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HEARST’S SUNDAY AMERICAN. ATLANTA, OA., SUNDAY, AUGUST 24, 1913.
Hunnicutt Won in First Round
+•+ +•+ +•+ +•+ +•+ +•+
Beat Bravo With Wooden Sword
OF JUSTICE
Divorced Wife of Millen Judge,
Who Killed Him and Young
Bride, Shows No Remorse.
Planned. Shooting With Care.
How Atlanta’s Broadsword Champion Worsted
French Fencing Master.
Trouble Alleged to Have Started
Twenty Years Ago Over Prison
er's Property—Jurist Is Said
to Have Slain Brother-in-Law.
MILLEN, Aug:. 23.—Convinced that
she has been an instrument of Jus
tice. satisfied that the work she had
planned for days has been well per
formed, Mrs. Edna Perkins Godbee,
In her cell in the Jenkins County Jail,
to-day calmly and confidently awaits
the hour when she will face a court to
answer to the law for the slaying of
her former husband, Judge Walter M
Godbee. and the bride who had taken
the slayer's place in his affections.
Mrs. Godbee saw life pass «from the
body of the man with whom she had
lived for years, and there was no re
morse shown on her face While im
prisoned for his slaying she was told
that she must also answer to the
charge of having murdered his wife.
She did not blanch.
She had determined on the death of
both. She had planned her deed care
fully. She believed that she was jus
tified In resorting to arms to avenge
her real or fancied wrongs, and per
sons who know her best declare she is
ready to meet the consequences.
No effort to obtain bail has been
made by her. She has waived the
right of preliminary trial. She is con
tent to remain in jail until her time
of trial comes.
Started Twenty Years Ago.
The attitude of this woman, who
has passed her fiftieth year. Is one of
the most remarkable features of this
remarkable tragedy.
Twenty years ago, when Judge God
bee arid his second wife found they
were mlsmated, the foundation for
the double slaying was laid. The cli
max came Monday morning in the
Millen postofflce, when Judge Godbee
was almost Instantly killed and his
young wife fatally wounded by pistol
shots fired by the woman from whom
he had been separated by the courts.
Both Judge Godbee and the woman
held as his slayer are of prominent
Jenkins County families. Godbee had
been prominent in politics. He had
been married three times.
His first wife died many years ago,
but, at his request, he Is buried at
her side in the cemetery at Waynes
boro. Soon after her death he mar
ried Miss Edna Perkins, daughter of
the late Mills Perkins, and heiress to
considerable property.
They lived in apparent happiness
until the early nineties, when the first
signs of trouble came. At this time
Judge Godbee acquired rights to cer
tain properties which belonged to his
wife bctfore their marriage. It is
charged that the Judge afterward sold
this property and reinvested the pro
ceeds for his own personal benefit.
Friction between the couple reached
a critical stage ten years ago, when
Mrs. Godbee filed suit for divorce in
Jenkins County, charging cruelty on
the part of her husband.
Even after this suit was filed there
wap a reconciliation, but the trouble
cropped out again aboht five years
ago, when Mrs. Godbee again entered
suit. She was granted absolute di
vorce, but the judge was successful
in resisting her plea for alimony. Mrs.
Godbee was also given the custody
of her minor child. Miss Sarah God
bee, with whom she lived at the time *
of the tragedy.
Divoro© Didn’t End Trouble.
The divorce decree did not end the
troubles of the pair, however. Mrs.
Godbee always contended that the
money on which Judge Godbee was
living luxuriously after the decre**
rightfully belong to her.
It is certain that she was in strait
ened circumstances at the time of the
killing, and it is believed that the
sight of another woman enjoying the
fortune she believed hers, while she
virtually was living in poverty, had
no little to do with her determination
to take justice into her own hands.
For after the divorce Judge Godbee
married again. His third wife was
Miss Florence Boyer, 25 years old.
of Williamsport, Pa. After their
meeting at the sea shore Judge God
bee continued bis courtship at her
home, and little more than four
months ago he brought her to Millen
as his bride*
A crisis was reached. Soon after
the judge’s return, it is declared, he
received demands from his former
wife that he contribute to the support
of her and her daughter. In these
demands she cited the fact that she
was entitled to at least part of the in
come he derived from property which
had originally been hers.
Judge Feared for Life.
Intimate friends of the judge say
‘that from that time on he feared, not
only for his own life, but for that of
his bride.
So alarmed did he become that on
receiving a threatening letter Sunday
he refused to take his bride to church,
although he was a steward of the
First Methodist congregation, and re
quited the pastor, the Rev. E. E
Ro*e. to come to the Hotel Estelle,
where he had apartments, to conduct
private prayers.
Time was when the prise fight was
not au fait, when in the best fami
lies, and even in the second best, and
maybe in the third, they frowned
down upon the pugilistic art as bru
tal and regenerate. Then it waa that
the youn bloods turned to cockfight-
ing and fencing for the gladiatorial
features of their lives, and were sat
isfied.
And that time was not so very long
ago. Calvin W. Hunnicutt, who 1*
Atlanta’s oldest citizen, revived them
in mertlory yesterday, when he fell to
the young bloods turned to cockflght-
between Charley White and Frank
Whitney, with the remark that things
were not like this of yore.
