[2][3] Hardee identified his positions on the issues of better and more efficient government, taxation, waterways and roads, agriculture, and veterans' affairs in a 1920 newspaper article.

[5] He also halted the practice of leasing state prisoners out to private businesses, following the death of Martin Tabert.

[citation needed] Hardee was less willing to spend state funds than his predecessor, the populist Sidney Johnston Catts.

Since he believed a more educated black populace would be more likely to leave the state in search of better opportunities, he instructed his appointees to the Florida Board of Control to abolish the liberal arts program at the school and convert it into a purely vocational college.

Young resisted these efforts, but was eventually forced to resign; in response, students at FAMU staged a violent strike that led to the destruction of multiple campus buildings.