The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-08-26
GEORGIA POLITICS
 STILL IN A MIDDLE Candidates Awaiting Hoke
 Smiths Resignation BROWN IS RETICENT None Seems to Have Qualified as Governor Smiths Successor.
 Indications That Prohibition
 Will Be Issue in Race
BROWN IS RETICENT

Atlanta, August 25.1- Especial. )-The race for governor is now warming up. and by the time that Hoke Smith an nounces he is ready to quit office and give other people a chance at the place, there will in all probability be dozen aspirants ready to take their chances at the polls.
 Recent developments. have tended to show that it is practically certain that Joe Brown will come out of his retire. ment, quit his policy of absolute si- lence, and tell the people of the state that he wants the job for the remainder of Hoke Smiths term. And it is an absolutely settled fact that Hoke Smith will not rest content in allowing him to go out after the place without some pretty hot opposi- ton.
 Up to date there is no man in the race who can be exactly called Hoke smith candidate. There seems to be a gen eral impression that Pope Brown is not the man that Hoke Smith would |have succeed him, and that he will make every effort to pull some other candi- utle lHlO lflt +llutilSHt, Wno WILL IdN Y strength and personal popularity suffi- cient to gather to his banners the ma iority, at least, of the Smith follow ing.
 The only names that have been men toned so far are Murphy Candler and Thomas Fielder. It is known that Paul Trammel of Dalton would like to have the place, but his candidacy is a mat ter of doubt.
 Brown has absolutely no intention of announcing al present. He is willing to out wait Hoke Smith and will keep in the background until positive announce ment is made by the latter. He wants him out of the office, with the way cleared, with Smith an absolute out slider, and unable to use his position to jockey some friend along.
 In the meantime. he is receiving any number of letters and resolutions urg- ing him to come out, and other evil dences of good will from people who were his friends in former races, and from many, too, who have at one time or other, had their names placed in the Smith column.
 The latest announcement or ap- proach to it, is the case of John Hold CT, speaker of the house. In his part of the country it seems to be taken for granted that he will be in the going.
 Holder was in Marietta a few days ago to confer with Joe Brown on the race. It was generally believed that he would not enter if Brown decided to run.
 Russell has added an element of un- certainty to the race by the injection of the prohibition issue. It Is certain to result in lining up of candidates for and aganst liquor, and with Russell on the local option fence before the others have had a chance, the odds seem to be in his favor to get practically all the whis- ky strength of the state.
 Of course, even If Russell should be elected 1t should not put liquor back in Georgia, it would not mean the passage of any local option bill.
 Judging from the last legislature it seems that the prohibition tide is almost .as strong in assembly halls as it was in the days of old when the dry wave was inaugurated
 The Tippins bill. putting near beer on the blink, would have been passed easily had it ever come to a vote. It was sidetracked in the interests of more inn portant measures, but the bill was never beaten. It was clearly shown that con siderably more than a majority of both houses were in favor of it, but it was so near the end of the session that it was impossible to fight it out, without en- dangering other legislation. which was of more immediate importance.
 Russelfs election would merely be kind of paper box poll of the state.
 When Brown and Smith were running for governor both expressed themselves as being perfectly willing to let the dry laws remain, so there is no reason for believing that Brown would take any different stand at the present time
 To tell the truth, however Russell had no great desire to spring the stand he has taken on the wet and dry question. He realized from the very beginning of the race, however, that he would sooner or later have to get off the fence and tell where he stood, and he was ready when the moment came