Of course, he had a dueling story
of his own to tell, end he told It—
of how he fought an arrogant French
fencing master In a combat with
wooden swords, and how all Atlanta
looked on and cheered him as its
champion.
It occurred before the war, when
all good things, it seems, occurred. It
occurred Just at the beginning of the
war, and had Its effect in keeping
Mr. Hunnicutt out of that conflict.
"There had been talk of war, war.
war pretty generally," he said. The
trouble clouds were thick and black,
and we organized here in Atlanta a
cavalry troop that we called the Ful
ton Dragoons. Captain Wilson was
our officer, I was first lieutenant and
C. B. Whaley, my best friend, was
first sergeant.
' All went well at first, and things
were pleasant. But after a while
politics began to leak in, as inevitably
it will with all volunteer military
bodies. Everybody knows everybody
else so well, you see that very natur
ally Jealousy comes in. Anyhow,
when the time came for the election
of a captain for a new term, Whaley
and I, backing Wilson, lost out, be
cause the other man promised horses
to all members of the troop. Then
dissatisfaction grew and the organiza
tion loosened.
"The new captain and his great
ally. Second Lieutenant Williams,
were full of ideas as to how to run
a miliatry organization, and began to
put these ideas into play. That made
more dissatisfaction for no volunteer
soldier likes to be driven by men who
were their friends and associates.
“One of their ideas was the /im
portation of a fencing teacher to in
struct the men in broadsword use.
Now Whaley and I had practiced
considerably with the broadsword,
and were rather expert In its use, but
we said nothing of it to the captain
and his friends.
"Well, the fencing master came, a
Frenchman from Mobile. He was a
’flourishing, affected sort of fellow,
and considerable of a boaster. Not
long after he was here, he broke off
teaching and began to talk about his
own great skill and to show it off.
“Qne day he challenged all of us.
“ ‘Nobody here can touch me with
his sword,’ he announced. ‘I don't
fear to let any of you try.' And he
flourished his sword.
"Whaley and I decided to take him
on, and I went to him. He laughed at
me. But I Insisted, and the date was
set for our combat. That there should
be no bloodshed—because we were go
ing to do some furious fencing it
seemed—I put a negro of mine to
work making two wooden swords, or
sticks. These were to be our wea
pons.
"Somehow the tidings that there
was to be a fight got abroad. At
lanta was not us large as it is now,
but it was a right smart town even
then, and when the day for the fight
came, everybody turned out.
"We had planned to have the duel
In a theater, owned in the days of
old Atlanta by a man named Wil
liams. The place was packed, and
I began to be a little nervous over
the public nature of the affair.
"We squared off, and the crowd
settled back in the seats for a long
and interesting fight. But it wasn’t
for long. The Frenchman came at
me with a fourlsh, and I had a flour
ish to match his. Thence I made a
thrust at him, the thrust that wa
know technically as the point tierce.
It went through his guard, and to his
body. If we had been fighting with
real swords, my opponent would have
been run through.
"All Atlanta laughed. The French
man had pretty generally advertised
his ability to fight, and everybody
was there. However, there were one
or two persons who didn’t like* the
way the fight came out, particularly
the new captain of the dragoons and
his ally. After the fight they be
gan working to get me to resign. The
duel, they claimed everywhere, might
have an effect in breaking up dis
cipline. And so, with their dissatis
faction showing plain, I resigned.
"The Frenchman we didn't see aft
er the half minute duel. If the
dragoons learned broadsword fencing,
they learned It from somebody else.
"It’s a pity the art of fencing does
not survive in the oopular fancy. It
is clean, beneficial and interesting.
But this prize fighting ”
*
E. L. Ferguson. Blazing All-
Southern Coast-to-Coast Path
for American, Is Welcomed.
HON. RALPH 0. COCHRAN DELIVERS .-.
E v OPENING SPEECH AT CLAYTON, GA.
Candidate for United States Senate in Strong Address Outlines His Views
On State and National Issues.
C. D. Montgomsry Finds That
Irish Bank Note Isn't Much
Good in London.
CINCINNATI, OHIO.
The Southern Railway an
nounces reduced round trip fare
of $15.00 from Atlanta to Cincin
nati Ohio; tickets on sale August
22, 23 and 25, good for return un
til September 1 City Ticket Of
fice, N«. 1 Peachtree street. Both
phones Main 142
C. D. Montgomery is back from a
tour of England, Scotland and Ire
land.
He used to listen respectfully when
"experts" extolled at length the vir
tues of England’s currency, England’s
banking system, and England’s busi
ness methods—all to the disparage
ment of our own.
But no more. This is why:
In Belfast, Mr. Montgomery acquir
ed some Irish bank notes in exchange
for good American money.
Returning to London he had one,
denomination 5 pounds, still in his
pocket when he called for a suit of
clothes at his tailor’s and proffered
it in payment.
Refused by His Tailor.
"But, me deah man! H’i cawn't take
that, ye knaow " said the t&ilor. "H’it’s
no good ’ere.”
"I’ve nothing else except some
American money,” replied Mr. Mont
gomery.
"H’American money is perfectly
good, sir,” replied the tailor.
