Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-05-22
GOVERNOR BROWN WILL SUCCEED
HIMSELF.

Bitter though the pill may be to
some elements in the state, there is
every reason to believe that Governor
Brown will succeed himself. While
it may be that there will be opposition,
engendered and supported by the more
rabid among the adherents of forme.-
g vernon Smith, it is hardly within
the range of probabilities that sucu
opposition can accumulate, sufficient
volume to make it particularly danger
Gus. Many who have been enthusiasts
tic for Mr.. Smith cannot be thrown
to another candidate. A certain
crowd who are bitter against Gov
Brown simply because he defeated
Gov. Smith can be relied upon to
work vehemently for whoever is in the
field against him, almost without re-
gard to the personality of such a can
didate or. thei ssues he seeks to make.
1t is simply blind, unreasoning oppo-
sition on their part, a species of fanaU-
zeal hatred
But fortunately there are compare
lively few of this class. The vast
mass of Georgians are sane people,
open to reason and not at all dispos-
ed to endorse an opposition that has
no higher motive than this. The in
ability of Mr.. Smith to run means that
the so-called Smith vote will be split
in the coming fight, if fight there is.
The extreme radical element will vote
for any candidate in opposition 10
Gov. Brown. The more conservative
element will either not vote at all or
will support Gov. Brown. Influential
as Mr.. Smith is, he cannot throw his
vote as unit to any one. Even n
his palmiest days, Tom Watson could
not do that, and Tom Watson had
stronger hold on his following than
Hoke Smith has ever had. And mas
much as Gov. Smith, is not a candi-
date himself, but has political aspi
rations for the future, there is reason
to believe he will not openly endorse
any candidate in opposition to the
present administration. To endorse
and work for a candidate, and have
that candidate defeated, would be bat
little removed from personal defeat.
Governor Brown, we believe, is as
good as assured anotdsr term n the
office to which he was elected by a
people aroused against what they re-
sarded as demagogic attacks on bust
less interests generally. He has CON
iucted the affairs of the office quiet
y, conservativeIy, gentlemanly. Hell
las shown his political sagacity by
undertaking. no great experiments, by
'romulgatng no new theories of gov
rnment, but by pursuing a policy Of
'onciliation, Of binding up the wounds.
~ encouraging confidence in Georgia
Is means of stimulating invest
nents in business enterprises. 1t does
lot require a brilliant man to make
good governor. 1t does not require
man with the presence of a Goliath
md the lungs of an O'Connen. But
t does require some backbone. a lib
raj allowance of common sense,
'een sense of duty, devotion to the
of the entire state, without
egard to class, and willingness TO
perform tile functions of the office
Without posing or a persistent desire to
make personal political capital. Gov
.rnor Brown has been a governor OF
his type. The day may come when
feorgia will want a speech-making
GOVERNOR, a snowy, brilliant orator.
N originator of new ideas, a newer
# new paths. But that is not what
needed a year ago and it is not
What it will need for the next two
ears after his term has closed. The
'eople, with that wise astuteness that
marks them as rule, know this. And
'ecause they do not appreciate 1t the
nan who runs against Governor Brown
simply preparing himself for an
unpleasant hour when the election re-
urns come in.