The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-06-03
CRAIG SMITHS STAND
HAS AROUSED UNUSUAL INTER
EST IN SELMA.
Primary Sentiment is Gaining
Ground in the Black Belt-Dal-
las County Roads Will Be
Greatly Improved.
Advertiser Bureau,

Selma, June @
The interview with J.. Craig Smith in
Yesterdays Advertiser. coming out for a
State Democratic primary, was read with
great deal of interest in this city and
was the subject of conversation all day
long in the hotel Hobbies and on the
street corners. 1t has been known here
to Mr.. Smiths intimate fliends for weeks
past that he thought that primary was
best in order to prevent a bolt, and they
were not surprised at his coming out as
he did. There is no Disgusting the fact
that the primary. sentiment has been
growing in Dallas and throughout the
Black Belt The bold. outspoken stand
taken by Craig Smith will do a great deal
toward crystalizing public sentiment In
favor of a primary. majority of the
leading Democrats of Dallas are opposed
to primary. because they think it VIII
weaken the county's influence In the
councils of the party. but great many
of the rank and Gle. those WHO co the
voting are and have been in favor of
primary and they are delighted that Mr..
Smith has ccme out boldly for primary.
great many kilograms wee sent from
Selma congratulating Mr. Smith. and
many more private letters were written.
1t is believed here that Mr.. Smith would
succeed himself az State Treasurer
whether there Is a primary or State
convention, and that he has taken the
stand for primary not from any selfish
motive, but from what he conceives to be
the good of the party Many express the
opinion that this stand of Mr.. Smith 8
has made him a bigger man than ever.
and that now he will be invincible for
State Treasurer.
Remarks like this are now heard on the
streets:
II thought The Advertiser had gone off
half cooked on the primary question, but
II seems that the Old Lady was right and
we were wrong. The Advertiser had the
boldness, to come out from the start and
the sentiment created by the paper IL
having its weight. and now all are coming
around to the necessity of a Democratic
primary. That paper was right, and If
primary is ordered. the opposition won't
have a thing on earth to stand on, but
will have to go into the primary and take
the dose that they will surely get"
These and similar remarks are made.
which goes to show that the primary sem
timent Is growing and growing fast. AS
has been stated before in this department
of The Advertiser. the primary sentiment
has been strong all the time in a good
many of the country beats, and now since
MI. Smith has taken the stand that he
has for primary, 1t is expected that a
great many more win fall In line. and by
the time the committee meets in July, no
one need be surprised to find old Dallas
in line and clamoring for a primary just
like the rest OF the State seems to be do
ing.
Dallas County is devoted to Craig
Smith. and a majority of the men who
get out and hustle for votes in local pri-
maries would be willing to sink their in
dividual preferences for convention or
a primary, If Mr.. Smith should ask them
to do so. He always helps out the cam
paign fund in this county, whether he is
| candidate for anything or not. and has
| never called on the Democracy of old
Dallas in vain.
| Those who have held to the theory of a
State convention have been analysing
carefully the bold, strong, patriotic words
utter ed in the interview In The Adver-
tiser, and the more they think Of them
| the more they are convinced that there
is going to be a primary. They all know
| that Craig Smith is in touch with the
| masses of the Democracy over the State
| and that he would not say what he did
| unless there was a tremendous influence
| behind the move for a State Democratic
| primary. A great many of those who
| have been holding to the idea that there
| would be no primary are now setting
| their sails to catch the coming wave, and
| from now on there will be little else eX-
pected in this quarter. but that the State
Committee when it meets will order a
| Democratic primary to decide who shall
be the standard-bearers ct the approach
| ing November election.