Fitzgerald enterprise. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1895-1912, 1908-01-30
THE Governors ANNOUNCEMENT.

The announcement of Gov. Hoke Smith tina
he will not enter the race for Senator is the mos
important piece of political news since the an
nouncement Of his overwhelming election i
months ago.
Mr.. Smith has had an ambition to represen
the state in the national senate ever since he re
signed his seat in Cleveland's Cabinet, and he i
quite young enough to serve out his second tern
as Governor and then go to the senate. Of cours
it is several years and he will be private either
before the opportunity will offer (unleSs the PEG
pie decide to set aside the rule and give him &
third term as goVernor); but it has been demon
strated that he is live private citizen and strange
things occur in politics than his election, as ex
governor, to ii g senate would be.
His announcement is strong and pointed, char
istic of the Governors frankneSs.
''The continued suggestion by the press and
by individuals that l will be candidate for
the Office of United States senator in the ap-
preaching primary, together with the fact that
the Democratic state executive committee will
soon meet leads me without further delay to
decide upon the course which should pursue,
and to acquaint the public with my decision
II would not be candid if did not admit
that the Office of senator opens up line of
study and work which would be intensely at
tractive to me.
''FOr some time prior to my candidacy for
governor had expected to be a candidate for
United States senator this year, and | had
every reason to believe that would have the
support for the position of the senator whose
term of office is about to expire. Nor have l
any cause now to doubt the result were |
candidate
'sThe office of senator is the only office ever
felt desire to fill in preference to my law Of
flee. have tried to see that it was no aband
onment of obligations assumed for me to run
for the senate at this time, but have failed to
do so.
''I entered the race for governor because /
was called by my fellow citizens to make the
race in the interest of certain legislative and
administrative reforms which they and knew
were right
s'The people elected me and to those reforms
have unswervingly devoted myself. l be-
Ieve in them as intensely today as I did when
candidate. l hope that before the end of
my present term every pledge of the platform
on which was candidate will have been
carried out But administration and legsla-
ton are still required before record of COM
plete accomplishment can be claimed.
eff an extra session of the legislature had
been necessary, or if the primary were pospon-
ed until fall l might have been in position to
enter the race for United States senator. But
an extra session of the legislature should not
be called, nor the Democratic primary post
poned, just to make opportunity for the graft
fcation of any ones political wishes.
"Besdes, there has developed other work
not covered by platform pledges to which it
seems important that should devote myself
in the executive office. Were / candidate
for the senate would be called on at once to
give my time to the discussion of national is
sues to the neglect of local problems. 1 can
not satisfy myself that this would be right.
''For these reasons l have determined not
to be candidate for the senate in the ap-
preaching primary will be candidate for
governor, and will, before the nomination,
fully discuss in the presence of the people
state problems.
HoKE SMITH. =