The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-09-23
BOLTING LOOKED
FOR IN GEORGIA
HOke Smiths Supporters May
Vote For Carter
CHARGES OF FRAUD MADE
Chairman of State Democratic Execu-
tive Committee Has Issued Note of
Warning Against Probable
Boilers from Party.
CHARGES OF FRAUD MADE

Allanta, september 2Z.-(Speclal. )-There
appears to be no doubt about the fact
that there is going to be considerable
boiling of the state primary of June 4,
by those who were disappointed over
the result. Prominent supporters of Gov
ernor Hoke Smith in Atlanta and else
where in the state have not hesitated to
say openly that they did not consider
themselves bound by the primary, al
though they participated in it. Some say
they will not vote; others declare they
will vote for Yancey Carter, the indie
pendent nominee.
The usual ground upon which they put
their right to bolt the primary is that it
was fraudulently conducted, and yet to
date no specific evidences of fraud have
been forthcoming An Atlanta publica-
ton gave list of names which, 1t
chargedh were fraudulently registered in
Fulton county. Investigation showed that
the first man on the list was an ardent
supporter of Governor Smith and that
his record was straight Investigation of
this list is now in progress, but the eX-
tent of the irregularity so far discov-
cred is that some of the men charged
had moved into and were living in diff
ferent wards from those in which they
voted.
The only instance of alleged fraud in
the primary of which the courts have
taken cognizance is in DeKalb county,
where three parties connected with the
primary machinery have been indicted on
charges of fraud. But If there was any
fraud in this case it was committed in
the interests of Hooper Alexander, candi-
date for the legislature, than whom Gov
ernor Smith has not a stronger supporter
in the state. The charges were preferred
by Mr.. Alexander's opponent, and appear
to have been sufficiently supported to de-
termine the grand jury in bringing in bills
of indictment
In no case have any of the charges of
fraud in favor of Joseph M. Brown, the
nominee for governor, been substantiated.
Nevertheless the disappointed element is,
to a certain extent, using the charge as
an excuse to bolt the primary.
Reports from every section of the state
seem to indicate that the majority of
those who voted for Governor Smith will
support the nominee, though in some in
stances they say 1t will be a bitter pill
for them to swallow. Interviews have
been secured from a large number of
Governor Smiths supporters in all parts
of Georgia, and In most cases they state
that they consider themselves bound by
the result of the primary, inasmuch as
they entered it in good faith. A few,
however, openly proclaim the other view
and assert that they will vote the indie
pendent ticket.
All of this brings up the natural inquiry
as to what will be the attitude of ule
state executive committee in the primary
of 1910 towards those who bolt the pri-
mary of 1903?
Chairman Hewlette A. Hall of the state
committee has already sounded a tentative
note of warning when he stated in his
recent interview that, in his opinion, those
who bolt the primary this year should
be excluded from participation in future
primaries
Within the lines there is a strong
current of sentiment in this direction
and according to present talk it would
not be at all surprising if the commit
tee should two years from now lay
down the rule that no bolter in the
primary of 1908 should be allowed to
participate in the primary of 1910. OF
course that is a long way off and 1t
does not appear to be worrying any of
those who contemplate voting the in
dependent ticket this year. 1t would
be quite different matter, however,
if, two years from now, they should be
confronted by challengers at the polls
and asked first to swear that they did
not vote against the 1908 nominees.
There appears to be little doubt now
that such a rule will confront the bolt
ers when the next primary rolls round
though the rightly of it may depend
somewhat on the conditions existing
at that time.
1t is quite apparent, despite the talk,
tlrat the boiling is not going to be any
thing like sufficient in extent to give
the independent candidate even a con-
siderable vote
Some of the would-be boilers were
using the excuse that Joseph M. Brown
had failed to come out for the national
democratic nominees. Not few have
stated that, although they disliked to
do 1t. they would support the nominee
provided he came out for Bryan. Mr..
Brown has emphatically met that condi-
ton, and they can no longer stand on 1t
as an excuse. He has stated in un
equivocal terms that he will vote for
Bryan and Kern, and that it will be
his pleasure to urge all Georgia voters
to do likewise.
The truth of the matter is here has
never been any question among those
who know him that Mr.. Brown would
heartily support the national demo-
cratic ticket His enemies-those Wild
fought him hardest before the pri-
mary-sought to make 1t appear that
he was favorable to Tom Watson and
demanded that he should come out posi- :
lively for the democratic nominees.
Naturally he did not care to be forced
by his enemies into coming out and
defending his democratic principles
when they had never before been ques-
toned. He took his time about it, and
when he did, made it sufficiently en-
phatic. He is now engaged in attend
ing democratic rallies in various sec
lions of the state where both the ma
tional and state tickets are being
whooped up.
Fires On All Sides.