Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-08-02
Elimination of Negro from
Politics, Publication of Bal
lot, Supervision of Railroads,
Adjustment of the Convict
Lease, and a Greatly
Strengthened Treasury Are
Some of the Accomplish
mentS of His Two Years
Administration

Cross tOQdNs mas EANEA WI A~A FN~-
ton the speech which he had prepared
for this occasion. As II is the first dis
cussion by Mr.. Smith OF the record upon
which he is asking for election in the
approaching primary. it viii be read with
absorbing interest by voters throughout
the state.
The speech is a strIkingly lucid review
Of the accomplishments OF what Mr..
Smith aptIy calls the Progressive De-
mocracy'' during his two years admins
tration as governor OF Georgia As the
former governor sets forth the record OF
his administration. the reader is amazed
at the amount Of work accomplished for
Georgia In so brief space OF time. This
record Mr.. Smith gives as the reason
for his candidacy. this and the announc-
I'd intention OF the reactionary Democ-
racy to tear down all that he had build
ed. His speech in full follows:
Ny Fellow Citizens of South Georgia:
II Is with pleasure that 1 meet you
TO speak of the policies which have been
pursued for the past few years and OF
those which concern our welfare for the
future
There are different schools Of thought
upon questions OF government which
have existed at all times
They have found expression in different
ways. but the division has always been
between FAvORITISM FOR THE FEW
AND EQUALITY OF OPPORTUN-
ITY FOR THE MANY. The
one stands for special privileges. the 9TH
er for popular rights. The one would
give power TO a small minority. the
other to the whole people. The one is
reactionary. the other is progressive. The
one Is selfish, the other stands for man
kind, -fnr-fhe- hetterment OF the human
race
CONTEST OF 1908
-Four years ago we had a political con-
test In Georgia The state and the Dem
ocratic party were at the time in the
control Of an alliance between trained
politicians and the employed agents Of
great corporations. Special privileges were
the order OF the day. Certain corpora
lions were favored but they were required
to pay tribute for what they received.
The hired lobbyist was q recognized fac
tor in legislation The man with the
free pass was always in evidence.
We had heated campaign. but the peo-
pie won at the election The progressive
Democracy took charge.
We did not have a majority in either
house Of the legislature. BUT WITH
THE GOVERNOR AND THE SPLEEN
DID MINORITY IN THE LEGISLA-
TURE REAL SERVICE FOR THE
PEOPLE WAS ACCOMPLISHED.
wish TO discuss before you with per
feet calmness the work accomplished
In two years by the progressive Democ-
racy- / wish 10 compare II TO the work
OF the reactionary Democrats since that
time. 1 wish to point out some OF the
future work Of the progressive Democra-
ey and to submit to you the question
Under which flag will you march?
Our forefathers sought to establish for
US a system by which the people at the
ballot box should rule. BY this power
they were to protect themselves against
injustice. and inspired by this power they
were to broaden the opportunity OF the in
dividual citizen The progressive Democ-
racy regard the ballot as q right almost
sacred To preserve it in its purity, to
exclude debauching influences from reach
ing the man who uses the ballot, to in
spire the individual voter with lofty
patriotism which will control his use
Of the baIlot-these are principles Of prog
ress which we recognize as essential 10
obtaining those benefits which should
come from the ballot TO a free people.
DISFRANCHISEMENT OF THE NE
GRO.
THE FIRST STEP TOWARD PURI-
FYING THE BALLOT REQUIRED
THE EXCLUSION OF THE IGNO-
RANT AND PURCHASABLE NEGRO.
The true policy in the United states
should be the development OF the white
race, with no mixture in matters or
government by the yellow, the brown
or the black races. / would favor an
amendment to the national constitution
which would limit suffrage to the
whites
Confronted with the national constI-
tuition which prevented such state ac-
tion. we have still given you a con-
the great bulk OF the negroes. Under
&c less than 10000 negroes have regis
tered this year. over 10000 negroes might
have registered but for it.
The franchise law, passed during our
administration-it was yours as well
as mine-is the wisest and best adopt
ed by any southern state. Il is I'M
necessary now to discuss IL in detail.
One OF it's features requires the pay
ment OF taxes six months before the
date Of the election
By the adoption OF the new fran
chise law. the negro has been perma-
nently eliminated from politics in
Georgia There is not now q county,
city, town or militia district IN the
state where the negroes have registered
sufficiently TO outnumber the whites.
Mcintosh county has for the first time
BEEN ABLE TO HOLD A WHITE
PRIMARY. A law Of this sort had been
discussed for several years. but towards
its passage no progress had been made.
IL was distinctly our work. and IL was
opposed at every step by those who
are now our political opponents.
The benefits OF this law are FAR
reaching. II is already making the
negro better suited TO his position in
Georgia 1t makes him more indus
trious and more useful
For years conditions have existed
which in many places required resort
TO means that were unfair TO prevent
the negroes from controlling your Of
fees Resort 10 these unfair means
produced a lack OF proper regard for
abe sanctity OF the ballot. and at times
Continued On PAGE xsgha