The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-01
WATSON'S POSITION
 IS OF INTEREST
Charges Governor Smith With
 Breaking Faith
MAY OPPOSE REELECTION
More Litigation Is Promised With the Georgia Railroad and Banking Company Over the Cues
 ton of Taxes.

Atlanta, February 29.-(Special.)- )-While 1t is scarcely believed that former Rail- road Commissioner Joseph M. Brown will venture into the race for governor, the fact that Thomas E. Watson, ardent sup porter of Gov Hoke Smith in the last campaign, is anxious to get MT. Brown or somebody else into it. has been the subject of current gossip at the capitol this week.
 In the current issue of his Weekly Jeff fersonian MT. Watson is more spirited than ever in his attacks upon his former political friend, the governor, charging him with breaking faith with the people. and simultaneously he prints the current gossip about the suggestion of MT. Brown for governor.
 But more than that, friends of MT. Wat sons in Atlanta say openly that he would be glad to get MT. Brown or some body else into the race against Governor Smith, and is now working in that di- rection.
 It may be considered doubtful whether MT. Watson will succeed in such an effort particularly in view of the party precedent, unvaried since the adoption of the constitution of 1877, of giving the governor the indorsement of a second term.
 It is this consideration which, it is said. has kept MT. Brown from giving serious thought to the matter.
 Interesting comment is made on the fact that Governor Smiths personal and political organ, the Journal, the other l lat a Wpll-knOWn Georgian in which 1t was urged that no democrat should run against the gov ernor this year, because of this party precedent. It also stated that the gov ernor was entitled to reelection upon the merit of his record, but that the other reason should have been given in view of the governors overwhelming victory of two years ago, was considered lit tie remarkable, coming from that source But the governors political enemies have been emphasizing his waning strength in the state, in the hope, it would appear, of arousng some opposi- tion.
 A well-known Georgian and former oc- cupant of a state office who was at the capitol this week asserted that there had been a widespread dehection from the
 reform" ranks in his neck O the woods"
 "I was talking to number of farmers out my way the other day." he said.
 ''They were rather harshly denouncing reform and the head and forefront of it Whats the matter?' 1 asked. Didn't he do practically everything he prom ised you he'd do?
 "'Yes,' replied one of them, but it didn't have the effect he sad it was goin' to have
 And that's the view a good many of them I have seen take of it.
 Report comes from certain sections of the state that friends of Governor Smith are beginning to exhibit marked activity in the legislative races. This activity is attributed by them indirectly to the governor himself.
 A candidate for representative in a middle Georgia county who said he had things his own way up to a few days ago. says a well-known farmer in the county has now appeared in the field against him, and his race has been re- duced from a sure thing to state of uncertainty. This farmer, he stated, was a warm supporter and admirer of the governor. The county went overwhelm- ingly for Governor Smith two years ago, but the candidate in question expresses the belief that in his own race, at least, there will be a small majority the other way this time.
 The continued activity of the prohibit tionists has been matter of consider able comment in political circles this week. They have begun a determined agitation for constitutional prohibition, and report comes direct from headquar- ters that they are going to leave no stone unturned towards the accomplishment of that end.
 There is no question that the prohibit