So. Mr. Montgomery paid for hiB
suit with good American bank notes,
and took the Irish note, Issued under
the British flag, from a bank a few
hundred miles away, to the Bank of
England.
Bank Wouldn’t Cash It.
He was not even permitted to enter
there, because he had no account.
Several other banks refused the note,
saying they did not know what it was
worth. ,
Finally Cook’s took the bill at a
discount.
And now', to start something, just
praise the English currency system to
a loyal Atlantan, by name Montgom
ery.
ANOTHER POSTOFFICE
FIGHT IS SETTLED
GADSDEN. Aug 23—Congressman
John L. Burnett has settled another
postofflce tight In the Savannah nistrl'ct
by recommanding H. O. Sparks, a
prominent business man of Boaz, for
postmaster there. There is but one
other vacancy In the district to be filled
at this time, and that is in the office
at Itagland.
BANKS DECIDE IQ
FIGHT MONEY BILL
Chicago Conference Agrees to
Lobby for Which Which Kill
Every Vital Feature.
Continued from Page 1.
those upon which the greatest oppo
sition is to be expected in Congress.
In all there were eighteen radical
changes in Important sections of the
Owen-Glass bill, leaving that docu
ment but an empty shell, gouged of
its meat.
Secretly Doubt Their Powers.
The resolutions set forth that, al
though the Administration bill has
many excellent features, some of its
provisions would be likely to cause a
credit disturbance. If amended in
the manner suggested, it was stated a
system would be provided which
would develop Into a "great bulwark
for the protection of our commerce.”
The hope of the bankers lay in
sending their committee to Washing
ton with the backing of their organi
zation and with a bill the same
length, printed on the same paper,
and outwardly similar to the Owen-
Glass bill. A general undercurrent
expressed doubt of the ability of the
hank lobby to put the bill through,
though outward expressions from tfye
different individuals who led in the
fight were of utmost confidence.
One of the changes which will pre
cipitate a fight in Congress, it is be
lieved, is the one relating to the Fed
eral reserve board. The bill now In
Congress provides that the board
shall consist of seven members, four
appointed by the President with the
consent of the Senate, and, ex-olflcio,
the Secretary of the Treasury, the
Secretary of Agriculture and the
Comptroller of the Currency.
Eliminate Cabinet Men,
The bankers amended the act to
make the Secretary of the Treasury
the only ex-offlcio member, though
the board should still remain at seven
member-
Close students of the currency re
form declare that the Owen-Glass bill
was prepared In opposition to the
banking interests, to take from them
the power by which they can discredit
an entire administration by bringing
on financial panic, and that Congress
will refuse to change the provision?
made for the Federal reserve board,
so as to lessen the Government con
trol over the power of the bunks.
Pathfinder E. L. Ferguson, conduct
ing the campaign begun by Hearst’s
Sunday American for an All-Southern
transcontinental highway, has blazed
the trail from Atlanta to Montgom
ery via Birmingham.
Mr. Ferguson and party drove into
Montgomery at noon Saturday. Sun
day was set aside as rest day. Mon
day the tourists will point the nose of
the big touring car toward New Or
leans, the end of the second lap of the
long coast-to-coast tour.
The triumphal entry into the Cap
ital of Alabama Saturday gave an
other demonstration of the wide
spread interest in the monster cam
paign for the transcontinental high
way. Meeting the pathfinders at We-
tumka, 40 miles north, the Montgom
ery highway boosters escorted the
party int<* the city. There a monster
good roads celebration, including a
reception at the Gay-Teague Hotel,
was given the visitors. Speeches
were made by leading citizens and
pledges of support given to the news
papers conducting the campaign.
Both the efforts of the newspapers
f ind the work of Mr. Ferguson were
auded.
The pathfinder, however, has more
worlds to conquer. If advance reports
from Mobile, New Orleans, Houston,
Dallas and other cities along the
route are true, there are still bigger
things ahead.
Mobile Is Enthusiastic.
"Mobile County is awahe to the
coming of the coast-to-coast path
finder car of Hearst’s Sunday Amer
ican,” says a dispatch from the city
on the Gulf. "As a result, a special
committee, representing the County
Board, the City Commissioners, the
newspapers, automobile interests and
others interested, has been appointed
to make elaborate plans’ for tl^e re
ception of Mr. Ferguson when he ar
rives.”
The New Orleans good roads boost
ers, too, long have had in hand their
plans for the reception of the trail-
blazers. Among those boosting the
monster project are the officials of
the Automobile Dealers’ Association
and the Motor League, as well as city
and parish officials. The progressives
of St. Rose and other Louisiana towns
are making elaborate preparations.
Just what the far-away Texans will
do has not been indicated very clear
ly, but it is safe to hazard that the
Lone Star boosters will not rail to
hand out their characteristic hearty
greeting.
Welcomes Are Unanimous.
Never before has such another con
tinuous ovation been extended to anv
partv of tourists or pathfinders. Be
ginning in Atlanta Monday—the story
of the greetin'” along th« Georgia-
Alabama way is old now—and end
ing at Montgomery Saturday, the
pathfinders have encountered nothing
.but generous Southern hospitality
and real Southern enthusiasm.
