Newspaper Page Text
VOL. 26
JUDGE FITE
Writes Card in Reply to
cular of “A Friend.”
SAYS RECORD IS
And Asks the People to Endorse It
the Polls on Wednesday,
April the 20th
Dalton, Ga., April 13, 1904.
Editor News:— My
lias signed and issued
circular written by a “friend,”
as he says, He is nearer
this time than before, but still
in error in many instances.
His list of cases is incorrect,
and he knows, or ought to know
it; and he leaves a loop¬
hole by charging it up to a
“friend.” However, he has done
so much better than I expected,
1 feel quite sure that some
“friend” really did the work—a
much better one than the
lawyer who wrote the first circu¬
lar. He places me between Judge
Milner and Judge Parrott, mak¬
ing me number six instead
number five, of the twelve
of this circuit since the organiza¬
tion of the supreme court.
denies having supported Judge
Fain for a third term, and
that he never raised his hand
voice between Judge Fain and
Judge Milner in their race for the
judgeship, and this is
true, for I never heard of his
raising his hand for any one in
politics, except himself and those
decoy ducks, Palmer and Buek
ner Bg says he was really elected
surveyor of klurray county, and I
hope that he was; but the good
people of Murray tell me that his
opponent, Morgan Hampton, got
the commission, and this is the
record. He reluctantly admits
having been defeated for aider
man of Dalton, after having been
twice elected to this office,
charges his defeat, to the working
men of the city. This is unjust
to the working men, most of
whom are my friends, and I pro¬
test against it, although it is a
tribute to their good sense and
unerring judgment. My oppo¬
nent has a wonderful record as an
office seeker during the last forty
years, being as follows :
1st : Clerk in the Comptroller
General’s office.
2nd: Surveyor. Elected or de¬
feated, which?
3rd : Clerk in the Georgia Leg
jslature.
4th: Alderman of the City
Dalton,
5th: Alderman of the City
Dalton.
6th : Candidate Alderman City
of Dalton.
7th: Candidate for Judge Su¬
perior Courts.
8th: Candidate forjudge Su¬
perior Courts.
9th : Candidate for Judge
perior Courts.
10th: Standing
forty years.
11th; Attorney, W. & A.
road Company, thirty years.
12th: Still holding on to
job, with his son, Julian, as
ner and political heeler.
1 hope he will keep his
and be more accurate in his
culars in the future.
My record, as heretofore
lished, is correct, and I
fully ask the people to endorse
at the polls.
Very truly yours,
A. W. Fite.
Another Card from the Judge.
Dalton, Ga., April 13, 1904.
Editor News : By way of
to the card of Mr. Paul B.
mell, published in the
Argus of last week, I will
that what he says, so far as
THE MURRAY NEWS
SPRING PLACE, MURRAY COUNTY, GEORGIA, APRIL 15, 1904.
MADDOX
THE NEWS PICNIC
For Its Correspondents Will Be on First
Saturday in June.
The Murray News has select¬
ed the first Saturday in June as
the date for the picnic to its cor¬
respondents, and King’s Spring,
in Spring Place, as the place.
The Murray News appreciates
the splendid work of its ex¬
ceedingly bright corps of writers
and takes this method of doing
those writers honor.
It is hoped that not one of
them will remain away on that
occasion, as no pains will be
spared in arranging a program
certain to be enjoyed.
Good music will be provided,
and other interesting features
supplied, and in fact, everything
will done to make the day a
pleasurable one for all who at¬
tend.
While this picnic is given in
honor of the correspondents of
The Muraay News, the general
public is cordially invited to be
there, Gome out, everybody,
bring the children, and help us
make the first Saturday in June
a day to be talked about.
We pledge our promise that
you will be entertained.
As soon as completed, the pro¬
gram will be published in full,
Over from Dalton.
A party of young folks, con¬
sisting of Misses Gertrude Fer¬
guson, Ethel Black, Maysie Ham¬
ilton, Messrs. Walter Richard¬
son, Reynolds Herron and all¬
ot lie»; drove.o^er. from Dalton
Sunday afternoon.
am concerned, is untrue in part
and is misleading altogether.
When he betrays confidence he
should, at least, state the facts.
I never at any time told him
that 1 believed that Sam P.
