The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-07-18
PLAN TO CENSURE HOKE SMITH
GEORGIA LEGJSLATt ne WANTS
HfM 7O TAkE SENA7ORSHiP.
Resolutions Ready Demanding That He
Resign as Governor and n He Refuses
That His Election as senator De Dc.
ciaret NOih and a successor ChOs en-.

ATLANTA. Ga. July Following the
| refusal of ex-tov. Joseph NJ. Terrell TO
serve longer as United States Senator
and the announced determination Of Gov =.
! Hoke Smith not to qualify as Senator until
the regular session of Congress in De-
ceinber. but to remain Governor in the
meanwhile. resolutions are being prepared
tonight to be introduced in the legisla-
ture tomorrow asking Gov. Smith TO re-
sign at once and go TO Washington and
qualify as United States Senator, TO which
position he was chosen last week. defeat
ing ex-Gov. Joseph NJ Terrell, who
was filling the seat Of the late Senator
Clay by appointment of Gov. Joseph Nj.
Brown.
Another resolution il also heing pre-
pared for introduction which will declare
that inasmuch as Gov. Smith refuses to
resign the Governorship and qualify "a
Senator the seat Of the late Senator Clay
ia vacant and calls on the Legislature to
enter into another election Of United
States Senator.
II in said that these resolutions were
determined upon at meeting late this
afternoon Of Legislators who object to
Georgia being left with only one vote in
| the Senate in view of important matters
of legislation shortly to be acted upon.
II il reported that several legislators
who voted for Gov Smith for Senator
attended the caucus at which it was
decided to force action by the General
Assembly on the present Gubernatorial-
Senatorial miAup.
The resolutions will provoke bitter
debate ard Hoke Smith will be severely
criticised by his enemies and also by some
Legislators who voted for him for Senate r
who think that he ought to resign as
Governor and go to Washington and
qualify as Senator.
II is generally believed. however. that
the rest lutiops will be defeated il they
come to a vote. They will undoubtedly
he voted down in the House, for that body
is absolutely controlled by Gov. Smith.
1t is barely possible that the resolutions
may be adopted in the Senate "a IT IL
understood that Gov. Smith lacks one or
two votes Of controlling that body. :,
Senator Terrell has said erhphatically
that he will not continue lorger in the
capacity Of United States Senator from
Georgia and that his resignation goes
| whether Gov. Smith accepts it or not.
Gov. Smith said o-day that he had
not hing further to say regarding the SEN
atorial situation. He has declined TO take
any action on Senator Terrell's resigna-
| ton and remains firm in his decision mol
to resign the Governorship until Decem-
ber. at which time he proposes TO qualiy
as a United States Senator.
Gov Smith announced before the Legis-
lature elected him to the Senate that he
would not qualify AZ Senator until de-
cernber but would continue to be Cover
nor until then in order to get important
legislation passed by theGeneralAssembiy'
! Gov Smith says that his presence IN W ash-
ington is not needed at present and that
the best interests Of Georgia demand
| that he remain in the Governors ONCE
during the present session OF the Legisia-
! ture The Governors enemies charge
that he wants to remain in the executive
Office during the next few months solely
to dispense patronage and TO strengthen
his political machine. The situation Is
unprecedented in Georgia politics and
promises to reault in lasting bitterness =,
WASHINGTON. July IL Senstor Terrell
Of Georgia to-day notified Nice-P -Presi-
! dent Sherman that he had reeiened his
seat in the Senate and asked that his
name he stricken from the rolls This
I was done and henceforth the Democratic
side will be minus one vote until senator
| cleo, Hoke Smith appears and Is sworn IN
The Senate acted despite the fact that
! GOV Smith has twice refused to accept
! the resignation Of Senator Terrell. This
action settles the oues ton as TO vacancy.
Mr. Terrell is no longer on either the
Senate roll call or the pay roll, and neither
is Mr. Smith.
! "My successor has been elected and
! am no longer entitled 10 the Office nor
10 the salarv, said Mr. Terrell
Il am Governor Of Georgi and Senator
! elect but not Senator" Is the position
! OF MIR Smith
Meanwhile the Democratic leaders of
/ the Senate are in great deal of sus-
pense and a hurry UP call has been sent
| 10 Gov Smith by Senator Martin Of Nir-
ginia, the Democratic leader, 10 come
on 10 Washington and be sworn in Sen
ator Martin points out that while there
il practically no danger ahead for the
reciprocity bill, every vote will count
! on some OF the other measures soon to
be acted upon.
GOV Smith. pledged TO carry out n
reform" programme as Governor of
of Georgia. is thus placed in quandary v
He tried TO avert the situation that has
been precipitated and urged Mr.. Terrell
, To remain on the Senate roll, even though
| he did not return TO Washington; but MIR
| Terrell refused
/ In a letter to Vice President Sherman
, received to-day and laid before the San
ate Mr. Terrell said
| My successor aS United States Sena tor
was elected 10y the Legislature Of Georgia
last Wednesday. II is my opinion tha,
this election terminated my term of Office.
but to remove all doubt | sent my resig
nation last Friday to Gov Smith and
mailed you copy Of the same, The res
ignation ia irrevocable and | have SO noti-
fed Gov Smith. ] will he glad for YOU 10
instruct the secretary 10 strike my name
from the roll of Senators."
/ The Vice President anno,lnced that he
would not assume to order Senator Ter
rells name stricken but submitted the
question to the Senate and no objection
being offered declared that the request
was acceded to. Mr.. Terrell's name was
then erased
The resignation of Mr.. Terrell has pre-
cipitated a sharp issue in Georgia poll.
tics. If Mr.. Smith resigns at once as
Governor to accept election a. Senator
he will pave the way, il Is said. for the
return to Office of his arch enemy. Gov
| Brown.
| Tho prooramme of Mr. Smith to cara,