Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1909-01-14
GEORGIA READY
TO LEAD REVOLT
Another Bryan Nomination Would Rem
der State DebatabIO.

1
Savannah, Ga, January 8th.-Al-
though 1t is two months since the cleo
ton, Georgia is still talking politics.
Unlike some other Democratic strong
holds, Georgia isn't wondering how and
why it all happened. Georgia knows.
and Georgians, in their talk, are ex-
pressing definite views on what is going
to happen in 1912.
Georgia, which had no hand in the
nomination of Mr.. Bryan at Denver. is
prepared to lead real fight for the res
cue of the Democracy from Mr.. BRYAN
-FOUR years hence, and moreover, to lead
II In the one way that promises success.
Democratic leaders in the North who
have shaped the party's policy and who
surrendered without the firing OF a gun
to Bryan, have always been able to
count on a lack of effectiveness in
Southern protests, because they have
always felt certain that, no matter what
the South might say before the conven-
ton, its vote for the party's nominee
was certain to be cast with practical
unanimity at the polls.
Now, that is premise that is going
to be highly dangerous in 1912. Every
move that Mr.. Taft makes is being care
fully considered in Georgia, particularly
since he has been at Augusta. and there
is a strong feeling that he will be able
to follow out the Roosevelt policies of
Cancellation with the South in such an
effective manner that the Solid South
after the next election, will be a mem
ory.
1t Is certain that the reaction against
hysterical legislation, which made itself
felt in Georgia by the defeat of Hoke
Smith, will not be checked. and it is
more than likely to spread in North
Carolina and Alabama, according to
men here who have their hands on the
pulse Of the situation.
The South feels that Mr.. Taft is sound
on the negro question. Nothing irri-
tates Georgian-and in that he saws
he is typical of the South-more than
the assumption that he dislikes the ne
gro and wants to get rid of him. Mr..
Tart Is thought by Georgians to recop-
nize the reasonable character. as thew
call 1t, of their views regarding the
presence of the unassimilated mass of
voting negroes in the electorate. and it
Is IN this that they consider his position
sound
The sentiment against Bryan and all
he represents in the Democratic party
here is so intense that his denomination
IN 1912 would be regarded as almost GER
tain to throw the State into the doubt
ful column, with the chances decidedly
In favor of strong Republican ticket
Business men talk of little else at the
clubs. They have decided that the time
has come for Georgia, with her thirteen
electoral votes, to have real saw in the
election of the president.
We knew what we faced when Mr..
Bryan was nominated" said one of the
most influential men in Savannah the
other day. eve didn't want BRYAN TO
be elected. We stayed away from the
polls, many of US, and still others of us
voted for Mr.. Taft. And those of us
who did vote for Mr.. Taft did SO openly.
and without fear of the opinions of our
neighbors, as we could not have voted
for Mr.. Mckinley, in 1896.
we are now regaining our indepen-
dence down here, and in the next cleo
ton men are likely to vote entirely on
the merits of such men and such issues
as are presented to US then, rather than
on the dead issues that can never again
be quickened with the spark of life.
both OF the great parties must rec
ognlze IN the next election that Georgia
is debatable ground. 1t is hard to saw
in what measure the habitual tendency
of the State to vote the Democratic |
ticket has been overcome, but I am
sure that great strides in this direction
were taken in November, and say this
with joy, though am a lifelong Demo-
crat- We are not afraid to change our
politics any longer, and honestly think
If Bryan runs in 1912 he will lose the
State"
Those are the opinions of a man who
is, as he says, lifelong Democrat. He
is the president of one of Savannah's
leading clubs, and a prominent figure
In the commercial and social life of the
city. Probably no man in the town
could better reflect its views and opin-
ions, and ample confirmation of what he
had to say is to be obtained here. One
hears such views at the clubs and other
places where men gather. The temper
Of Georgia, as reflected here, indicates
political upheaval four years from
now.