Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-05-25
Is HOKE THE MAN?
Rumor Says That Bryan Favors We'll
  . Known Georgian for President

hnoWn GeOrg1an for PfeSlQenG
 Washington, D. C., May 25.- A story that is voucheds for by close friends of William Jennings Bryan story that is of interest and import ance to the people of the, entire coun- try-has reached Washington. In brief, it is that MT Bryan's choice for the democratic presidential nomination next year is Governor Hoke Smith, of Georgia, and that, at the proper time, MT Bryan will indicate to the country that he, himself.sis not candidate for the nomination and that, in bis judg- ment Governor Smith should be nomi- mated.
 Those who have conferred with Mir Bryan in the past few months say frankly that he regards Hoka Smith as the best equipped plan in the dem- ocartic party to meet the requirements of the party and of the country in the campaign next year. In his campaign for. the governorship of Georgia. MT Smith set out very clearly his position and views, not only as to state, but also to national affairs. He favors a strict regulation of corporations and rigid enforcement of the laws as they are found oQ the statute books. While he, is a reformer, he does not support the idea of government ownership of railroads and does not follow MT Bryan in some of the later's more radi- cal ideas, his opinions being the more in accordance with old line democrats.
 While lie has not been extreme in his notions, Mir Smith has opposed consistently the alleged encroachnlents of the railroads and other corporations and has demanded that they should he compelled to cease their discriniina- tions and exactions.
 Governor Smith is one of the young CT class of progressive southern men. As secretary of the interior in Presi- dent Cleyeland's last cabinet. he won the confidence and respect of the busi- ness interests of the country. In measure his ability to gain this posi- ton was due to the fact that, as a lawyer. he had represented the south prior to becoming member of the cabinet. several important northern interests. This work brought him in close touch with the northern, as well as with the southern sentiment. His service as secretary of the interior was generally acceptable throughout the country. and he came to be recogniz- ed as a liberal and broad-sninded man of affairs.
 Mir Smith always entertained high regard for MT Cleveland, but when the democratic party declared for free silver in 1896 he resigned from the cabinet and took his place in the ranks of the majority of his party, altboagh he was not entirely in sympathy with NIT Bryan. He felt. however. that his first political duty was with his party and he retired to private life rather than he placed in position of even seeming disloyaIty to declared demo- cratic principles. As delegate to the last democratic national convention he assisted in nominating Judge Parker.
 As an anti-railroad candidate for Governor of Georgia he entered the lists for the nomination and won by majority that clearly indicated the confidence reposed in him by the people of his own state. He deelar- ed that he made his campaign to serve the whole people of the state and not merely the corporations. His pol- icy as Governor will he framed along the same lines.