Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1911-06-28
MAY BE A SURPRISE IN SENA-
TORIAL RACE.

The finest editorial that was written
during the campaign in which Brown
defeated Smith for the governorship
was penned by Editor Pleasant A.
Stovall. of the Savannah Press. 1t was
headed The Lion at Bay" if we recall
it correctly, and it went the rounds OF
the Georgia press without regard to
factional utilization. 1t was literary
as we'll as a political gem, and it is
understood to have called forth the
warmest commentator that the Smith
leaders gave to any newspaper article
of the campaign.
But this was not the only good work
that Col. Stoval did in behalf of the
Smith interest in that memorable con-
test. In the face of a hostile commu-
ity, in the face of threats of boycott
and protests of influential interests, he
advocated the reelection of Gov. Smith
as the ablest man for the governor
ship, endorsed his policies as the best
for the future welfare of Georgia and
the Georgians, and to the last stood 0y
his guns unfiinchingly and smilingly,
accepting the result with good grace
but with none the less profound con-
viction that he had been in the right
in his advocacy of Smith and what
Smith stood for.
Col. Stovall is now a candidate for
United States Senator. He has entered
the lists against Hoke Smith, Joseph
Terrell and other aspirants There is
every reason to believe that he was
lead into doing this by a direct i'm
preston, received from Gov. Smith
personally, that he could be considered
as out of the senatorial race Stoyall
has accordingly been guilty of no
betrayal of faith in entering the arena
for the senatorial honor Unfortun-
ately for Gov Smith, that gentleman
left others than Col. Stovall under the
impression that he need not be regard
ed seriously as an aspirant for Ter
rel1's seat. That very impression may
now prove his undoing and prevent
the realization of what seems to have
been his aspiration all the time.
There are only two candidates from
South Georgia, as far as now appears,
Col. Stovall, of Savannah, and Judge
lCovington, of Moultrie. No one takes
seriously the candidacy of the former
railroad commissioner from Thomas
vile. Judge Covington is said to APP
peal to some of the more rabid prohi-
bition element in the legislature. Both
he and Col. Stovall seems assured of a
sufficient vote in the beginning to plant
them squarely in the race If Watson
enters and gathers in a score of votes,
and Terrell holds what is claimed for
him, Gov. Smith. will be considerably
below majority in either body and on
the joint ballot would be far from the
necessary vote to ensure his election
While indications are said to favor
either the election of Smith or Terrell
there is no guarantee that such will be
the case. This idea, spread abroad ny
the workers for these candidates, is
based upon the belief that there will
be merely complimentary vote tc
the other candidates on the first twc
or three ballots and that then the leg
islators will align themselves under
ether the Smith or the Terrell banner
and bring the contest to a decisiv,
close. This may prove true, but ther,
is still ample ground for the other can
didates to persevere. An acknowl
edgement that neither Smith nor Ter
rell can win on the first or seconC
round is sufficient to infuse hope anC
encourage extraordinary exertions K
prevent a choice on the subsequen
early ballots. Once the Legislature Il
tied up for few days there is no tel
ling to whom the honor will fall.
1t is reported that Col. Stoyall ha!
an assurance of thirty votes on the
| first JOINT ballot If so that makes hin
a decidedly interesting candidate. Hi
lsterling and staunch democracy stands
him in good stead at this time, and h'
lis more than likely to gain in addition
al strength if the balloting is prolong
ed If the election is held off for sew
eral days the state may have a sur
prise that has not been down on tn,
politicians States