Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-06-24
HOKE SMITH YIELDS
AND GIVES CONSENT
To ENTER THE RACE
Letters, kilograms and Dele
cations From All Parts OF
the State Convince Him That
His Duty Is to Run
PERRY QUITS THE. RACE
I'M FAVOR OF Mr.. SMITH

ct will be in the race for governor."-
Roke Smith.
The longer formal announcements viii
follow later but 1t is settled that Mr..
Smith will be a candidate for election to
the governship of Georgia at the pr4ma-
~ which is now exactly so days distant.
in opposition to Gov. Joseph NJ Brown
Hon. II. Il. Perry, learning Of Hoke
Smiths announcement, Immediately
withdrew from the race, declaring that
he had only run to preserve the prtncf-
pies for which Mr.. Smith stood.
"God bless you" he said to Mr.. smith
when he learned the news.
Governor Smiths decision comes 80
the elimination of an overwhelming
pressure brought to bear upon him By
his friends and supporters from every
section OF the state; they have APP
preached by letter, by telegram, by
personal delegations sent to Atlanta
who have been crowding his office and
joining with Atlantians in urging him
to run.
Thursday morning following
meeting OF leading citizens, delsga-
ton of At1antians went to Mr.. Smiths
office to make a final appeal, and &c
was shortly after a conference with
them that Mr.. Smith came to . de-
cision.
It IL believed that never before In
the state OF Georgia has such pressure
been brought to bear upon one man to
assume the leadership in q great po-
liticaI fight; the circumstances were
peculiar; the call was Imperative his
friends declared that he must elimf-
nate all personal considerations, no
matter how strong, and must acQuiescs
In the desire Of the thousands Of eleor-
CLANS who believe that the present adj
ministration IL inimical to the best In
terest of the state, who are dissatis-
fled with Governor Brown and what he
represents, who are determined to make
o fight against him. 60 the death, but
who lacked leader until mr.. Smith an
nounced because Hoke Smith himself
was 30 thoroughly Identified Personal
IL with the reforms desired that no
other man could take his place.
This demand, which has been growing
stronger and stronger, came to head
when the legislature met and Governor
Browns message was read, a message
openly inimical to the party which has
supported the principles enunciated By
Mr.. Smith, and which it is believed Gov
ernor Brown was only emboldened to
make public by the belief that it was too
late for Hoke Smith to enter the race.
DIDN'T WISH TO RUN.
Though Governor Brown has time af-
and did not want to see political agita-
ton, it is felt that this message. openly
attacking and seeking to destroy the re-
forms which were inaugurated under
/ Smiths administration. has practically
forced Mr.. Smith to take up the gaunt-
lei.
Mr.. Smith did not want to make the
race. He told the people so honestly,
but the appeal made to aim within the
last few weeks by the people of Georgia
have brought him face to face as he con-
| ceives it, with a public duty so strong
that no personal considerations can be
great enough or important enough to
stand in the way.
FRIENDS WE'RE INSISTENT.
With the coming of the Legislature. adj
ditional pressure has been put upon him.
Many of the leading men of the state.
both In and out of the legislature. have
been personally to see the former gov
ernor and urge him that it was his duty
to make the race.
They contend that especially is this so
since Governor Brown, who in his an
nouncement for governor declared for
peace" in his message to the Legislature
seems to declare for war" In other
words. they argue to Governor Smith
that Governor Brown is now seeking
boldly TO undo the legislation put upon
the statute books of Georgia by the pro-
gressive Democrats and which they de-
clare is responsible for the present tre-
mendous prosperity Of the state. They
insist that the effect of the reelection
of Governor Brown with Legislature
in sympathy with him might result in
the repeal of all of the legislation which
was accomplished in 1907 and 1905, and
carry the state back even to worse con-
ditions than it occupied prior to that
time.
In other words, their view of it az ex-
messed to former Governor Smith Is that
Governor Brown, feeling that he would
have practically no opposition, has been
emboldened to show his hand, and that
he is endeavoring, as they claim, to
turn the state over once more to the re-
dictionaries.