Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1909-10-27
CLAY SHOULD KEEP HIS
HANDS OFF.

Il current gossip does not do that
esdmable statesman an injustice, Sem
ator Steve Clay has definitely aligned
himself with the Smith faction in state
politics? That, at least, is the eurrent
impression existing in various parts of
the state, among the politicians who
are supposed to keep themselves post
ed as to the current sentiments of the
leading public men
1t is true that in the last guberna-
torial campaign Senator Clay support
ed Gov. Smith His support in that
instance apparently accomplished but
little. Cobb county, which two years
before. with Clay opposing Smith, had
given Smith a substantial majority,
last year changed front and with Clay
actively supporting Smith gave Brown
a handsome majority One might con-
strue from this that Senator Clay had
little Influence in his home county
But that would be an erroneous view
TO take OF it. No doubt so far as he
himself is concerned Senator Clay is a
tower of strength in Cobb county. But
the time has pretty well passed when
a man in Georgia politics can carry
county with him and because its peo-
pie are fer him individually throw its
vote TO any other man. The people are
too intelligent, do too much thinking
for themselves, to be lead around in
any such fashion.
There might have been some reason
for Senator Clay to take hand in the
last gubernatoriaI campaign in favor
of Gov. Smith, fruitless of results
though such activity on his part
proved. There was an ad interim ap-
pointment as senator for Gov. Smith
to fill, and there may have been, and
doubtless were, other good reasons
prompting the senator in that in
stance. But now that the senatorship
is his for the next six years, for a
third term, why should he ALLEVIATE old
friends, why should he sake himself
the victim of factional STATE politics,
by taking hand any further in be-
half of the Smith element? There is
certainly nothing for Senator Clay TO
gain by it, and there is at least the
possibility of his depriving himself Of
the future support of thousands of
his former adherents by any often
siye participation in the coming
in State politics.
If Senator Clay we're himself a can
didate for reelection there might be
some excuse for his aligning himself
with one or the other faction, al
though even then it might prove
mighty poor policy But circum-
stanced as he now is it would GER
tainIy seem the part of wisdom to
keep hands off. 1t is certainly not
his fight. He has untold thousands OF
old friends among the Brown people.
There is no evidence that ex-GoY.
Smith ever gave a willing hand to
elevate Mr.. Clay TO the senatorship,
that he played the slightest part in
that memorable first campaign, man
aged by that astute political leader,
Fleming DuBigon, that took the some
what surprised Cobb statesman and
landed him in the United States SEN
ate. Nor in his second election was
the present Fulton county aspirant in
anywise instrumental in retaining
him in his seat 1t certainly must be
a mystery as to why Senator Clay, at
this juncture, should further interest
himself in gubernatorial matters, more
than the ordinary citizen would do.
Candidly speaking, We doubt if Sem
ator Clay can have any perceptible
effect in the coming campaign. The
people last year demonstrated conclu-
siyely that they are capable of doing
their own thinking, and that they are