Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1905-05-27
AMERICUs. Ca. MAY o.. 1905.
THROW DOWN OF POPE BROWN

The latest contribution to the po-
litical pot of Georgia is a somewhat
caustic article published recently
by the Augusta Chronicle. The
Chronicle comments on the move
ment to get Mr.. Hoke Smith in the
gubernatorial race, and says some
rather pointed things about Mr..
SnAeh, Hon, Pope Brown and Mr..
Clark Howell.
The Chronicle story, under an
Atlanta date line, is as follows:
After dealing for several weeks
in double column generalities bear
ing upon thegOvernorship question
-generalities of a more or less
mysterious nature the Atlanta
Journal has at last thrown out
feeler indicative of the trend of
its thoughts. The feeler comes in
the shape of an announcement that
Hon. Hoke Smith is 'Sbeing impOr-
tuned by many friends" to enter
the race against Hon. Clark How
ell and the other aspirants to the
high Office in question.
This announcement has, natural
ly, given rise to a good deal of
comment in Atlanta, as it is likely
to throughout the state. Just now
the politicians who are watching
things are wondering how much
substance there is to this HOke
Smith "bOom;" whether or not the
ex-secretary is really looking to-
ward the governorship or is simply
making play for position which
will give him some standing in the
political game; and especially
whether this tentative announce
ment indicates the prospective vol
untary withdrawal of Pope Brown
or may be construed as evidence
that Mr.. Brown has been given the
double cross by the influences
which brought him into the race.
The one thing upon which all OBJ
servers here agree is that this
launching of a HOke Smith boom
means the abandonment of Pope
Browns candidacy by those most
responsible for the Pulaski mans
entering the race. 1t is not be-
Heved Mr.. Brown has himself been
brought to the idea that his cam
paign has proved a fascO, but it is
certain that Editor Gray and Mr..
Smith have come to the conclusion
that Mr.. Brown has no chance OF
winning against Clark Howell. So
now, although they brought him
out, they are looking for another
candidate.
This may be regarded either as
evidence that after weighing fully
his chances, they have served no.
tice upon Mr.. Brown that he is not
strong enough, or that having de
liberately used him as a stalking
horse, they have shown him that
having made all the use of him
they could, they have now cast
him aside.
For it Is a fact known to all men
that at every phase Hon. Pope
Browns candidacy was directed by
Hon. HOke Smith. Mr.. Brown
made no move without first con
sulting Mr.. Smith. His letter of
announcement was carefully vised
by Mr.. Smith, and no step was ia
ken without the latter's approval.
No secret has been made of this by
Pope Browns friends. Indeed
some of the latter have made boasts
of this fact, claiming that in Smith s
support lay the Pulaski candidates
chief element of strength.
There can be no doubt that back
of the present announcement is no
tice from Mr.. Smith that he CON
siders Mr.. Brown unequal to the
task set him, and that he himself
is the only man in the state strong
enough to tackle Clarke Howell
with any hope of success. Which.
doubtless, fiatters Mr.. Smiths van
ity nightly, but is not particular
ly fiattering to Mr.. Brown and the
others whom Mr.. Smith has been
trying to get into the contest to
pull the chestnuts out of the fire.
Mr.. Hoke Smith has never for
given Mr.. Clark Howell for being
the chief instrument in accomplish
ing his defeat upon the only occa-
sion he has ever come out in the
open as candidate for something
1t is Mr.. Smiths chief aim at pres
ent to defeat Mr.. Howell. There
is no love lost between them.