con
gress.
Well, well!—the Judge says lie is
surprised! Seems to think it strange
Glut 1 should run against him; but, in
all candor, do you know of any good
reason why I should not? lie says
1 have been his friend and supporter.
This is true. 1 have been his friend
since my boyhood. 1 have loyally sup
ported hint for eighteen years, and
pause to ask, Do you think I owe him
anything? I assume the Judge would
be perfectly satisfied if 1 should con
tinue to support him, and lend niy
influence and help to keep him in Con
gress. He says lie lias relied on me.
] guess he would be pleased If he might
continue to do so; lint when, breth
ren, do you suppose my time would
come? For years and years tile Judge's
plea lias been; “Dot me go back just
two more years.” Yet lie has been in
Congress nearly IS years, and now
says, in effect, it would be a calamity
to turn him out—a man of such ripe
experience—a man who lias become
chairman of what he claims to be tiie
most important committee of tiie
House, etc. You have heard those rea
sons urged, nnd you have also heard
the expression used by Judge Adnm-
son’s friends that “it’s a bad idea to
swap horses in (he middle of a
stream.” My fellow citizens, I would
like to know how wide that stream
is! According to that theory, if he
lias been eighteen long,years "cross
ing tiie stream” ami only gone half
way, when will lie complete tiie jour
ney across? Must we wait eighteen
years longer? My fellow-countrymen,
there are young men in this district
whose best years of usefulness will
have passed before (lie Judge gets
across. Tiie stream is too wide. If
lie lias spent eighteen years crossing
the streanV and cot only half way
across, hadn’t we better take him out
and hitch in another horse? (Ap
plause.)
Now, what is my position? It is
this: if you had a man in Congress
from tills district wiio towered above
his fellows—a man of marked nnd
pronounced ability, like Alex. Ste
phens, Bob Toombs or Ben H. Hill,
1 might agree to let him Htay eighteen
years, or thirty-six years; but, my
friends, when Hie sitting member from
this district has been in Washington
eighteen years, and when there are
men in every county in the district
who are quite in his class, why keep
him there indefinitely, to the exclusion
of other worthy and aspiring Demo
crats?
Much ado lias been made about his
being chairman of a great committee.
Let’s see about that. How did lie
attain this much-prized chairmanship?
Was it due to any superior ability?
Was it due to the partiality of his
friends? Was it due to his peculiar
fitness? No. Under the rules of the
House, the oldest member on a com
mittee in point of service succeeds
automatically to the chairmanship
when tiie party to which he belongs
gets in tiie majority. That’s the way
Judge Adamson achieved tly; chair
manship of the Committee on inter
state and Foreign Commerce. Have
you seen any difference in benefits ac
cruing to the Fourth district since he
became Chairman of that Committee?
That’s tiie practical test of a Congress
man’s efficiency. 1 am glad Charlie
got his chairmanship, but I nssert it
does not afford sufficient ground for
perpetuating him in tiie office of Con
gressman from this district. How
much of the people's money will lie
have drawn as salary at the expira
tion of his term next March, do you
suppose? The immense sum of $107,-
500.00! Isn’t, this enough for one man
to draw from the puolic treasury, un
less lie were a really “big man," like
the eminent Georgians have named?
in the formation of this Government
tliere were two contending factions—
one led by Alexander Hamilton and
the other by Thomas Jefferson. Ham
ilton believed in a strong, centralized
government; Jefferson believed in a
government by the people and for the
people. He contended that officials
should hold office for short terms, and
advocated that Representatives In Con
gress hold for one year; on the other
hand, Hamilton advocated long terms,
perhaps as much as seven years. James
Madison effected a compromise be
tween the (wo factions, and two-year
terms were agreed upon. Hence it
has always been the policy and spirit
of this Government to prescribe short
terms in office.
In view of the remarkable tenacity
displayed by him during tiie past 18
years, it may surprise you to know
that Judge Adamson formerly advocat
ed rotation in office with much ve
hemence and volubility. About the
first time we heard of Judge Adamson
figuring in politics he was trying to
defeat the sitting member In Con-
grass from this district who had serv-
[Concluded on next page.)
Vote for Terrell
For Judge of the
Court of Appeals
WILLIAM H. TERRKLL
ty-six years ago; came to Atlanta more than
twenty-one years ago; and have practiced law,
which has been my sole business since.
1 was a member of the General Council of
the City of Atlanta in 1903-4 and 1906-7; Vice-
Chairman of the Bond Commission of the
City from 1909 to August, 1913; and am now a
member of the Atlanta City Board of Education.
1 have not asked the lawyers of my City
and the State for endorsements of my character
and ability. As to both, 1 refer to the Judges
before whom 1 have tried cases and the law
yers and others who know me and with whom
1 have come in contact.
1 have no criticism to make of the other
gentlemen in this race personally, but I do be
lieve that the fact that they have each had al
most no experience in the practice of law, either
in the trial, or appellate courts, is a matter to
which it is proper that attention should be
called, while it is equally proper for me to say
that I have not had any other business, and to
express the hope that my experience as a prac
titioner in all the courts has qualified me for
the position which I seek.
Very truly,
WILLIAM H. TERRELL
To The People of Georgia:
I am a candidate in
the coming Demo
cratic Primary for
Judge of the Court
of Appeals to suc
ceed Judge Benj. II.
Hill, resigned.
1 was born on a
farm in Cherokee
county, Ga., forty-
seven years ago;
worked at all kinds
of labor usually
found in the country;
taught school in the
country; studied law
and was admitted to
the bar nearly twen-
[ Advert ineim-nt. 1
f
Vote For
Randolph Anderson
The Progressive Candidate
FOR GOVERNOR
Don’t overlook the fact that a vote
for Judge N. E. Harris is, in effect,
a vote for the removal of the State
Capitol from Atlanta to Macon.
I Advertisement I
KHOEH
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