Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-08-23
SMITHS MANAGERS
CLAIM STATE BY
$4,000 MAJORITY
Paul B. TrammeII, Calvin M.
Hitch and Malcolm John
son Review the Campaign
in Detail, Estimate Result
1O4 COUNTIES CERTAIN
TO GO FOR H0KE SMITH


Hoke Smith state committee, who has
been the chief director of the campaign
and is one of the most experienced men
of the state, in political management and
intimate knowledge of political condi-
lions in every county, makes his first
statement of the result OF the primary
on Tuesday next:
IT have been in closest touch with the
campaign since Governor Smith made the
announcement of his candidacy. From
careful observation of the progress of the
campaign, through the reports Of COM
mittees from all the counties, from the
letters and interviews of our organiza-
ton leaders, with their checking over of
the lists of voters, man By man, I am
entirely confident that Governor Smith
will be nominated at the primary. While
1 have not had opportunity in the rush
of business today to make final esti-
mate by counties, l am absolutely sure
that Governor Smith will have both a
popular majority and a majority vote
In the convention"
Calvin H. Hitch, secretary of the state
committee, former secretary to three
governors and to Senator Clay, and one
Of the best posted men in the state as to
state politics; and Malcolm Johnson, as
sistant secretary of the state committee,
made each an independent estimate Sat
urdRy of the results of the primary. 1t
will be noticed that though each was ig-
norant that the other was making this
forecast, the results agree almost exact
ly Mr.. Hitch giving Hoke Smith 1O4
counties, beyond doubt, and Mr.. John
son, LOG counties. Their statements follow:
HITCH's STATEMENT.
~ have been closely Identified with
Governor Smiths campaign almost from
it's inception and for the past two
months have handled practically all of
the correspondence coming into the Of
flee. In handling this correspondence
it has been necessary for me to care
fully read every letter that has come
in bearing on the political situation.
From the knowledge that / have obtain
ed through this and other sources, my
prediction is that Governor Smith is
sure to carry 1A counties, having 254
votes in the convention. He will prob
ably carry IL other counties having 80
votes in the convention which would
give him 116 counties with 2s4 votes in
the convention. I am willing to con-
cede Governor Brown Fl counties with
80 votes In the convention and he will
probably carry other counties having
"a votes in the convention. This would
give Governor Brown a total of 30 coun-
There will be 36S votes in the conven-
ton and it win therefore be necessary
for the successful candidate to receive
1856 votes From this you will see that
Governor Smith will have enough votes
in the convention to nominate on the
first ballot, with a g0odly number to
spare The encouraging reports COM
ing in to us from all sections of the
state clearly indicate that Governor
Smith has been rapidly gaining ground
for the past two or three weeks and he
is sure to be elected by an overwhelm-
ing majority. We are getting reports
from many counties stating that the OPP
position is making a desperate fight
by circulating all kinds OF campaign
falsehoods. They cannot possibly over
come the strong lead that Governor
Smith has and I feel sure his popular
majority twill be anywhere from 5000
TO 5OO0 votes. c. M. HITCH.
JoHNsON'S STATEMENT.
81 have been connected with the cam
paign from the beginning. 1 have had
charge Of filing and checking more than
20 200 letters and rotating their contents
which have been carefully recorded in
book. and also of keeping W ~ith the
progress of the work by the clubs.
have thus seen and carefully noted every
letter and every report which has come
to Headquarters, and am in a position
I think, to form an opinion with some
degree of accuracy.
1t is my judgment, calmly and DELHI
erately formed from actual, reliable in
formation that Ex-Governor Smith WILL
beyond a reasonable doubt, carry LOG
counties by decided majorities. Cover
nor Brown will carry Is counties by ma
jorities considerably reduced over his
majorities of 1908. In the remaining II
counties the race will be close. In nine
of them Ex-Governor Smiths chances
predominate. Governor Brown will in no
event carry exceeding IS counties. 1t is
safe to predict that Ex-Governor Smith
will carry Us counties and Governor
Brown 81 counties. That Governor Smith
will be overwhelmingly elected / deem
as settled. Nothing can now prevent that
result His popular majority will be
around $1,000.
MALCOLM JOHNSTON.
MCORD'S ESTIMATE.
Mr.. H Y. McCord, chairman of the
executive committee, makes his final
statement:
ready stated that my honest opinion is
that Ma Smith will carry at least 10
counties and probably more. We will car