Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-08-25
MARCHING THROUGH GEORGIA.
Holke Smith Distances Clark Howell
In m Hot Race.

. in n Hot Race.
The warmest political fight pulled OF in
Georgia in recent years was brought to
close In the primaries last Wednesday.
tremendous lamount Of ink was shed by
the rivals in the race for governor-Clark
Howell Of the Atlanta Constitution and
Hol1e Smith, former owner Of the Atlanta
Journal and member OF President Cleve-
lands cabinet. Threats of riots and duel
mutterings were heard, but no gore worth
splitting was split. The only deed OF vio-
lence recorded was the tremendous JOLT
which Smith gave Howell. Smith carried
two-thirds Of the counties Of the state AMI
has a riveted cinch on the nomination for
governor.
Until Mrs. Hoke Smith took a hand in
tho campaign for governor II was generally
believed that Clark Howell. editor OF the
Atlanta Constitution, would have little op-
position for the nomination. Mr. Howell
has been a leader In the Georgia democ-
racy for years and during those years he
has also been the enemy of Hoke Smith
Mr.. Smith, until few years ago, owned
the Atlanta Journal and the Journal and
Constitution had many sharp personal Tits.
The Journal, wishing TO prevent the Con-
stitutions editor from becoming governor.
began to boom Hoke Smith for governor
about a year ago. Mr.. Howell heard of the
Journals move. In an interview he said
that Mr.. Smith was politically dead and
dared him to become a candidate. Mr..
Smith made no reply. He did not wish to
lose time from his law ONCE.
But Mrs. Smith was not so docile under
the lash. She is from the famous Cobb
family. which has never tired OF fighting,
and she insisted that her husband take up
the dare of Mr.. Howell.
"You owe It to me and my children to
enter the race and make Clark Howell
sorry he gave out that interview" she
said.
The Smith children sided with their
mother and Hoke Smith announced his
candidacy a year ago.
But what about platform7 Mrs Smiths
desire TO humiliate Clark Howell wouldn I
do for a plea for democratic support Mr..
Smith and the Journal at last hit upon
opposition to 1.-The railroad domination OF
the Georgia democracy" and this became
the main plank. Then Mr.. Smith decided
to supplement this with advocacy OF the
Acknowledgement OF Georgia negroes. This
pleased the democrats and won over Tom
Watson, the Georgia populist.
But this gave Clark Howell a chance to
attack Mr. Smiths sincerity. AS secretary
| or the interior In Clevelands cabinet Hoke
Smith was a leading opponent of free silver
and populism, He also gave many good
Jobs 10 negroes. Now he was hand-in-
hand with Thomas Watson, a rampant free
silver advocate and a populist. He was
also pretending to be the bitter enemy OF
| the negro.
Mr.. Howell's plea to. the democrats was
that Georgia is prosperous and needed nc
change in railway domination and that
the Acknowledgement OF the negroes would
be fraudulent and might result in more
negroes seeking education.
Then. too, Mr.. Smith is an advocate OF
temperance and Is prominent In church
work. yet he owns the Piedmont hotel In
| Atlanta, in which is located the finest bar
and the best cocktail mixer In all Georgia
And In the bar room is a fountain. in which
a sculptured Venus. clad only in a bunch
OF grapes, stands. The prohibitionists and
church workers OF the state. through the
Atlanta Constitution. have heard all about
the bar room, the cocktails and the grape
clad Venus. the ''Gal in the Fountain" az
IL Is called. The campaign between Mr.
Smith and Mr.. Howell has been very bitter