Maddox had made an uncondi¬
tional promise not to run against
Oliver Starr for solicitor-general,
nor did I ever tell him that if I
was not allowed to help Maddox
in the trial of cases, this circuit
would soon be filled up with un¬
punished criminals. And I will
state here and now that if what
he says with reference to the al¬
leged promise has no more foun¬
dation than what he says of me
has, he is, at least, mistaken
about it.
Very truly yours,
A. W. Fite,
Card from Mr, D, C, Bryant.
Being drawn into tins contro¬
versy is not very pleasant to me.
Four years ago I acted in the
capacity of a friend to Sam P.
Maddox, and did what I could to
keep Col. Starr from making the
race at that time. I was Mad¬
dox’s friend, not Starr’s, and the
promise made Starr by Maddox
was exactly as set forth in the
affidavit made by me, which has
been published; and any other
construction put on the terms
of that promise except as stated
in my affidavit is a lie, I don’t
care who it is that uses it, The
only suggestion I have to make
is for Sam P. Maddox to make a
direct statement of what did oc¬
cur, and swear to it,'then let the
people believe whom they wish
to—at least leave it in shape so
that they can decide who swore
the lie, Maddox the interested
party, or others who acted as his
friends and were deceived by
him.
As to the parties who signed
a statement for Maddox about
the promise, will say that none
of them ever conferred with me
about it, and certainly were not
present when the promise was
made.
} D. C. Bryant.
Has Something to Say in
Connection With That
Promise
I have issued no circulars, nor am I responsible for any anony¬
mous letters appearing in the newspapers. I do not throw mud in
the court house or in polities. Tin "candidacy of my opponent seems
to be based mainly upon an alKfjp.Y promise I made him not to run
this time, and that I would support him. His circular letter charg¬
es this, among other things. Later on he supports this by affidavits
of two gentlemen living in Dalton*. 1 do not attribute any wrong
motive to either of these genuteffrwff, but do- say that they are mis¬
taken as to the conditions under which this alleged promise was
made. Four years ago Judge Fite’s friends believed he would now
be a candidate for Congress. I thought so, as did my friends. My
opponent was in the race against me for solicitor-general, as 1 un¬
derstood, and did not want to accord me a second term. Mutual
friends were talking about the situation. They said the thing to
do was for Judge Fite to run for Congress at this time; that I run
for judge, and Starr run for solicitor-general, and each one and his
friends support the other. I agree ! to this, and said I would sup¬
port Starr, as he was my friend.
Judge Fite informs me that Col. L. N. Trammell asked him if
he would agree to this. Judge Fife declined to make any promise,
but said he saw no good reason, if fie should run for Congress, I for
judge and Col. Starr for solicitor, why he should not support each
of ub, At the commencement of the present campaign Paul B.
Trammell, ns I am informed, urged Judge Fite to run for Congress,
saying that in that event I would run for Judge, and Starr for
solicitor, and thus relieve the situation. Mr. Trammell, one after¬
noon, stopped me at his gate and said I ought to make Judge Fite
run for Congress; that if he would do this and relieve the situation,
I could run for judge and Starr for solicitor. I said to him : “1
have insisted on Judge Fite running for Congress, and if he should,
I intend to run for judge.” This is the truth, and it is all the
promise 1 have ever made to Cyl. Starr or his friends. Being thor¬
oughly convinced that mutual friends clearly understood the condi¬
tions prevailing four years ago, I may not have gone into all the
details in every conversation I had with them, or some of them;
anu doubtless, if I did, some nf thlfte details have dropped from
the memories of the gentlemen who now say that they understood
tlie promise to he unconditional. I accqrd should to them perfect sincer¬
ity, and it is not unreasonable that I expect them to accord
to me equal sincerity in this statement. My opponent, when he
was in the race before, as I understood him to he, insisted that I
could not claim that it was a second term I was seeking, because it
was the first time the people had ever voted direct for a judge and
solicitor. He has reversed his position, and now claims it is the
third time, when it is the second time the people are called on to
elect.
“The notorious car robber.” whose bond I am charged with
reducing and who had left the country, has entered his plea and
his case is ended.
I have done my duty; my fitness is not denied; my record is
known to the people, and I believe I am entitled to re-election.
SAM P. MADDOX.
The following correspondence will be of unusual interest :
Da i.ton, Ga., April 9, 1904.
Judge A. W. Fite, Dalton, Ga.
