The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-09-12
GEORGIA'S NEXT GOVERNOR
SOMETHING ABOUT THE CAREER
OF HON. HOKE SMITH.
The Man Who Will Preside Over the
Destinies of the State for the
Next Two Years.

|
Next Two Years.
Hon. Hoke Smith, the democratic
nominee for governor. was born in
Newton township, Catawba county,
/ North Carolina, September 2, 1850.
He moved to Georgia when he was Is
years old, and except for six months
in his boyhood and three and half
years while he was secretary of the in
terror he has been a resident of Allan
ia ever since. His father, DR.. FL. Fl.
Smith, was president of Catawba Col
lege when young Smith was born, and
now at 80 years of age lives with his
son. When Hoke Smith was eighteen
months old his father was elected a
member of the faculty of the Universe
ty of North Carolina, at Chapel Hill.
1t was during his connection with this
institution that the civil war began.
North Carolina insisted upon main
tanning her institution during this
period, and Smith remained at his
post of duty at the university.
At the close of the war he at once
resigned as a member of the faculty
because he would not agree to help
educate negroes.
The family returned to Lincolnton,
Lincoln county, the home of DR..
Smiths wife, who was daughter of
Michael Hoke. one of North Carroll
mas most illustrious citizens. She
was the sister of Gen. r. +. HOke,
who, though one of the youngest gen.
erals in the confederate service, dis
tinguished himself as a leader. Hoke
Smith was IA years old when the fam
lily left Chapel Hill, returning to Lin
| cOlnton.
While at Chapel Hill Hoke Smith
attended the common schools, and
when the family went to Lincolnton,
where DR.. Smith engaged in farming,
Young Hoke received private lnstruc-
| ton from his father, who also taught
him something Of farming,
After two years at LincOlnton, when
Hoke Smith was Is years OF age, the
family moved to Atlanta The future
governor spent six months studying
| law. and then went TO WaynesbOro,
Burke county, and began life for HIM
self. He taught in the Waynesboro
common schools for one term, study
| ing law at night Returning to At
| lanta from WaynesbOro ne resumed
the study of his chosen profession.
In the campaign between General
John B. Gordon and Patrick Calhoun,
I IN which the Farmers Alliance was
sunporting Calhoun, Mr.. Smith man
aged General GordOn's campaign.
In the Cleveland-Hill campaign in
! 1892 for the democratic nomination
for president Mr.. Smith and the Jour-
nal. which he then owned, championed
| the cause of Mr.. Cleveland, and a
large majority of the Georgia delega-
tion to the national convention were
for Mr.. Cleveland.
After Mr.. CIeveland's nomination
Mr., Smith made several speeches in
! Georgia in the interest or ms canql-
dacv for the presidency, and when Mr..
| CIeyejand was elected he rendered to
Mr. Smith a position in his cabinet.
He was appointed secretary or the IN
terror, and assumed the duties OF THIS
! position IN hdICl; 1C'o' liz - - 49,
in September, 1896
Mr.. Smith quit the cabinet because
he learned that his associates dld not
propose to vote for William j. Bry-
an, the democratic nominee Tor presl,
dent. He returned to Georgia, ana
supported the regular nominee.
Upon his return to Atlanta MT;
Smith found his property, IN oad
shape. He had given up law praco
tice worth between S25, 900 and S3O,OoO
to accept cabinet position worth on
ly So. 600 a year, and during his IN
cumbency of the position his property
was endangered. He had no law prac-
tice. and it was necessary Tor MIN 10
AGAIN establish himself. His ability
as a lawyer had not been forgotten
during his stay of nearly four years
in Washington, and it was but short
time until he was again firmly estab-
Ilished and on his feet financially.
In 1900 Hoke Smith sold his interest
in the Journal for $3.50, 600 and retired
from the journalistic field OF actlVe
endeavor. He continued the practlce
of law, and when he entered the race
for governor he had again built up
nractice said to be worth between So
600 and $50, 900 per year For sixteen
Years Mr.. Smith was member OF the
Atlanta board of education. During
a LARGE part of the time he was presi-
dent of that body. He was for many
Years Year the law partner Of Hon. Henry
! &, Peoples of Atlanta. Col. R0oert
T, Berner became member of Hoke
Smiths law firm when Mr.. Smith de-
ta term ned to become a candidate for
the office for which he has been nomi-
mated. "
The mother who would be horritied
Of the thought of letting her daughter