Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-11-24
HALE COUNTY GOOD
FIGHTING GROUND
INQUIRY DEVELOPS
Harrison Martin, Who Headed
Hoke Smith Club, Says 1t Is
Anybody's County Just
NoW-The Conditions
BIZ RALPA SMITH.

IS mucn-nOne HOIQ out a better oppot-
tunity than Hall cognty-Han county,
with its Gem City. with its big rura
population and its four unit votes. Ths
four unit votes are well enough to re-
member. for there are only % other coun-
ties in the state that enjoy q Ike ad-
vantage.
Harrison Martin. county commissioner.
who headed the aggressive and militani
Hoke Smith club in Hall county in 1910,
is authority for the statement that Hall
county is fighting ground for all Of the
candidates at this stage of the race, with
the advantage favoring none. Harrison
Martin has proved a good prophet in the
past, and those who know him. here,
whether they agree with him or not,
have a wholesome respect for his judg-
ment about things political in this sec
ton.
Than Harrison Martin there is nowhere
in Georgia a more ardent supporter Of
Gov. Hoke Smith He has been for him
in season and out of season. He is fof
him now. He has ridden from one end
of the county to the other and then
across 1t and hack in the interest Of Mr..
Smith in his several races. and his mas
nihcent victory in Hall county last time
was due In no small measure, to his act
i've efforts.
Mr.. Martins views are douhly valuable
because he has no deDrded choice IN this
election If he were talking Pope BrowB
he would naturally be biased to the pro.
hfbltonist and his view might be sub
ject to discount il he were for Judge
Russell, the same would be true. and. BY
the same token, if he were for Gov
ernor Brown the same rule would hold.
And Harrison Martin thinks it hghtins
ground.
In view of what the partisans Of tbs
candidates say Mr.. Martins opinion
furnishes a middle ground that really
seems to ut the situation. and the situ-
alton, gauged from what the partisnas
say, seems to- justify his opinion II
works both ways and = must be nearly
WHO HAS THE ADVANTAGE?
But the advantage must OF necessity
almost-lie, somewhere, slight though y
may be. and, frankly. 1t set 49, so .siigns
that ii is hard to locate. Some say the
race is between the Browns, with Russeb
entirely out of the running; others oe-
clare that it is between Pope Brown and
RUSSELL Others are svually as conneent
it is between the ex-governor and Rus
sell. al
Measured By the. relative 'demonstres
lions" attending the meetings or Gov
ernor Brown and Col. Pope Brown, ths
advantage seems to favor the latter
these two only considered. But Judge .
Russell is yet to have his meeting Ae
is billed for next Monday, and AFTER ne
has come and gone the political wise
acres NAV be peter able TO guage his
strength. as compared with that OF his
opponents and measured by the dem
onstration"
Governor Browns demonstration" oc-
c,rfed ON Saturday, November ii, when
Rarfow Willingham, or Forsyth. was adj
vertissd to speak. Something over lv'
6eople-Albert S. Hardy says fe-greet-
ed him at the court house
9Hooper Alexander. OF DeKalb county:
smoke here on last Tuesday. A crowd or
about 800 heard him, according TO MI
Hardy.
There is this to be considered In con-
merton with the meetings. however, ana
IT is recited in justice to Governor
brown. Mr.. WiIIingham suffered an ac-
cident from the train at GainesV1lle' ana
the meeting was al but aoanoonso-
And Mr. Alexander spoke here during
the session of the city court, when many
neople had been attracted to town on
mis- ;aecount-its is insisted by the Joe
Brown people.
In considering Hall county, It Is well
enough 10 bear in mind that it liz strong
~ nrnhibition. 1t has been so for many
wears. and II will probably remain so
until the end of time This factso OF itseil
would seemingly favor Pope Brown, put
there are people here who are getung
a bit confused about this prohibition
question.
observe what A B. Atkinson, local
representative of the Atlanta Constitu-
ton. as its agent. says on this score:
IF they don't hurry up and decide who
is the real. simon pure prohibition canui-
date-Joe Brown or Pope Brown-thts
county will go for Russell The people
have been. confused about this issue by
all of these different statements about
the positions of the two Browns
Mr.. Atkinson. need it be said, is strong
lv in favor of Governor Brown He has
always opposed Hoke Smith and has sup
norted Governor Brown with his we'll
known vigor in all of his campaigns He
is as earnestly for him today as he has
ever BEEN 1881
There are three newspapers in Gaines
ville-aIl of them good ones, too. They
are the News, edited by Albert s. Hardy.
who is really the directing genius Of
Governor Browns forces in Hall cOuntys
the Herald, edited by Guy Clopton. who
has always supported Governor Brown
the Eagle, edited by W. H Craig. who
is now supporting Judge Russell.
Colonel Pope Brown is without local
newspaper support.
VIEWS OF EDITORS.
The three editors were seen in turn
Mr. Hardy said:
..Candidly. believe Joe Brown viii
carry the county. believe Russell win
be the second man. 1 didn't think so for
a long while, but l have at last con-
Guided that he is the man we must beat
1 believe Joe Brown will carry the coun-
ty because think he will poll his usual
vote and get some of the men who have
heretofore voted for Hoke Smith. Rus
sell. it appears. has a nice natural fol-
lowing in the county, and his candidacy
is cutting two ways. put / believe he
will draw more from the Smith follow
ing that from ours
The Joe Brown organization here is
but it is the best one in the
field"
Editor Clopton said:
II am for Joe Brown in this race 1t
is hard TO tell much about the county.
There is little interest in the race. and
no enthusiasm for any of the candidates.
/ figure the race between the Browns.
because this is a strong prohibition coun-
ty and | regard that Russell has elimf-