After all, this hospitality along the
route has been purely Incidental.
There has been hard work to per
form. In the first place, Mr. Fergu
son’s trip is a serious undertaking
with a serious purpose, and, in the
second place, the booster receptions
and celebrations planned for the
tourists have had a far more signifi
cant meaning than ordinary affairs of
the kind.
Results—stimulation and enthusi
asm for good roads—have been the
aim botn of Pathfinder Ferguson and
of the hundreds of boosters. That
such results nave been obtained there
is not the shadow of a doubt.
Two Counties Busy.
Already the authorities of such
Georgia counties as Douglas and Har*
raison are preparing to make exten
sive developments in road building.
Douglasville and Tallapoosa have the
fever. Evidence of that was given
Monday wnen The American’s path
finders were escorted into these pros
perous towns. Farther along boost
ers of Heflin and Anniston are
aroused as never before over the good
roads and highway plan.
Between Anniston <*nd Birmingham
there is so much enthusiasm that tw’o
rival factions on different route? saw
fit to make special trips to Anniston
and to Birmingham to head off Mr.
Ferguson coming and going.
In Birmingham the pathfinders
were given an ovation that has sel
dom been equaled in the Magic City,
and this enthusiasm was only less in
proportion to population along the di
rect route to Clanton and Montgom
ery.
Thus far the roads have been well
above the average, and, in spots, ex
eellent, according to reports from Mr
Ferguson. News to this effect as
sures the success of the campaign.
From New Orleans the pathfinder* 1
\ylll go direct to Houston, and then
in the order named, to Dallas, E»
Paso, Phoenix, San Diego, Los An
geles and San Francisco. At the
present speed, which is being main
tained with a view to accuracy ot
routing rather than to speed, Mr. Fer
guson should reach San Francisco
about October 1.
Spotlights to Guard
England Suggested
Famous French Aviator Tells How
Great Brltian Could Foil At
tacks Through Air.
By CHARLES HENRY MELT2ER
Special Cable to The American.
PARIS, Aug 23.—Major Felix, fa
mous aviator, believes England could
and should be promptly defended
against foreign dreadnoughts and air
ships by an elaborate system of
searchlights which would sweep the
skies at night and be concentrated on
the invading Zeppelins.
Once located,, the airships, he said,
could be easily destroyed by alert
monoplanes, or possibly by biplanes
of the Dunn model, which he regards
as automatically stable.
I pointed to Major Felix that the
UUvi ray might even be more potent
than the aeroplanes.
He answered that there was noth
ing impossible to the claims of M
UUvi, but added that when the in
ventor’s secret became known, a pro
tective remedy will be found.
I am glad to be in Clayton and have an opportunity of addressing the
people of Rabun County. You have hoard the expression, "From Rabun Gap
to Tybee Light," and It is fitting that in my campaign for the United States
Senate I should deliver the keynote address in this county—the address that
in a substantial measure carries my position on the questions that the people
of Georgia will be interested in in casting their votes In the election next sum-
mer for a United States Senator—and this for the reason that I will show
considerable activity In this campaign which will extend from the mountains
to the sea. .
It is further true that you people of Rabun live In a county that was
established In 1819, almost a hundred yearH ago. and it bears the name of
one of the Chief Executives of this State. This county has furnished many
men in the public arena during its history who have been worthy sons ana
distinguished servants of the people. n, _
1 am here to-day in advocacy of my candidacy for the United States Reb
ate. At the suggestion of some zealous friends, I entered this race some time
ago. It is an undertaking worthy of any man s highest ambition, and I en
tered the field conscious of the great responsibilities that will rest U I )01 ?
elected, and also conscious of the difficulties that confront me In achieving
this ambition. .
I want to tell you here to-day that I am going to Washington. I
to win this race, and I have every confidence in ultimate success. It is ft mg
undertaking, but I believe that the sentiment of the people of Ooorgia. to-
day is In favor of electing a business tnan. a man In the best vigor of his nje.
and one who will endeavor to represent ail people alike and all interests aiiKe
within the borders of the State. „ .
It la true that probably In point of years, aa I am only 39 jears or ag-. *
am the youngeat man who has ever offered In the State of Georgia for tnis
high position. During the progress of the campaign I will be confronted wnn
the charge that I am too youthful, and further that I have not had sufTicieni,
experience. 1 want to say in advance in answer to any such criticism tnat
may be raised, that many of the best political servants that this gauntry nRS
ever had have been men who have achieved success and attained hlgn po
litical positions early in life. With a long stretch of years before them tne>
w’ell used them, and therefore their services were of Inestimable worth-
a matter of fact, it Is common knowledge that any man is in his prime rrom
thirty-five to fifty years of age. In fact, the Constitution of the unitea
States requires that one must be only 30 years old to be eligible for me
United States Senate. ..... , .
T am frank to tell you that at no period In life do I anticipate ability tor
greater labor or clearer thought. It is true that I am inexperienced on
many matters pertaining to state affairs, but I do Insist that I am cap®Die
of learning and that I can count upon a reasonable number of years in wmen
to be of service to my State and country if honored with this high position.
