Wednesday, 16th June 1915: Hardwick Raps Bryan’s Course, The Atlanta Constitution

Reading Time: 6 minutes [1009 words]

Criticizes Statements But Says Resignation Is Best Thing for Party Tells of Trip to Hawaii.

Returned from a journey to Hawaii, the strategic military point of the Pacific so far as North America is involved, United States Senator Thomas W. Hardwick made the statement last night that the United States, in the face of widespread lamentation against "National Unpreparedness," had been quietly fortifying the Hawaiian Islands to an extent which makes it impossible for invading forces principally Japanese to penetrate the Pacific Coast.

In the course of his interview, he also took occasion to commend The Constitution's recent editorial upon the resignation and later statements of William J. Bryan.

Denies Frank Interference.

He likewise denied the recently published statements that he had forwarded a letter to Governor John M. Slaton recommending commutation for Leo M. Frank. He stated as his reason for requesting the denial that he had not expressed himself regarding the Frank case, and that he wished published refutation of the report in fairness to himself, the state, and to Governor Slaton.

Bryan Too Radical.

"Bryan is entirely too radical," he said. "The Administration, now that he has eliminated himself, will proceed with less friction and clash. Personally, I like Bryan he is a lovable, and, in many respects, remarkable character but he has always been, and ever will be, a populist. It is inherent within him."

"I have always believed Bryan to have been responsible for most of the radical actions of the Administration the shipping bill, for instance. He was the one, outstanding, conflicting element in the Administration, and, I am confident, the source of most of the Administration's discord."

"He typified the more irradical elements in the party Administration, and now that he has withdrawn, I am assured that the Administration will be more conservative, safer and more cautious consequently, more satisfactory to all elements."

In this connection, the Senator, in answer to a question, replied that he also felt confident that the important business and financial influences of the North and the East, which had heretofore been injuriously antagonistic to the Administration, would now be mollified to a helpful and inspiring measure.

His revelation of fortifications in Hawaii come, no doubt, as a distinct surprise to the general public, owing to the unbounded hue and cry that has, in view of the present war crisis, been raised against National Unpreparedness. The public mind, to a large measure, had been led to believe that America was in a sore state to defend its shores and that its naval equipment had been sadly neglected.

Tours Hawaiian Islands.

Senator Hardwick has just returned from a trip to Hawaii as a member of a delegation of Senators and Congressmen as guests of the Hawaiian Government. He spent much time on the return trip in the Southwest. He reached Atlanta last night. He expressed glowing confidence with the capacity of America for caring for its diplomatic and military, as well as internal, affairs.

"The state of perfection attained in the Hawaiian fortifications," he told the reporter in the Capital City Club, "astounded our party. On the Island of Oahu, the most important naval point of the group, we found fortifications equally as strong as Gibraltar in fact, Oahu could be veraciously likened to the Gibraltar of the Pacific."

"More than $50,000,000 has been invested in the Hawaiian Islands by the United States Government. I doubt that there is a more ideally fortified point of naval strategy in the Pacific. The Islands have likewise been invested with the flower of the American Army and the Government, not content with the precaution already taken, are still spending millions."

Modern Fortifications.

"Warfare innovations and inventions unknown to the outside world are installed within the Hawaiian fortifications. Hawaii's preparedness for war is surprisingly competent. The monster guns seem efficient to repel an invasion of any proportion even invasions as devastating as some of the most historical that have distinguished the present war abroad."

"Huge disappearing guns populate the district. Many are hidden in the zone's most effective points the craters of inactive volcanoes, where they are immune to invading gunfire. The fortifications appear sufficiently strong to withstand the most withering siege and the military efficiency maintained within them is exemplary."

Pacific Coast Safe.

Senator Hardwick explained that the preparedness of the Hawaiian Group meant the virtual elimination of danger to America's Pacific Coast from invasion due to the vast distance that separates the North American Continent from the shores of any force that could possibly develop enmity.

Without the Hawaiian Islands as a base of military supplies, it would be a practical impossibility for an invading fleet to overcome the distance. As long as America can command Hawaiian Islands and defend them from invasion, her Pacific shores are immune. Senator Hardwick likewise stressed the speculation that so long as the United States Government was paying such a pronounced interest to the military needs of the Hawaiian Island, certainly the military affairs of its home shores were not being as neglected as public lamentations would lead to believe, but that the Administration was, as in the case of Hawaii, proceeding quietly and unostentatiously to perfect a state of complete naval and military preparedness.

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RESUME FRANK HEARING BEFORE GOVERNOR TODAY

Will Probably End With the Completion of Speech by Howard.

The Leo M. Frank Hearing before Governor John M. Slaton is expected to come to an end before soon this morning, when Attorney William Howard concludes his argument.

The speech of Mr. Howard has already run more than four hours. He was dwelling upon the refusal of the defense to examine character witnesses at the Frank trial when Governor Slaton adjourned the session Monday.

Mr. Howard, before concluding, will take up many points upon which he has not yet touched. He has undertaken so far, to show by only the state's record of evidence that Conley, not Frank, is guilty of the Phagan murder.

It was stated Monday afternoon that no other addresses would be delivered after Mr. Howard.

The hearing begins at 9 o'clock in Governor Slaton's executive office.