The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-04-08
GOVERNOR SMITH
 IS CAMP A|GN|NG Opposition of Joseph M. Brown
 Is Being Felt PRIMARY RULES ARE QUEER Counties That Might Vote Favorable To Brown Would Have To Send Delegates To State conven-
 ton Favoring Opponent.
PRIMARY RULES ARE QUEER
BY LAUREN FOREMAN.

Atlanta, April 7-(Speciai. )--All effort on the part of Governor Smiths friends to make it appear that the opposition of Joseph NJ. Brown was a joke, has evil dently been abandoned. and 1t is apparent that they have determined to go into the campaign for all it is worth.
 Governor Smith speaks in Dalton next Monday and later goes to Cairo in the extreme southern part of the state. It is possible he will speak in Tattnall county the latter part of this week. It is understood his friends there are urg- inS him to come and do a little cam paigning.
 Tattnall is one of the First district coun- ties from which have been brought to Atlanta recently reports of considerable Brown strength. J. R. Miller of States boro, who was in Atlanta the other day, and who doesn't mind being quoted. pre- dicted that Brown would get majority in practically every county in the First congressional district.
 MT. Miller said the supporters of the governor in Bulloch admitted that Brown would carry that county, but felt confi- u6HI lndl tue BONciiiOi nOulu OoltS tiC state.
 On the other hand reports from Hall, Giynn and Ware counties where Governor Smith has recently spoken, are to the effect that he was greeted in all those places with considerable enthusiasm. Prominent politicians in those counties who opposed him two years ago. and who were then a part of the "railroad ring" are with him today, and are working for him..
 They will. of course, no longer be in cluded in the railroad ring" but there are some others who were for the gov ernor two years ago who will take their places in that Charmed circle,'' accord ing to Governor Smiths organ.
 Governor Smith himself Is not inclined now to characterize those who are op- posing him. as railroad ringsters," and corporation controlled" but one or two newspapers supporting him cannot get away from it. and according to their view, everybody who doesn't agree with them, is railroad ringster."
 Some of the newspapers of the state are putting a construction on the rules adopted by the state executive commit tee last February which goes further than anything yet. It will be recalled that rule adopted by the committee provides that the delegates to the state convention shall be selected by the coun- ty executive committees from among the friends of the successful candidate for governor The successful candidate for governor will be the candidate who re- ceives the largest popular vote. It is pointed out that rule Is general in it's terms. and that no matter how many counties are carried by the unsuccessful candidate the candidate receiving the largest popular vote, will. through the county executive committees, be enabled to name the entire state convention.
 For example, according to the construc- ton now put on this rule, if Governor Smith should receive the largest popu- lar vote on June 4, and if MT. Brown should carry Fulton and a number of other counties, the executive commit tees of the counties carried by Brown would still have to name as delegates to the convention, men who are favorable to the policies of the governor. A strict ap- plication of the rule, it is said. would make the state convention body without minoritys This is one of the interest ing possibilities under the revised pri- mary rules, which are now being dis cussed
 MT. Brown will. it is expected. issue his | extended announcement to the state the 1 latter part of this week, and from all | reports it is promised that it will be a | hummer The curious are hoping that it | will throw some light on that sealed let l ter which was returned to him unopened | by the governor, and which has beer 1 assigned as the cause of his dismissal | from the railroad commission. 1t may be
 confidently predicted. however that this | letter will not, at this time at least, be l given to the public.