Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-08-16
Why Georgia Farmers
Are for Hoks Smith

The following card is from a prominent
farmer OF Corinth. Heard county Georgia
To the Editor OF The Journal:
Ny district is strictly an agricultural
community. made up OF intelligent,
thoughtful and successful farmers. 1
know Of only two men who vote in my
precinct who are not for Hoke Smith for
governor I do not believe that Georgia
farmers are paying any attention to the
'.gyratiOns' OF the Georgia ring politi-
clans. who are trying to create the i'm
preston that the farmers are the so call
ed .reactionaries."
The farming class Of people in Georgia
are progressive men and they believe in
q progressive man for their leader. we
Georgia farmers want a real man In the
governors chair. We believe in Hoke
Smith because he respects the intelligence
OF the Georgia farmer. He does not I'M
dertake TO play upon the prejudices Of
the ignorant voters by claiming for his
administration IS cent cotton. The Geor-
gia farmer knows more than many Of the
Brown politicians seem to think. Most
Of the Georgia farmers are thinking for
themselves and not allowing the ring
politicians to do their thinking for them.
Georgia farmers know the difference
between Strengthening their prejudices
and real thinking. even IL some of the
ring politicians don't know this.
The Georgia farmers are too intelligent
10 entertain the thought that a state
administration can fix the price of cotton
or send rain and sunshine at will Hoke
Smith knows the Georgia farmers and
working men too wei to insult their in
teiligence by such cheap and despicable
political cIap-trap. He is not conduct
ing campaign Of deceit and misrepre-
sentation-
In the campaign OF 1906 Hoke Smith
promised TO do certain things. and he
did not fail TO do them in spite OF the
determined and violent opposition Of the
professional politicians and political hire
lings-
Being a statesman. as he surely is, he
leads his people. He is big enough to
know the difference between the will OF
the people and what often seems to be
popular sentiment. but il In reality only a
sentiment that has been created by sub
sidized newspapers and hired political
agents.
The professional politician and the little
lawyer with the pass in his pocket, the
former convict lessee and his hirelings.
and the ringsters OF every description are
against Hoke Smith For that reason
the farmers are for him. The Georgia
farmer does not care to be classed with
Hoke Smith The Georgia farmers OF NV
acquaintance are with Hoke Smith in
this fight for the common good OF the
common people.
We believe IN Hoke Smith because we
know that he is big enough, strong
enough and brave enough to fight our
battles We want him back In the gov
ernor's chair and we are going to put
him back there on August 2srd. so that
- AwxHw
have time TO finish when he was there
before
II Is q matter Of common report that
the hired politicians again infested the
cpitol during the closing days Of our
recent legislature During the next ad-
ministration OF Hoke Smith we wish
them driven from our state house, and
Hoke Smith can do II. The professional
politicians misled some OF our farmers
in the campaign of 1905. but they will
not mislead them this time. You may
fool the Georgia farmers now and then,
but you can't fool them all the time.
I don't know about your city folks, but
] know the farmers and the working
people are with HOke Smith in this
fight. and they are going to win.
Our negroes are better and happier
because they are no longer molested by
political 'boOdlers." Our negroes are
a happier ana DetLer people because
they are divorced from politics Our
country is more prosperous and our
lands have a vastly enhanced value be-
cause OF better highways. Our church
es and our school houses are nearer
20 the homes OF our people. because OF
better roads. and roads that are grow
ing better every day because OF the
abolition OF the convict lease system,
and the putting OF our convicts on the
public roads. where they should have
been all these years. This one thing,
THE ABOLITION OF THE CONVICT
LEASE SYSTEM. puts every farmer I'M
der lasting and eternal obligation to
Hoke Smith I notice some Of the
other politicians claim credit even for
this. but We farmers know Hoke Smith
called a special session Of the legisla-
ture and kept the legislature in ses-
sion until the convict lease system
was abolished. and until our convicts
were put upon our public roads.
There are other problems which need
TO be solved during Governor Smiths
next administration. and we farmers
gre going to stand behind him In the
election OF legislators TO the end that
these progressive policies may be enact
Cd into law.
Respectfully.
JOHN J. MILLER