In advocacy of my candidacy, I place before the people of Georgia me
proposition of electing a buslne>« man. I can properly he classed as one or
the young business men of this State. It occurs to me that in these times oi
industrial growth and progress that the best thing that the people of any
State can do Is to elect a larger percentage of the men of the business cir
cles of their State. If there Is any question that requires business ability ana
ski!; to properly settle. I should say that thoso which pertain to the nature
of the laws under which we shall live are pre-eminently the ones where dusi-
ness experience, understanding of the neoplo’s wants and the ultimate erreci
are the ones that literally demand the business man to pass upon. A slogan
of the day in which we live is more business and less theory.
Prejudice and Demagogy to Play No Part in Campaign.
I want to tell you here and now that as far as I am concerned yon J’jjj
never see any trace of demagogy In anything that I may say or do. l " nai ‘
deal frankly with the people or Georgia, and my campaign will be devoid or
tricks and makeshifts. My candidacy will be put up to the people of Geor
gia strictly on its merits, without frills or deception. I am nothing more
tnan a plain business man. I have no pre-eminent ability on any lines out
I assure you In advance that if I am elected I shall ever endeavor to follow
the paths of right and do my duty. Thfs campaign as far as 1 am concerned
will never be marred with the demagoglsm that arouses the prejudices of tne
rich against the poor, the city man against the country man, or the young
man against the old man. I shall take the position In the beginning ana snail
maintain it throughout the campaign that If I am elected I want to oe
elected by all classes of our citizens, and If elected I pledge you most sincerely
and earnestly that I will represent all the people of Georgia and all the law
ful Interests within her borders. v
Under my political canopy, so to speak, all classes of our citizens can rally. no
prejudice has ever taken root In my bosom against the Jew in favor or tn ®
Gentile, against the Catholic in favor of the Protestant, against the Third
party man in favor of the Democrat or against any matt or class or men
within our State who may belong to different parties, political faith. soc» a *
circle or other relation contrary to that I occupy. I am frank to say that
any man who harbors hatred for any class of our citizens is unworthy of tne
high position to which I now aspire. In tmth. the bigot, the maligner or
character, the small man, should have no place In shaping the policies ana
destiny of this country. The same sun shines on all of us alike, we are tne
children of the same Creator, and In its last analysis there is no great dif
ference in us anyway. . ^ . ..... •
I have always endeavored to be fair to all the interests of capital, i
have always endeavored to be fair to tne cause of labor: I shall endeavor to
be fair in all of my relations with my fellow man. whether that relation oe
in private business matters or in public position, *\nd if 1 go down in defeat
contending for the^wisdom of such a position I s>all do so gladly and you
shall have my approbation. It la well that I state on this occasion that i
have never been aligned with any of the political factions of Georgia. During
the past few decades when partisan heat reached high water mark, I pave
always stood, since the early years of my manhood, as a free man and have
acted on every election day in the way that I thought my vote would count
for most looking to the best Interests of the people of this State. T\e have
been confronted at a number of elections with partisan politics ana parti
san Issues I thank God that we are now living in a more desirable day.
I am in favor of no class legislation. All legislation should be founded
on the Idea of the greatest good for the greatest number, Irrespective of na
tionalities. wealth, education or anything else. However, If there Is to be
any class legislation, it should be in favor of the biggest class, and I should
say that this class Is composed of those of moderate means. If I ever cast
a vote. If elected to the United States Senate, for any class whatsoever, It
will be for the class here designated. _ . „ .
In my campaign for the Senate throughout the entire time I shall remain
absolutely a free man. I shall not “ —
alignments Tf elected I want to be
pie of Georgia. .
To men of experience and men of business affairs It is an accepted trutn
that no man need be a Croesus or an Intellectual giant to represent well
his people in legislative halls. What counts most Is Industry, Integrity and
sound common sense. If these elements are united In a candidate, he de
serves well at the hands of his people The making of laws and the ad
ministration of government Is largely a business matter where good Judgment
and good conscientious service avail much.
Permit me to say also that God has endowed me with a degree of man
hood and independence, so much sp that I can tell you in all frankness and
truth that if vou do not see fit to elect me that it will be perfectly all right
and I assure you that no scars will be left behind over which I will brood
through the coming years. In this Independence and manhood that I declare
to vou, there is no place for mvldsllnglng and assassinatin'. of character. I
will not Indulge In any of this nor will I permit any of my friends to do so t
if within my power to prevent.. The campaign does not Involve personal
Issues. The issues are more substantial and more worthy of the Intelligence
of the people of Georgia. . „ *. ..
I stand for good government in all of its forms, and T shall ever be tne
enemy of those principles and practices that are opposed to its preservation
and promotion. I shall ever stand for the principles of government that rep
resent the best interests of the farmer as well as the merchant, and In gen
eral, the best Interests of every man of every class of citizens within the con
fines of this great State. I was born and reared on a farm in Campbell
County, and T feel that my years of association with the people of the rural
districts, their needs and their Interests, have made me to know once for all
the important recognition that should be accorded to them. Then with the
business experience that I have hod elsewhere, as an education in after years.
I feel that I can represent the entire people of this State with fellowship of
feeling and wisdom and Justice to all.
Economy in National Expenditures Insisted Upon.
