Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-08-12
SUPPORTERS OF SMITH
PLAN MUSC0GEE VICTORY
Aid Is Pledged to Former Gov
ernor At ROuSing Meeting
in Columbus
Especial Dispatchto The Journal)


COLUMBUS. Ga, Aug 9.-The Mus
cogee County Hoke Smith club was or
ganized in the superior court room at
the court house last night in one Of the
largest political gatherings of the year.
There were men present from every
walk OF life. men engaged in every pro-
fession and calling, who showed plainly
that they had gathered to do full JUS
tice to the occasion.
The meeting was sch eduled to begin
at Sis o'clock. but long before that
time the crowd began gath ering and by
the opening hour every nook and corner
or the large court room was filled and
the crowd had begun to overflow. Seats
were full, the aisles were full inside and
the chancel rails were also filled as was
the gallery. From the noise il appeared
that the lungs of every man present
was in good working order.
Free from bitterness. not a word was
said that a man on the opposing side
could have taken offense at The argu-
ment presented by the speakers of the
evening as matter Of course was Civ
en- in an effort to show the position of
the opposing faction.
MANY NAMES SIGNED.
Cards for membership to the Hoke
Smith club were scattered throughout
the audience, and hundreds Of these
cards were signed and returned to the
secretary, thereby signifying the inten-
ton Of the man who signed the card to
become a member of the club. Before
the speaking began bundle of pictures
of Mr.. Smith, together with extracts
from a speech OF his, was opened and the
crowd rushed forward to secure a pic
ture. The supply was soon exhausted,
and before half Of the immense crowd
had been supplied. Hon. Frank L. Gar
rard, one of the ablest and most enthu-
siastic Hol1e Smith men in Georgia, call
ed the meeting to order and nominated
Hon. A A Carson for temporary chair
man The nomination was seconded and
Mr.. Carson was unanimously elected
amidst storms of applause.
On ascending the rostrum he was Civ
en- an enthusiastic reception and pro-
ceeded to make a rousing speech. He
began ihs address by stating that he con-
sidered IL a great honor to be selected
as presiding officer Of such a gathering
Of his fellow-citiZens. He said that ne
was glad to espouse the cause Of a man
Of the ability of Hoke Smith. He re-
ferred to the former governor as a
statesman equal to any in the country
and a man that had no superior. He be-
lieved that the time would come when
the nation would recognize his greatness
and that he would be called to higher
service. He said that Mr.. Smith was n
man Of the people who knew the people
and their wants and endeavored to car
~ out their wishes. Mr.. Carson's ad-
dress was received with round after
round of applause which showed that
the audience was Enthusiastically with
him. Hon. Frank L. Garrard introduce
ed Samuel c. Olive. OF Elberton, as the
principal speaker Of the occasion.
SPEECH OF OLIVE.
Mr.. Olive said he had not come to
Columbus to try to tell others what to
do, but to set forth the merits OF Hon.
Hoke Smith as candidate for governor,
and tell them why he thought the dis
tinguished gentleman should be elected.
He said that people Of Georgia are con-
fronted with a condition that finds a
counterpart in nearly every state In the
union, an element claiming to be Demo
Gratis but recationary and identical with
Cannonism. Hoke Smiths name, he
said, was something more than the
name of a mail He was pictured as
man who has convictions and has the
bravery and ability to express them, re-
eardless of who might disapprove of
them He said that in the lore OF prize
ring he is a man who can come back
and is mot knocked OUT but was com
ing back" with the voters Of the state
behind him. The speaker was loudly
and frequently applauded.