Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-12-05
HAVE you ga CHOICE ron PREsI
DENT?

HAVE you "a CHOICE FoR PREsI-
DENT?
Perhaps it may seem work OF
supererrogation to indicate a woman's
choice for president, but II will not be
a hanging crime to mention one or two
names suppose. even IL a woman does
the naming.
The Republicans win nominate Mr..
Taft again. He has 100000 officehold-
ers under him, and they will not only
vote for him in the state conventions.
but he will get a liberal percentage or
their annual salary for campaign pur-
poses That means a great DEAL and
while 1t is customary and while l
think 1t q bad thing to do, 1 recognize
the fact that II means both power and
money-in nominating convention.
Senator LaFollette has strong fol-
lowing in the west but he has no office
holding funds to support his claims, and
a very large proportion of officeholding
Republicans In the west will stick 10
ar Taft, because they are unwilling
to surrender their Offices. Whether
the masses, not officeholders, will sup
port LaFollette, as against Mr.. Tart.
remains to be seen. Personally, / would
if l had a chance, support Mr.. LaFoI-
Iette as against Mr.. Taft, for that es-
pecial reason, all things being equal
otherwise.
II / must be content with a Republic
can president and had the say-so, 1
would select Mr.. Roosevelt, per contra
ar Taft, and 1 have one prime reason
easily stated, / like a man who be-
longs to himself. Mr.. Roosevelt can
do things. and If he has the power he
can discipline his own gang and make
no apologies for so doing.
1t is my Judgment that one or those
three men win be chosen in the next
presidential election--as president.
Now, as to Democratic chances, /
would be far from sanguine If they had
already united upon candidate, whica
they are far from doing.
| As / see it. there are also three men
likely to be struck by presidential Sc
lection, and neither one is in the soutn-
ern states.
Mr.. Wilson was running well until
New Jersey went back on him. A man
who cannot carry his own state is not
apt to carry the union.
Mr.. Harmon, of Ohio, is supposed to
be the machine candidate, and shouio
he and Mr.. Taft make the race, Ohio
will be the battle-ground for the
race. Perhaps ii might work well,
perhaps IL would not,
Finally, there is Mr.. w. J., Bryan, the
Democratic dictator since 1896, IA long,
weary years Of Democratic defeat anS
depression, but he Sas staying powers,
and is in the prime Of life.
/ 1t may be discovered some day that
his defeats were managed by the an
terests,' some of the same old sort
which counted in Mr.. Hayes. which
elected Garfield and nominated James
10. elaine In 1884, and which lent aid
ami influence to Mr.. Clevelands re-
election in 1892
But IL Is going to be toss-up 1T
last, and I wish / could see well de-
rlned hope of a new, clean, honest and
patriotic candidate, who would really
reform abuses and stop the squaneer
OF public money. Perhaps the time Is
not yet ripe for such a one, for our
politics is a badly mixed sort, and IL
would be a waste Of time and breath
to name somebody never yet mention
ed.
Anyhow. win wait until ] write
again.
THANKSGIVING DAY.
I am writing before hot FIRE, I'M
able to venture out in the cold, but all
the same wishing l could hear now q
eood sermon for the church bells are