At this time I want to put the people of OeorKla on notice that, If elected
aa one of the United States Senators from Oeorgla, I will become In a meas
ure a watchdoK of your treasury. I have Ion* been convinced, that the I>r»c-
tlcee that we are following of continuously raising taxes on property, busi
nesses. corporations, and otherwise, should be stopped. There Is hardly a ses
sion of th^Oeorgla Legislature or a session of the United States Congreas
that soma new form of taxing the people or else Increasing the old forms Is
not projected. I ask you. In the name of reason, when and where will Ihese
agitations and practices stop? There Is an eternal cry of more money, that our
Institutions are being throttled and that the State and nation are lagging in
progress on account of Insufficient funds. You know as •■all as I do that If
the State of Georgia had five times a a much revenue for the Legislature to
spend that every dollar of It would be spent and they would still be In need
of more money. .. . .
As a matter of fact, unless the Increase of the burdens of taxatl-n Is not
halted taxes will become very oppressive to the people of this couri.ry. Take
your Btate tax, vour county tax, your city tax, your professional tax, your cor
poration tax, your Inheritance tax, y»ur Income tax, your occupation tax, yout
road tax your local school tax, your poll tax, and possibly others, and I tell
you when any man gets through at the end of the year with paying these
various amounts he has done a fairly good year's work to have made profit
enough out of h!s business to meet them. The philosophy of all taxation, ac
cording to my thinking. Is that instead of the everlasting Increase in the
forms of taxing the people and also the amounts, that the revenue of the
State should only Increase with the enhancement of property, more money
coming Intu the State, and more citizens ns nur common population With
an Increase of revenue along these lines, with a corresponding limitation of
appropriations, our State and country will always be In a solvent, condition
and our people will be prosperous and happy.
I have all along been of the opinion that our people should not look too
much for support to the Government under which (hey live The greatest
men that this State or country have ever produced have been men who have
worked their way through difficulties and hardships. The best principle of
government that can be advocated is that of throwing every citizen that Is
able-bodied upon his own resources. Therefore, the sentiment that Is rapidly
taking root in the States of this country that we should look more to the
bounties of the Government is a cuncer in the body politic and will ulti
mately prove fatal If It Is not checkmated History records the fact that
the decline of the Roman Empire set in with the free corn that was dis
tributed to the population, it has been estimated that at one time more
than 300,000 people were fed at public expense. The manhood of this
country has always been honest and hardy, and we have hullded a republic
that is the light of the world, and If It continues in Its leadership the same
manhood anc Independence that led us Into freedom must care for the af
fairs of state through the coming years.
Opposes Unnecessary Legislation.
In our zeal for this cause or that cause that may be advocated, w«
ahould always be conservative in our thoughts, ?[>eoch and actions. There
is no business, much less a government, thHt can go forward in splender
and success where fits and spasms characterize those who are interested.
Sanity should characterize every man's discussion of public questions, and
I tell you that when your vote Is cast on the side of conservatism you will
seldom err from what Is best for your family, yourself and your country.
Tt Is true that State laws and National laws. In fact laws of all kinds,
should be somewhat in the vanguard of actual practice and In a measure be
come high Ideals for the manhood and womanhood of this State and country,
as well as for the rising generation. However, we all know that laws that
are not supported with public sentiment are of no avail and become nulli
ties on our statute books
I am further of the opinion that we are passing too many laws in our
State and Nation. It seems that we nave arrived at the point where we are
law-ridden; almost unnumbered Jaws that everybody Is presumed to know,
but on the other hand there Is no one who does know’ There Is much legis
lation that Is transgressing the inalienable rights of property and person and
much of that that is suggested tends too much this way 1 took occasion not
long ago to count the sections of laws that compose the Code of Georgia. It is
astounding but true that there are approximately 8.000 sr o of laws un
der which we are living this day. ft has almost gotten to the >jlnt where a
man’s mind must be an encyclopedia to carry the innumerable laws governing
tie myself up with promises and political
a free man to represent the entire peo-
counties, State and Nation It reminds one of the old adage that that
Ieopie is best governed which is least governed.
Favors Federal Aid for Good Roads.
t .....Y*? 1 ** y < ?. n 'y 1 ® occasion that, If elected to the United States Senate.
stan d at all times for the cause of good roads. If we ever expect to
ST eat systems of roads traversing this entire country the National Gov-
_ Y 11 , 1 J av ® 11 .° tako h °W of the proposition. It strikes me that money
nFFZ?* ia,ted J or ! h ‘ s Purpose is just as much within the Constitution of this
lr "u right to appropriate funds to deepen the waterways and lm-
, r ^ ors ' navigation the products of the country are distributed
r.//nL* iK a .. niet ^C^ °[ lravel - The public roads of the country are the avenues
iiitirrfir i Ut ib. n *^tl erel> y the products of the country reach the centers and are
8trIbuted throughout the country and the world. Furthermore,
♦ oL are hy everybody, and the benefits derived from appropria
tions for this cause are participated In by all the people of the country What
cause more equitaMe or more worthy could he mentioned for the appropria-
tion of public funds? The additional circumstance associated with improved
punne roads is the enhancement of property. Down in my country It is gen-
erany estimated that property on a macadamized road is never worth lesa
tnan double as much as property on a road that has not been so improved.
think of the convenience, pleasure and general benefits that are de
rived by reason of the construction of such thoroughfares Think of the
benefits to your county or any county that might be mentioned that would
k f r V , from the construction of such highwsys In consideration of these
substantial reasons. I shall ever be a friend to the cause of good road*.
