Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-03-15
STATE ELECTION OCT. 5;
PRIMARY DATE NOT SET
State House Officers, Judges
and Commissioners Will Be
Chosen This Year

Matters politics are shaping them
selves in anticipation of the state general
election which is to be held, under the
date fixed by law, on October 5. The
registration for that election closes six
months before its date. or on April ..
Preceding the general election by not
less than 90 days. the Democratic state
primaries will be held for the purpose
of selecting the nominee of that party
from among the candidates.
At the general election all officers of the
state, except members of congress, will
be chosen, including those officers who
serve the state in county capacities.
The list further includes all state
house officers whose Offices are not APP
pointive and whose terms expire regu-
larly this year. These are the governor,
school commissioner, treasurer. comp
troller general commissioner of agricul-
ture, secretary of state, attorney general,
and pension commissioner. 1.t
TREASURER ALONE OUT.
Among the foregoing, the only incum-
bent who has declared that he will not
run to succeed himself is Treasurer j.
Pope Brown. Mr.. Brown was appointed
to fill the unexpired term of the late
treasurer, Robert L. Park, deceased. w.
]. Speer has announced himself a candi-
Assistant Treasurer B. Il. Perry will
doubtless announce soon. At this time
MI Speer is the only declared candidate
for any statehouse office.
In addition to these, at least two rail-
road commissioners will be chosen at the
elections this fall. Commissioner o. b.
Stevens full term of six years expires
on December /, and an incumbent for the
ensuing term of that length will be elect
ed. Commissioner Stevens will proba-
bly, be a candidate to succeed himself.
Commissioner c. Murphey Gambler was
appointed to the vacancy left by the res
ignation of former Commissioner Gala
way, to serve till the election. A success
sor in that chair will have to be chosen
to serve till December 1, when the Gala
way term expires; and an incumbent Tor
the ensuing term after December i will
also be, elected.
MLENDON UP IN AIR.
The contingency of a third vacancy
hinges on the decision of the supreme
court in the McLendon quo warranto pro-
ceedings. This decision is expected soon.
If the contention of former Chairman ).
G. McLendon. dismissed from office by
Governor Smith, is upheld and he is re-
instated he will continue on the term for
which he was elected and which has yet
two years to run. If he is not reinstated,
a successor to the present incumbent oil
the McLendon term, Joseph f. Gray, or
Savannah, will have to be chosen to serve
the rest Of that term.
One member of the prison commission
will be elected this year. The term of
Commissioner G. r. 'Hutchens, of Cedar
town. appointed to fill the vacancy left
by the death of the late Commissioner
j. S. Turner will expire.
JUDGES TO BE CHOSEN.
One judge of the court of appeals is to
be elected, the intermediate term of Judge
Arthur G. Powell expiring this year. The
court will, on January l, have been in
existence four years. Judge Richard l..
Russell, whose short term expired at the
last election, is now filling his second
term. Chief Judge Hills long term will
expire at the next general election.
Two justices of the supreme court will
be chosen this year. The term of
Chief Justice w. II. Fish, of Americas.
who has been in office since 1896, will ex-
pire as will also that of Justice Marcus
w. Beck, of Griffin, who has served since
1906. 1t is understood that both will be
candidates for reelection to terms Of six
years each.
In addition to all the foregoing. half
of the superior court judges and half of
the solicitor general in the state will
have to be chosen anew this year, for
four-year terms.
PRIMARY DATE NOT FIXED.
No date has yet been set for the state
primary. 1t will be fixed by the state
Democratic executive committee, of which
Hewlett Hall is chairman. A meeting
of that committee for the purpose of fix
ing the. primary date has yet to be called.
State political interest centers in the
primary. where the contest is hottest
and where the whole AIeld of candidates Is
at war for the nomination on the Demo-
cratic tic:,et.
In Georgia, where the Democratic party
is practically supreme, the state election
is hardly more than a formal and per-
funtory confirmation of the results of tho
primary
Only those who are qualified for the
general election can participate in the
primary.