The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-11-26
CANDIDACY OF
GOVERNOR BROWN
Georgia Executive Is Expected
to Announce Himself
H0kE SMITH IN FIELD
Contest for Gubernatorial Honors VIII
Be Much Like Last Campaign and
Activity May Soon Be
Started.
H0KE SMITH IN FIELD

All <Atiauld paper announces as LnOugn
1t were a new discovery, that Gov.
Joseph M. Brown expects to be a can
didate for reelection as governor, sub
ject to the primary of 1910.
Although Governor Brown himself
has not discussed the matter and will
not at present, there has never been
any question among his friends but
that. as matters stand now, he would
be candidate to successd himself
While he has been In office scarcely
six minths, the time is, nevertheless,
close at hand-when he will probably
have to make public announcement of
his intentions.
If, as Is now anticipated, former
Governor Hoke Smith should announce
for governor the first or the new year,
Governor Brown would, of course, have
to say something. But the people
know him well enough by this time TO
understand that when there is neces-
sity for saying anything. he will
say It.
Governor Smith is noted for begin
ming his campaign early. He began the
campaign of 1906 in the summer of
1906, and kept 1t up for more than a
year. With the primary in August, a
beginning in January would afford
nearly eight months of campaigning.
But 1t Is safe to predict that any
contest between Governor Smith and
Governor Brown would be almost pre-
cisely like that of 1908, in which the
former travelled about the state max
ing speeches, while the latter remained
In his office and wrote cards.
II there Is any difference it will be
in fha diracfinn Of acfty$4 "
on the part of Governor Brown, who
feels and considers now that his time
belongs to the state. and except to de-
fend his administration from any at
tack which may be made upon 1t. and
to state his platform and purposes, he
will probably be little heard from.
In fact those who are closest to the
governor predict that this Is the only
sort of campaign he will make, trust
ing to the people to approve his ad-
ministration.
With the accident of q panic follow
ing his first campaign. and general
statewide prosperity following upon
his defeat, it will be Interesting to know
Just what kind of a campaign former
Governor Smith is going to put up.
He may be counted upon for some
thing to fit the situation, and his vigor
and his energy as campaigner, are
100 We'll KNOWN 10 encourage the De-
lief that he will not make splendid
fight.
In addition to this he has support
all over Georgia which will stick to
him through thick and thin and
whether successful or not he wE1
doubtless make things close enough
and warm enough to be decidedly in
teresting.
On the other hand there Is no ques-
ton that Governor Brown has made
many friends by his conduct of the Of
fee, and his friends declare he has
greatly strengthened himself
But the governor will say nothing
about next years race now. So far
as any statement from himself is con-
cerned. he denounces the publication
referred to as a fake throughout. He
states that he has not mentinoed the
subject of his intentions, and does not
propose to until next spring when he
thinks 1t will be early enough to start
a campaign. He says he considers that
the people are entitled to a rest Nom
politics at least until that time, and
until then he, at least, proposes to let
them have 1t.
Sentence Of DR.. Elliott.
There are some people down In
Troup county who don't like Governor
DIoWn . ooClSioH j. M.
Elliott's sentence for the murder of
G. L. Rivers. from death to life i'm
prisonment, but there are more who
do approve it, judging by the letters
that have been coming into the execu-
tive office. since the governor signed
the order of Communication.
1t is understood that only a few of
the writer's have criticised the gov
ernor's action, and in most of those
instances the letters were anonymous,
though there is no apparent reason
why they should not have signed tn cir
names. There is certainly nothing
they had to fear.
The letters approving the governors
action have, in each instance, borne the
signature of the writer, and there are
more than three times as many of them
as of the other kind.
Elliott Is still as gleeful as a school
hey over his escape from the gallows,
and declares that without other hope
than hard labor for life, he proposes
to make model prisoner. He is now
at work on the Fulton county road
gang.
Governor Brown was simply con-
WINGED after careful study of the
case, that Elliott was weakminded,
degenerate and at times insane, and
this being true, that 1t would have
been an act of inhumanity to send i'm
to the gallows.