Fitzgerald enterprise. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1895-1912, 1908-02-29
Governor Smith Should
Head National Ticket
vocated by Smith. He won {
sweeping victory.
A fou nv trnotc from hic {nnnn


sweeping victory.
A few extracts from his inaug.
ural address, touching on corpora
ton abuses, the use of monry in
politics and lobbying furnish a
good line on the fncefulness of
Governor Smiths delivery. He
said:
"Every frank man admits that
in national and state legislation
more power has been exercised | "
the great corporations than has
been consistent with the full pro-
lection of popular rights"
"The time has come when it is
necessary to determine whether
certain favored interests of the
state shall rule. What has been
told of hired political agents in
Testing legislative halls is no idle
story; they have been the curse Of
national legislation.
MAKE it Il crime for q corpora
tion or special interest to contri
butte money to politics. Make it
a crime to buy voter at the polls.
Place upon every candidate the
duty of showing, under oath, a
detailed statement of what he
spent, how he spent it, and where
the money came from
II do not urge that procedure
be now begun to forfeit railroad
charters, but / warn the men in
charge of these properties not to
defy the conservative demands
now being made upon them"
Hoke Smith is one Of the most
influential Democrats south of the
Mason Dixon line, and one of the
most popular men in Georgia. He
was born in North Carolina in
1856. and comes of Revolutionary
stock, his father having moved
South from New Hampshire. He
was named Michael uoke, but
dropped his first name. He at,
tended the public schools until he
was 16 years old. His first en-
plOyment was as school teacher
in small town in Georgia. Be
tween times he studied law, and q
few years after his admission to
the bar was enjoying a substantial
practice.
He moved to Atlanta and en-
tered politics when he attained
his majority. He was made chair
man of the Democratic executive
committee of this city and began
attracting the attention of the
state leaders.
He became an ardent Cleveland
man and his good work during
the former Presidents second
campaign won him a cabinet posi- :
ton. He was only 36 years old
at the time and for months after
! his appointment Northern papers
| wanted to know who he was.
Although enjoying all extensive
reputation as a lawyer and ora tor
in his own state, the outside coun,
try had not heard of him, and the
political humorists referred to him
IS "Ir. Cleveland's Southern
friend"
He paid no attention to news
paper articles commenting on his
gouthfulness, but went to Wash
ngton and plunged into the work
in the interior department. He
vas at his desk before 8 Il. m. and
generally returned after dinner
md remained there until late at
I night. All Washington and the
est of the country marvelled at
his strenuousness, but tn Geor.
,ian kept right at it. His hard
work eventually told and he left
The cabinet with q splendid rec
ord behind him.
i Governor Smith is Of the big
| type of man. He is over six feet
tall and carries his fifty three
years with the case of a well
trained athlete. lie has a full,
round face and square head and
lis a careful dresser. He has made
L. e...ont donl Of nnonou fr01n his law