Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1911-12-12
MORE POLITICS AHEAD FOR
GEORGIA.

Instead of settling pol tics for time
and quieting down the state, the
campaign that has just closed with its
somewhat unexpected results, has
merely been the introduction it would
seem, to a year of prolonged politics,
to politics local, state and national n
scope, to politics directly affecting the
individual destinies of number of
men now prominent in Georgia public
affairs, to politics that may bring back
into complete power old alignments d
create new ones on the ruins of old. A
year of possib lities is ahead, year 81
planning. of plotting, of maneuyeTing
and working, a year of victories and
defeats. of ambitions crushed and as
pirations gratifed, a great year, in
deed.
Already the signs are ominous that
1912 is to be almost one continuous
battle ground. 1t is a year in which
county officers will be chosen. With
candidates battling for local berths IN
one hundred and forty-six sub-divis-
ions Of the state there would be plenty
politics 10 60 round without introduce
ing any other disturbing elements.
Added to these, though, will be the leg
islative fights and another guberna-
torial contest, and the struggle for
desirable state offices. Then, too, con-
gressionaI elections will come in 20
add var ETY. to the scene, while loom
ing over all will be the presidential
fight. with all it implies for the next
four years in principle and in spoils.
Already the factional lines are be
ing laid That is apparent in the
gossip of the hour, the comments Gre
ated by the election of ex-Gov. Brown.
If Brown is not candidate to sue
coed himself then a man of the Brown
faction must lead the Brown cohorts.
And on the other hand the Smith fac
ton must bring out its strongest man
to take up the gage. It is a species If
the Clark-CTawford struggle revived
under new conditions. The hope en-
tertained that the elevation of Gov.
Hoke Smith to the Senate meant the
end of the Smith-Brown fight seems e
have been a delusiOn, indeed. The
flames of faction appear to be rising
once more and the contiagration prom
ises before spring to sweep over the
state with almost as much bitterness
and fierceness as four and two years
before. Once more the chiefest prizes
are seats in the United States Senate.
Bacon's seat is the first to be
thrown into the arena, and then comes
that of Smith. SlatOn and others are
said to be grooming for them. Senator
Smith will hardly have his seat we'll
warmed apparently, before he must
DeSlH me puIlluS vi "llCo anu IAS
of fences, the reconstruction
of a machine now demoralized. No
better evidence has ever been afford
ed that the best laid plans of men aft
gang aglae" than the turning top
sy turvey of all the carefully-buit
plans of Senator Smith. The absolute
reversal of public judgment indicated
in Joseph NJ Browns reelection is
adequate warning that the Senator'S
hold upon his seat beyond his uneX-
pred term is by no means assured.
The next time he must go before a
party primary-not before a legisla
ture. And the Georgia public has
lately shown a peculiar tendency 10
unhorse its idols, a strange inclina-
ton to reverse itself and enjoy the
process of surprising it's leaders-a
tendency sufficiently pronounced TO
keep anyone on the anxious seat.
Politics In sufficient abundance and
in sufficient variety to satisfy even
the most eXacting political gourmand
is guaranteed for the next twelve
months. The new year will usher the
battle in, the whole year will see it
waged, the fruits no man can fOresee
High hopes are being nourished on!v
to be blasted, fond fancies are being
dreamed only to fade forever before
election returns. And when it is al
yer the philosophic observer. may well
wonder what it was all about and re.
peat Puck's cutting criticism; What
fools these mortals be"
Gary, Of the Steel Trust still insists