The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-08-25
Editor HoWell's Defeat.

S# Mr.. Clark Howell. editor OF the Atlanta
Constitution, prints In his newspaper q
temperate article in explanation Of his
defeat for the Democratic nomination for
Governor. lie attributes 1t to two
causes-the vote Of Popullsts, Who. he
says, wero admitted to the Democratic
primary. and to the further impression
on the part Of many voters that he w4s
entangled With tho railroads. In this
connection he says ISL 8!S 55s
I'm all my record as as.legisator or
an editor, not one single instance; was
found to show that had ever sacrificed
tho interests Of tho people In any act
or vote, in which the welfare OF the people
came in conflict with that of the corpora
tons. But the mere fact that personal
| relationship connected me. even guely,
with the suggestion of railroad interests
i was enough to put the poison at work
III the veins Of the body politc.$fi It was
me, answer to say that never, a any
time intmy life, did I own q penny s In
terest In any railroad property; nor that
the relationship connection referred to had
not even remotely sought, nor served, to
sway me in my duties as n Legislator dur
Ing my long years OF service III 1.-THE
! House or. Senate. &5ls Z z }4 AL 5s3t5 3
Mr.. Howell proceeds to explain that
he does not think 1t fair to make COM
apnrisons between a. strictly rail- rate and
a strictly water rate. and heFdocs not
think that a railroad owned and operated
by foreign capital should be put on the
block and sold out.
But tho response of the prlmary.ns he
adds. indicates that the people are de-.
tcrmined toaat least take tho chance on
each OF those propositions--to put an end
ITO tho ownership and operation or foreign
corporations In Georgia-to 5wipo out any
difference between all water and all rail
ratcsv-and to shy that the state shall
regulate Interstate rates. So be i'll"
- suppose lie means to say lntrastnte
rates. Nut In my event, his statement
Is Instructive as showing the temper Of
the Georgia people towards railroads. Mr.,
Howell's statement is frank and COM
mendably lacking In bad temper. But In
reading 1t one cannnt but be impressed
that MT. Howell knew well in advance
Sof tho election that his defeat was IN
cWtable. u Yet to the last his paper made
1T appear that tho people We're with him,
an4 that Hoke Smith had not the slightest
cRspce of success. Tho reports Of tho
Constitution were as misleading as pos
sible, aud It's readers must have lost con-
fidence either IN lis integrity or Its
h s24-arity. Vt Is Quite sure that some will
conclude that the Constitutions news
reports were purposely distorted and a
false forecast manufactured in Mr..
Howell's interest. Next to making barter
OF the editorial columns, that Is the worst
Gin that a newspaper can commit
Mr.. Howell made q grleYous error, HAD
he conducted his campaign through the
columns OF his newspaper in the same
spirit Of fairness, frdnkness and amiabllity
that charae,erlzes his post-mortem
analysis. his chances Of success had been
far greater; and even in defeat both he
and the constitution would have occupied
a more enyiable position before the gen
$eral public, Z,
vs. .