Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-06-25
HOkE SMITHS THIRD RUN FOR
GOVERNOR.

The sincerity of Hoke Smith in his
two refusals to be a candidate for gov
ernor again may very well be called
into question. There has been no
Change in the conditions surrounding
him and the publ c is we'll entitled to
entertain the impress on that the
whole scheme was to secure a more
dramatic setting for Mr.. Smiths entry
into the race of 1910 than would have
been afforded by an earlier announce
ment. Undoubtedly the effort has
been to create the impression that Mr..
Smith has been an unwilling candidate.
forced into the field by popular de-
mand that became irresistible in it's
pressure. The absurdity of this is ap-
parent on the face. The popular" de-
mand has been a carefully worked mp
affair, running back over some
months, and having it's initial step in
the sending from Atlanta of similarly
worded pet tons to various counties
for signatures. The twice-or was it
thrice-waving aside of the crown,
was, it would seem, merely a piece of
acting. If so it has failed to have any
effect on the people except to yisibly
weaken the Smith strength
OF course the bluff is now made that
Gov. Browns message has forced Mr..
Smith to run, that it was a direct chal-
lenge to HIM that could not be mis-
understood or rejected This is an
other piece Of political clap trap
There was not an idea advanced in
the message that has not been advanc-
ed over and over again by Mr. Brown
He did hot promulgate single new
theory, nor advocate a single new
prime pie. He simply reiterated the
views for which he has stood persist
emily and without shade of deviation
from the first announcement of his
candidacy two years ago. There is a5-
solutely no more reason existing to-
day for Mr.. Smith to run than there
was thirty, or sixty or ninety days ago.
Efforts to lead voters to believe other
wise are IMPLY efforts to blind them
to facts.
Mr. Brown stands committed, as ne
has always stood committed since he
became candidate two years ago, 20
the repeal of the present ubiquitous
registration law, to the decreasing Of
the number of railroad commissioners
to three, to an issue of bonds or some
other adequate provision for the pay
ment of the school teachers promptly, |
and s opposed to the port rate scheme
that the Atlanta Freight Bureau is
pushing for the benefit of that city's |
wholesale and manufacturing lines.
These old issues VIII be threshed oat
again. The two months that remain
before the primary will be filled with |
the usual speechmaking, letter writ
ing and interv.e ws. 1t is doubtful if it
will result in quite the same publ c
fervor as the campaigns of two and
four years ago The feeling aroused |
at that time between the two factions
was intense. Some few partisans this
year will allow their spirits to reach
the DO ling point but the great mass Of
Georg ans are more than apt to have
due regard for the midsummer tenn
perature and keep comparatively cool.
The popular vote no longer directly
controls the result, there having been
a return to the old county unit sys-
tenn and the efforts of the managers
will be directed to the securing of a
of voters in the state CON I
gention rather than to the mere piling
Up of popular majority. Two years
ago Brown secured both. There is no
reason. TO believe that pubic opinion
mas yeered to such an extent that the
decision registered in 1908 will be re-
7ersed in 1910. The outlook rather in
lieates that Mr.. Smith win be defeated
and that his fool friends" have en-
,ompassed his defeat for the senator
ship as well.