High Cost of Living Caused by Not Producing Enough.
Any people or any legislative body has lost sight of the greatest causa
when they do not cultivate and improve the great agricultural interests of
their county and State. You may talk of laws that curb vice you may pon-
i Ver i rnea " ur ** 8 that involve appropriations, you may consider well laws
tnat look to the raising of revenue, but hack and more fundamental and of
rar greater Importance is the great proposition of production. What we ne«d
most is more corn, more cotton, more of all the farm products, more manu-
raC i l i r n ^’ more businesses that produce, businesses that feed and clothe the
world. That la to-day, In my opinion, the prime reason for the high coat of
I,vln £ We are Just not producing enough.
The people of Georgia will never reach that point of prosperity that is
most desired until they have learned to produce enough to get the other
maI \ a mon «y and then have enough to live on so as to save them from the
condition of having to buy the other fellow’s products. I trust that I will
m i that day when by education and disposition the people of Georgia
will learn and desire to produce more than they consume In the way of farm
products, that splendid day when cotton, the staple product, will be the sur
plus crop, that new era when every town and hamlet can boast of numerous
man i!r acturlnK enterprises, when Georgia-made goods are sold around the
world. Let us make the people of other States become the buyers of our
products, and we the recipients of the splendid income.
If elected to the United States Senate I shall alw’ays do the best that In
me lies to get Increased appropriations for the educational interests of the
various States of this Union where agricultural training Is taught. The Na
tional Government, In wisdom, through the Agricultural Department has
started up a system of education and scientific experiment along agricul-
turall lines which will prove. I have no doubt, to be of the greatest service
to the material interests of this country of any department known to the -■
National Government. It will be my purpose to work for and to vote for all
measures and appropriations which look to the improvement and enlarge
ment of this great cause in the dispensation of National funds.
If l am elected to the United States Senate I want to pledge you here and 1
now my unswerving support of all measures that look to the general better
ment of humanity. We are living in times when the humanity of man W
manifested In Its most splendid form. Laws that are humanitarian In their
nature. Just In their spirit, broad in their conception of human rights will
always find a friend In me The old idea has long since passed away that
every man should live for himself. Thank God that we live In a better and
brighter day when the living and the hopes of humanity are urion a more
Just basis and there is recognition of tne higher laws of natuTe and the
beneficent conceptions of the Creator of us all.
As an incentive to high purpose and lofty achievement, we should beir*
In mind that the names and memoHesof those only are revered and live Tn
history who lived and worked to do something for others. Selflbhnesa, liv
ing for self, has never made any man great in the estimation of his fellow-
wor, d bas gotten rid of mott of the tyranny that has character
ized It in the past, but the tyranny of brain and the tyranny of worth should
continue and will continue as long as civilization enduoes. Ambition to do
something for others us well as self should characterize the life of every
man. 0
Favors Exploiting the Great Resources of Georgia.
There is another matter that I wish to speak of to wnlch I will give as
much of my ability and time as possible if elected. I refer to the advertising
of the resources of Georgia and the entire Southland. This advertisina bv
one in this exalted position by speech and otherwise can be made of Inestima- ,
ble worth to this State and section. Georgia and the entire South needsi
more capital and more people. Any man who is in favor of any law or law*
that tend to antagonize capital and mistreat the institutions In which it is in- *
vested is an enemy of his State. In addition, whut county In Georgia would
not be better off if It had twice as many people In it as it has to-day? A" '
multiplication of population means better roads, better schools, better
churches, bbtter mall facilities and better communities in general. These
ends are worthy of note and should always receive the attention of thq rep
resentatives of this State in these high positions '
If elected to the United States Senate, It will be my purpose to per
form well what might be termed the small duties Incident to this high office.
Those who might deslrt» positions either for themselves or their boys, who
might at any time wish information concerning any matters in the city of
Washington pertaining to the Government, or,local matters, those who >-
sire appropriations for this purpose or that purpose in their respect*^ citlea
and districts, In genera! those who want ready service of their representative
in getting something or doing something where their United States Senator
can be of service to them, I will he the man to call upon. I pledge you
in advance that no considerable amount of my time will be taken np
In the study of foreign questions or the preparation of what might he
termed big speeches, but, on the other hand. I will try to Inject aa
much business In the situation as possible and serve In a business wsv
the people of Georgia^ not only concerning such matters as I h«*r
mentioned, but in promoting and voting for legislation which will promote th«
general Interests of the State, as well as the country at large.
