Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1911-07-18
SENATOR SMITH Is PLAYING WITH
FIRE.

Senator Hoke Smith is making the
greatest mistake of his political career
in holding on to the governorship, for
the carrying out of personal political
plans.
1t is true his ardent, fanatical,
friends and followers, will endorse his
course in this matter, just as they
would endorse him in whatever course
he pursued. But there is a vast con-
servatiye vote in Georgia that is dis
inclined to look with favor upon sucn
procedure. Thousands of voters who
supported Senator Smith in his last
two campaigns regard his present
stand as absolutely untenable. He is
losing ground with this large element
of his former strengthened ground
lost in this way is very difficult to re-
cover.
The national Democratic party is
now on trial at Washington So far It
has made good It's course in the
House and the Senate has paved the
way, it is fondly hoped, for bril-
liant national victory in the presiden-
tial election next year
But the record is not yet completed,
the progress is not yet carried out.
The party is committed to reform
measures. On these measures it pro-
poses to take its stand before the
country at large and appeal to it for
the support of its national ticket. Sup
pose one or more of those reforms is
lost because of the absence from his
post of duty of the new senator from
Georgia. Does any one believe that it
would be possible to explain it away
to the satisfaction of Georgians, or Of
Democrats throughout the country,
that the country at large would be sat
isfied with the explanation that Gov.
Smith had to get some personal APP
pointments through, or that he could
not leave Atlanta because political
conditions were not as he wished them
to be before surrendering the office Of
governor.
Senator Hoke Smith would never he
forgiven if the national Democracy
loses ground through his failure to
take up and perform the new duties to
which the Legislature has elected him.
He diligently sought the office of SEN
ator, it has been the prize he has
aimed at these six or more years. He
has secured it. He has the ability to
fill it with distinction. Having sue
ceeded in this great political ambition
of his life he should not for the next
thirty days prove recreant to the trust
and endanger the success of the party
at Washington. Ex-senator Terrell die
not put it too strongly to him wher
he practically stated that if Hokt
''HA4Ih diu hOL want Iuc StudlOISIlI
then he should resign it and let the
legislature elect some one who woulC
qualify and attend to its duties.
1t has been pointed out that the
Bristow amendment was tie vote il
the Senate. Other votes in the neal
future may be almost as close. Some
of them may be lost because Georgia'E
new senator refuses to take his seat
What pitable position he would ther
be in, what condemnation would fal
upon his head from the party at large
how indignant Georgia as a Who'll
would feel.
Senator Smith is playing with fire
He is apt to be burned before he get
through with the performance Skilfu
i'll politics though he is, he is iugglin
with two edged swords just now. Hi
true friends are not the ones VIII
encourage him to hold on to the gov
ernorship and let the duties at Wash
ington shift for themselye. AS
matter of fact such friends are pu
ting his popularity and standing i
jeopardy They are digging a gree
pit into which he may fall Sue
friends are worse than open enemie
Gov. Smith saws it is South Geo