The Boise citizen. (Boise, Idaho) 1906-1910, 1908-06-16
DEFEAT OF HOKE SMITH
HOW THE CORPORATIONS BROUGHT ABOUT THE
DOWNFALL OF GEORGIAS REFORMER

closed with the verdict of the Democratic primaries in the
state of Georgia We recall nothing similar to in the
history of that commonwealth.
As swift reversal Of public opinion as expressed at
the ballot box practically without parallel says the
Examiner.
Ten months ago Hoke Smith the popular idol in
Georgia He had lust taken his seat Governor after
wonderful campaign in which he had signay defeated
four distinguished fellow citizens for that oce by ma
ortv so sweeping that carried 24 Of the AZ counties
of the state His preliminary the longest and
most vigorous in the history of Georgia
Never was campaign more definite were issues
more clearly understood. Every plank in his platform
was presented frankly and exhaustively to every voter
TTDon that platform bulded carefully out of their
own demands and the economic and social exigences Of
the time he received the overwhelming Endorsement OF
Georgia suragss and entered the executive Office to
frame into laws the reforms which they had commissioner
The a6lest and most distinguished opponent who
fought him the campaign just closed IS on written record
at the close of the recent session OF the Legislature as say
ng that Hoke Smith had done all that he could do to exc
cute the peoples will and entitled to their confidence
and support
Ten months ago he was easily the foremost man in
Georgia and was as well nigh onnpotent any man has
been in Georgia politics since John B Gordon died
And vet in the recent primaries before his first year
of Office had expired-and in signal violation OF second
tenn rece1ent as old as the States post belum Demo-
lcacvHoke Smith was defeated; defeated overwhelT
Ingly as he had been elected defeated by unknown IN
Doitics comparatively obscure and physically insignificant
Who never once exhibited himself to the people and whose
entire public canvass consisted in fifteen cards written IN
1.-THE privacy his office and published IN the various news
papers of the state
The obscure Italian fv who swept the English Derby
from dozen famous and aristocratc horses did nothing
half so amazing this dinlnutive mouse whose art1ul
network has tangled and tied the lion of Georgia politics
How did he do it? The story is simple but OF infinite
deta All the forces that Hoe Smith defeated year ago
-artfu brilliant effective men, with unlimited resources
at their backs-united to oppose him The railroads,
the corporations the liquor interests the men who
rode free on passes and the discounted politicians lad
their heads together to compass his defeat Inc nlcia
manic came to their assistance III the nick OF time leSe
shrewd keen plausible laid every stri1gecy OF the
money market at the door OF HOke Smith administration
! OF course he was not responsible. But the voice
behind Young Toe Brown made It appear So Every work
norman out of Job was persuaded that Hoke Smith
reform administration the cause OF It, Inc farmer
was told that the drop in the price OF cotton was qecy
4raceabe TO Hoke The real estate believed that the
srab, Of capital toward Their investments grew out OF
fear Of Hoke The Southern Railway with sragetic Gun
ming removed its enormous bank deposits from Atlanta
! +o Gba+tanooga because of its fear OF HOke.
The reform Governor Of Georgia made the scaPe
aoa Of every misfortune financial and economic, that
lGeorga suffered in with the rest OF the country
And as a crownng piece Of inconsistency the same
reoDle in the same period that they were crcyng the
reform Governor for carrying out their own clearcut com
mission were rushing in thousands to sign petition Ior
Third Presidential term for Theodore Roosevelt who was
doing or irving to do in his larger arena at Washington
-lexactlv the things that Hoke S1ntn was DONG
t,o r., do at their own express direction IN Atanta
The Georgia election upon its surface appears to OF
Ian EXPRESSION of statewide inconsistency that luf1lSe
ia new and forceful argument to the skeptcs OF popular
government in America 1t IS also perhaps the most con
coI,s among modern instances of the power OF stewc
and puissant capital public opinion for its Owl
5 deep ends 60: !. .
where construed in its general effects rebuke TO pro
,;bton repudiaton Of negro disfranchisenlent and
sweeping victory for the railroads-uPon eacn OF "t
tremendous issues Georgia ago set III ttie 5S
E seal of its enthusiastic approval
Of course in time Georgia will repent the eNPresslo
of it's primaries The reaction sure to come ana Hok
Sths vindication by so great people may be tardy
but it will be