Palestine daily herald. [volume] (Palestine, Tex.) 1902-1949, 1908-06-04
.GEORG|A's HOT FIGHT
Contest For the Gubernatorial Nomi-
nation the One Big Fight of
the Primary Today.
Special to the Herald.

Atlanta. Ga. June A general
primary is being held throughout
Georgia today to select delegates to
the democratic national convention
and to nominate full state ticket
and candidate for United States SEN
ator Senator Clay is without opposi-
ton, and though there are contests
ON in several of the congressional dis
tricts it is expected that the majority
of the present representatives in con-
gress will be returned. Nearly all of
the present state officers are unop-
posed for reelection, leaving the con-
test for the gubernatorial nomination
the one big fight of the primary.
Contrary to the usual custom there
are two candidates for governor this
year. Since the constitutional con-
vention in 1877, at which time it was
deemed wise to limit the service OF
governor to four years, each governor
has served two terms, except Cover
nor A H. Stephens, who died in Of
flee. There has generally been a
lively contest for the honor whenever
vacancy occurred, but it has been
an unbroken custom to give the sue
cessful candidate second term with
out opposition.
But this year Governor Hoke Smith
is opposed for denomination by Jo-
seph M. Brown, a son of Joseph
Brown, who was war governor of
Georgia and for many years afterward
United States senator The son was
born in this state about fifty-fiva
years ago and was educated at the
University of Georgia and at Har-
ward. He entered upon a railroad
career in 1877, when he entered the
freight department of the Western
and Atlantic railroad. Through natu-
raj ability he rose rapidly. He be-
came general freight agent in 1881,
general freight and passenger agent
III LOOT anu u diliI III lOOc-
In the succeeding nine years he filled
various railroad positions of RESPONSE
bility.
Brown was member of the state
railway commission at the time Hoke
Smith was inaugurated governor, and
the first official act of the latter after
taking the oath of office was to dis
miss him. The reason for the dis
missal was not made public Friends
of Brown declare that it was purely a
political move, while the friends of the
ksorsfnor assertede THAT the dIsnfrs-n
was made for good cause
Brown declared himself a candidate
for governor shortly after his dismiss
al, and began quiet 'gum-shoe" cam
paign, with his headquarters in this |
city Though he has made no public |
speeches, he has issued number of |
statements and has otherwise pursued
a vigorous campaign. Governor
Smith, while affecting to belittle the |
Brown candidacy, has nevertheless |
been engaged in the fight of his pc |
litical career. He has exerted himself |
far more than in the race two years |
ago, when he was opposed by four |
candidates. No other governor in the |
entire history of Georgia ever made |
SO many speeches during his entire |
term of service as has Mr.. Smith up |
to the present date
Several issues, such as railroad reg.
ulation and the Acknowledgement OF |
the negro, are involved in the guber-
Material contest, but the more absorb |
ing dispute as to the success of and /
practicability of the prohibition law
that was passed by the legislature |
last sammer has overshadowed all |
else in the campaign.
Governor Smith was originally OPP
posed to prohibition, and advocated |
local option by counties during the |
campaign which preceded his election |
as governor. But when the legisla.
ture passed the prohibition law he
signed it promptly, and has since talk
en- vigorous measures for its enforce
ment. He has made his present cam
paign for reelection as a strict prohi-
bitionist. He also advocates the dis
reimbursement of the negroes by |