I am deeply Interested in the cause of education in all of its forms. Out*
public schools are the greatest Institution that has become a part of thei
government of this State. Public schools touch every man’s Interest, and in
them Is Involved the element of an elementary education which means better
citizenship and more happiness on the part of our entire population. Almost
as essential are the Institutions of higher learning of this State. Also our ^
college* of technical training which prepare the young man and young woman
to make a living have probably become the most popular Institutions in the
way of higher training that we have In the State. The old Idea was to edu-t
cate the smart boys In classical training either for the ministry, medicine
or the law This conception of higher learning is In a measure passing away,
and technical training Is largely the slogan of the times In which wr Jive. v {
I do not know how you people in Rabun County feel about it, but C '
Imagine that you have about the same feeling and sentiment that we peo
ple of Fulton have, as well as the people of all the other counties of thlsi
State that Is the constantly recurring panics that disturb and distress the
business Interests of this country I do not know whether or not any man
can assign with accuracy the immediate causes of these recurring panics.
However. I am inclined to believe that the most prominent cause is the drasw
tic reform legislation that sets up about everv eight or ten rears. I am ire
favor of a certain amount of reform. We all know that in the great economy
of nature change must take place either for good or ill. Th* country that
does not Improve Its condition must of necessity retrograde. On the other
hand, I am opposed, and I shall always vote accordingly, to reforms and re
form measures which come in bunches and have the inevitable effect of up-*
setting the entire business of this State and country. As far as T am con
cerned I want a little rest so that I may have an opportunity of accumulat
ing some of the world’s goods while in the vigor of manhood, and not look
too much to the eradication of all evil and the Improvement of our institu
tions and country on the Utopian Idea for our children and our children’*
children. As I See It, the prescription we now need most Is the rest cure.
We often lose sight of the untold good that has been accomplished b*
the people of our day and our fathers before us. In fact, we live In thebest
times and we constitute the greatest people that this world lias ever seen.
Six thousand years of recorded history does not find a parallel. There is not so
much ill in tnan and the human race as we are often led to believe. I havo
often said that the sorriest man In any community Is a pretty good fellow
after all. Think of man In this day of enlightenment and the society In which
we live He works hard and usually hy the sweat of his brow he provide*
for wife and children. He is interested In educational advantages of hi*
family, he looks forward with a feverish mind to the ultimate condition when
no longer he will be the mainstay of these loved ones We are rich in char
ity, we are humane in the treatment of those who are unfortunate, our Ideal*
are high, and we are recipients by reason of our Intelligence and Industry of
most of the good that the world affords.
Another point that I wish to bring out: Too much experiment Is al-* 1
ways dangerous. The people of any State or country that Is experimenting
with this law. this Institution, and this new Idea are apt to fall Into the
ways that will lead them into departures from the fundamentals of their in
stitutions which probably will prove dangerous and fatal. It is always better
to let other people, other States and other men. whether In business or af-<
fairs of state, experiment and ascertain the truth, ond then the wisdom of
Its adoption becomes clear and of no loss to that people who follow In thw
light or this experience. Of course some experiment along sane and conserv-.
atlve lines is good for all people, and If such is not indulged in they ar*
liable to become laggards and drones However the people of Georgia should,
never become distinguished as a people of experiment, and the State should
never be known as an Incubator of new ideas.
If I am elected to the United States Senate, I shall always stand for*
clean government, wise laws and pure administration. We live in & coun
try where in theory every man’s chance Is alike. God has made us unequal ini
body and mind, but under the Constitution and laws of the United States a*
drawn hy those immortal men. the fathers of this country, whose names shall
live as long as recorded history Is preserved. Imbedded in that great instru-i
ment and laws, the general principle of equal rights to all and an equal chance
in the struggles of this life. No man should ask for more than justice and.
an equal chance. No,man should be willing to surrender to any other mare
his equal chance and justice in the race of life. I shall always be opposed to"
plunder In any form and shall ever stand for the best laws to perpet
uate and preserve the Government as founded by the fathers of this coun-
try.
However. It Is true that It does seem like something is wrong at times
with our institutions when one man 1n the short space of a lifetime can ac
cumulate a billion of dollars. We have In these United States one-sixteenth
of the population of the world and we possess one-fourth of Its entire wealth.
Such a splendid commentary upon the people who in only a century or two
past found the vast expanse of our country a wilderness and here the Insti
tutions and wealth to which we are heirs.
Amid the masterful strides made by this country within the ptud fifty
years, on account of a serious handicap, the South is just now coming Into
her own Georgia and the entire Southern States are rich in natural re
sources —we have the climate, we have the soil we have the minerals, we
have the water power, ami, thank God, we have the brain and the industry
that will yet make of our Southland the fairf-st spot beneath the sun.
There is no use for history except the lessons that It teaches. We are
living in the light of many experiences of the past, and as the light of
these experiences falls upon our pathway our days will be splendid and our
accomplishments beyond the dreamt *of men.
I love Georgia and her people. Born within her border*, educated within
her institutions, associated with Georgia people. I bear to her the wornith
of sympathy and childish affection that I trust will continue unabated during
the time that I shall live. The mountains lifting their lofty peaks amid the
skies, the old red hills of Georgia, dear to the heart of all, the table
lands, rich and fertile, and extended In area, her rippling streams In music
wind their way to the mighty sea. seven out of the nine climates with
which the Nation is characterized, I am devoted to this people and this
mighty State.
With renewed purpose, and a common ambition, let us press forward in
the mighty causes of civilization and the accomplishment of higher ideals.
(Adv.f