My Dear Sir:—In view of the card of Paul B. Trammell in the
Argus of yesterday, will you please write me what occurred be¬
tween you and Col. L. N. Trammell in regard to yonr running for
Congress, 1 for judge and Col. Starr for solicitor-general—vvliat he
said to you, and what you said to him?
Also, what Mr, Paul B, Trammell said to you, and you to him,
some time since on the same subject?
Very truly yours,
(Dictated.) Sam P. Maddox.
Dalton, Ga., April 9, 19(41.
Col. Sam P. Maddox, Dalton, Ga.
My Dear Sir:—Your note of today received, and in reply will
say that about four years ago Col. L. N. Trammell expressed a de¬
sire to see me go to Congress, would and urged to me do to make the would race this
time, 1904, saying that if solicitor-general I agree this so, you but agree
not to be a candidate for time, would run
for judge and that Col. Starr would not then run for solicitor-gen¬
eral but would make the race this time. I declined to make any
agreement, but said that if I should make the race for Congress,
and you should run for judge and Col. Starr for solicitor-general, 1
knew no reason why I should not support both of you.
Some time last year, Mr, Paul B. Trammell urged me to run
for Congress, saying that if I would do so it would relieve the situ¬
ation, and that you would run for judge and Col. Starr for solicitor
general. To this I replied that for personal reasons I could not now
make the race for Congress. He then said that you had promised
not to run for solicitor-general this and time. he I said told him that uncondi¬ you
claimed the promise was conditional it was
tional, The foregoing is in substance what occurred in the con¬
versation to which you refer. By way of reply to the card of Mr.
Trammell I will add that what he says, so far as I am concerned, is
untrue in part, and misleading altogether. When he betrays con¬
fidence he should, at least, state the facts. I never at any time
told him that I believed you had made an unconditional promise
not to run against Oliver Starr for solicitor-general; nor did I ever
tell him that if I was not allowed to help you in the trial of cases,
this circuit would soon be filled up with unpunished criminals.
And I will state here and now, that if what he says with reference
to the alleged promise has no more foundation than what he says of
me, then he is, at least, mistaken about it.
Very truly yours,
A. W. Fite.
Dalton, Ga., April 9, 1904.
We know of the circumstances leading up to the alleged prom¬
ise made to Col. Starr and his friends. While we were not present
when any agreement was made, it was our understanding before,
and afterwards, that, the promise was based upon the assumption
that Judge Fite would now be in the race for Congress.
T. J. Bryant, Dalton, Ga. W. F, Summerouk, Dalton, Ga.
L. II. Callaway, Dalton, Ga. John Black, Dalton, Ga.
J. L. Fincher. Dalton, Ga.
MATTERS
And Also Concerning Real Estate in the
County of Murray.
The lease of the Colnitta Gold
Mining Company’s property to
N. A. Bundy, H. J. Brennan
and others has been effected,
and the stockholders will meet
on the $kl inst. to formally rati¬
fy the deal. The plans of the
lessees were partially outlined in
the last issue of The News.
Mr. J. S. B. Applies is in re¬
ceipt of a letter from J. S. Mach
ett, a Wisconsin capitalist, stat¬
ing that on the 19th inst. he and
a number of other gentlemen
will leave there for Murray coun¬
ty with a view to buying farm
lands, on 8,000 acres of which in
this section Messrs. Apollos and
Machett now hold options.
Joe Anderson Withdraws.
Through an oversight we failed
to mention last week the with¬
drawal of Joe B. Anderson from
the race for county treasurer.
This retirement leaves a clear
field for Mr. Lackey before the
primary, though he will doubt¬
less have opposition in the gen¬
eral election.
Into a New Office.
Dr. J. B. Hughes has pur¬
chased from Col. Charlie King
the building just south of the
old Linn corner, and after mak¬
ing some extensive improve¬
ments, already in progress un¬
der Contractor Joel Etheredge,
will remove his office there.
FOUR LEGS
Four Wings and Two Heads Are Posses¬
sions of This Chicken. ■
There has been on exhibition
this week, in the office of Dr.
Steed, a great curiosity in the
shape of a chicken with four legs,
four wings and two heads, but
with no eyes or bill. This very
peculiar freak of nature was
hatched on the farm of Charles
Williams, near Stafford.
Reuben T. Beck.
Word has been received here
of the death of Mr. Reuben T.
