The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-16
SUCCESSOR ID CLAY
 |S NOW DISCUSSED Hoke Smith and Former Gov ernor Terrell Are in Lead OTHERS WANT PLACE Judge Russell of the Court of Appeals and Judge John c. Hart, Former
 Attorney General, Are Also
 In the Filed
OTHERS WANT PLACE

Atlanta, November 15.-(Special.) .)-Ths death of Senator A. s. Clay has brought about a situation in Georgia politics which is fraught with many interesting possibilities.
 And present indications are not far from pointing to a prospective race for the senatorship before a primary next spring between former Gov. Joseph M. Terrel and Governor-elect Hoke Smith.
 This would be one of the most unique ss well as one of the most interesting political contests that could be brought about in Georgia
 It is generally conceded that Governor Brown will appoint former Governor Ter rell to hold until the legislature selects his successor.
 It is also generally known that Gov ernor-elect Smith wants to go to the United States Senate; that is his particu- lar political ambition.
 If the state executive committee should decide to call a general primary for the nomination of senator by the people the nominee to be elected by the legis- lature which meets the fourth Wednes- day in June, 1911, there seems to be little question among politicians now that both Terrell and Smith would be candidates.
 TerreIrs Chances
 In the event Governor Terrell should win that would, of course. settle the matter and Governor Smith would go into office as governor the latter part of June.
 But if Governor Smith should win in the primary, 1t would mean another cleo ton for governor It would mean that the president of the state senate, which will, undoubtedly, be John M. Slaton, who is scheduled to succeed himself, would be governor for 60 days.
 As governor ad interim MT. Slaton would have to call an election for gov ernor within the time stated, and Geor- gia would be treated to another brief but warm campaign for chief execu- tive.
 Governor Smiths opponents express the opinion that this fact will operate some what against him. They recall the de- feat for the Senate of the late Gov w. Y. Atkinson. who entered the contest after he had been elected governor, and whose defeat was attributed chiefly to the fact that the people of the state did not want to be thrown into another campaign and election for governor.
 This is exactly what MT. Smiths elec- ton to the Senate would involve, since he has been formally elected governor, and now waits only to be inaugurated the Saturday following the meeting of the general assembly next June.
 S,tfh,s Ar,bifiou
 On the other hand, 1t Is not impossible that, appreciating this situation. MT. Smith may sacrifice his ambition for the present, go on into the governors office, and abide his time for its fulfillment.
 This Is mentioned as possibility, but there Is scarcely any question that In the event he should let the matter take this course there would be other candidates in the field for the senatorship.
 It is not altogether unlikely. indeed, that should a primary be called, there will be other candidates anyhow, but who they would be Is matter at pres ent difficult even of speculation.
 There could be no more interesting race than one between Terrell and Smith, rep resenting as they do almost the extremes of political thought in Georgia.
 Governor Terrell is looked upon as the embodiment of the conservative ideas;  or, in plain English the "topnotcher" of the "progressves," erstwhile the Ire formers"
 Notwithstanding which, it is still pos sible that their respective views presented to the people in a race for this honor, would not be found so very far from accord, at that
 There Are Others
 Of course, there are other Georgians who would like to go to the United States Senate but 1t is questionable whether any of them would be rash enough to break into such contest as would be that between Terrell and Smith. And then, again. the possibility of the nomination of Hoke Smith for the Sem ate, and the necessity of another cleo ton for governor. brings up the inter esting question as to candidates for that office
 Would Governor Brown run again in the event such opportunity offered? It Is not altogether improbable. MT. Smith beat him only about 4OO0 popular votes in the primary of August g, and it has been generally conceded that there is proba- bly, no other man in the state who could have done 1t.
 Minor Candidates
 Who else would enter the race? Judge Dick Russell of the court of appeals and one or two others were talking about running in the last campaign. even go- ing up against the "Smith-Brown' con- test. Judge John C. Hart, former attor- ney general, got into 1t for time, and then got out again. There are still oth- CTS who would like to be governor. Rail- road Commissioner Murphey Candler has the "bee'' and it is generally understood that he has been slated as the ''progres- sive'' candidate two years hence.
 Altogether the unfortunate removal of Senator Clay has brought about some of the most interesting political situations that Georgia has known in years.
 Of course nobody is talking yet, that is not officially. The appointment of a senator may come the latter art of this week; certainly not before, and possi- bly not before next week. But as Con- gress meets the first Monday in Decem- Der, it will have to be made within the next few days.
 Then the situation will open up and things will begin to hum.