Beck, which occurred near
Greeneville, Tex., on March 81.
Mr. Beck was a great-uncle of
Mrs. W. R. Davis, and had nu¬
merous other relatives in Mur¬
ray. He was at one time a prom¬
inent farmer of this county, but
some ten or twelve years ago re¬
moved to Texas, where he re¬
mained until his death.
LOCAL AND PERSONAL
Won’t tilings be warm on the
20 th?
Remember the primary next
Wednesday.
Don’t forget The News picnic,
first Saturday in June.
Charles Ross, of Dunn, was in
the city Saturday.
Miss Sibyl Steed spent Sunday
at her home in Ringgold.
By the way, is that ghost still
walking in the schoolhouse?
Mrs. John B. Gregory has re¬
turned to her home at Dennis.
P. G. Hilliard made a busi¬
ness trip to Dalton Wednesday.
Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Sanders, of
Dalton, spent Sunday at Hope
dale.
Miss Pearl Ramsey, of Ram¬
sey, was with friends here last
week.
Dr. E. O. Stafford passed
through Saturday en route home
from Dalton.
Miss Ethel Parsons returned
Saturday from a visit to friends
in Adairsville.
Miss Jennie Mae Edmondson,
of Holly, was the. recent guest of
friends in Spring Place.
Mrs, C. H. Davis has taken
charge of the music class at Lucy
Hill Institute, and lias room for
a few more pupils.
NO. 16
SEND FARMER
To Congress Wiil the Seventh
District
GORDON LEE A SURE WJNNER
Mr. Copeland Withdraws from Race,
Seeing Inevitable Defeat
Before Him.
Next Wednesday, April 20, is
the day of the Democratic pri¬
mary.
Next Wednesday is the day on
which Gordon Lee will receive
the congressional nomination by
the largest majority ever given
a candidate in the Seventh dis¬
trict.
Gordon Lee is pre-eminently
the man of the hour—the man
of destiny. Mr. Copeland, see¬
ing how useless it was to oppose
him, has withdrawn from the
race, assigning as his reason the
early date of the primary, but
also, no doubt, perceiving that
Gordon Lee had gained such a
position in the esteem of the
voters that no man in the dis¬
trict stood any show to defeat
him.
We are going to send a farmer
to congress this time, and that
farmer is Gordon Lee.
Mr. Lee’s remaining opponent
is seeking to prejudice the voters
against him by continual allu¬
sions to “Gordon Lee’s money.”
Well, it’s clean money, not a
penny of it tainted, every dollar
of it honestly acquired.
It is no crime to possess mon¬
ey honorably gained. The as¬
sertion circulated by bis oppo¬
nent that Mr. Lee declared he
would “spend a barrel of it, if
necessary, to secure the nomina¬
tion,” is nothing in the world but
a political trick to mislead you.
Gordon Lee’s money will be
no handicap to his rendering you
good service in congress. An
honest man is an honest man, be
be rich or poor. And wlio dare
say that Gordon Lee is not an
honest man?
Gordon Lee has thought enough
of you to come among you and so¬
licit your votes. You have seen
him and have heard him. You
have read endorsements of him
from every nook and corner of
the district. The women are for
him, the children are for him,
the newspapers are for him, and
last, and most important—the
voters are for him.
Remember Gordon Lee next
Wednesday at the polls.
We print below a few extracts
from different papers touching
Mr. Lee’s candidacy:
North Georg a Citizen.
Gordon Lee voted for and
helped to pass the Howard fran¬
chise bill, which puts from thir¬
ty to fifty thousand dollars in
the state treasury every year
from the corporations doing busi¬
ness in the state.
Gordon Lee was chairman of
the penitentiary committee of the
state senate, which took the con¬
vict labor out of the coal mines,
lumber camps and brick yards,
thereby making room for thou¬
sands of laboring men in the
state. He opposed competition
of convict labor with honest
working men.
Cartersville News and Courant,
It is doubtful if in the history
of Georgia politics, for a decade
at least, there can be found a
parallel for the spontaneous rec¬
ognition of fitness and worthi¬
ness that is manifest in the sol¬
id and substantial favor with
which the candidacy for congress
of Gordon Lee has been met
among his constituency.
Weather conditions favorable,
it is believed that Murray coun¬
ty will poll 1,200 votes in the
primary.