Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-04-09
GEORGLA,S OPPORTUMTY

ancestry, and their three daughters, two of whom
are Georgia born and all of whom will share with
their distinguished mother the graces and the honors
of presidents household
Such an opportunity has never before come to
this commonwealth and, perhaps, to other in
the union
In loyalty to our native state and its freside
traditions and in featy the highest interests of
the Democratic party let seize this golden chance
by voting for the nomination of Woodrow Wilson
in the primary on May the first.
When one considers the intimate relationship of
the Wilson family with Georgia, it is amazing that
he should have any opposition whatsoever in this
state; and it is doubly so when we reflect that he
alone of all the Democratic candidates IN the field,
stands chance of being nominated or elected.
The question 0hich notO confronts GeorgianS is
simply this Shall zoe Uote for Governor Wilson,
the most available candidate the Gblest candidate,
the only candidate l0ho is really national figure;
or shall zoe repudiGte Governor Wilson and his fam
lily of Georgia people to chase political tOi o. the
iCiSp to certain defedt9
We do not mean by this to criticise Mr.. Under
wood, personally or politically. What we mean to
say is that he is not a candidate anywhere except
in three or four southern states In the Wisconsin
election he did receive a single vote. his
name considered. In Oklahoma Kansas, Missouri,
and other states that have acted, he was not even
mentioned for the nomination. The country has been
parceled out among three candidates and Mr.. Under
wood has been assigned to fragment of the south.
For what purpose? Not because there is any hope
necessary for those who opposing Governor Will
son to break the force of his popularity, If they
to carry out their scheme That is the sole reason
for Mr. Underwood's candidacy in the south 1t is
the sole reason Cor Governor Harmon's candidacy in
the north. 1t is the sole for Mr.. Carks
didacy in the west. Not one of them has the ghost
of chance for the nomination, and not of them
could be elected if nominated because they do not
appeal to the great independent vote, sometimes
called the "mugwump" element which is necessary for
Democratic success; the element which elected Grover
Cleveland president twice. and which will defeat the
Republican stand-patters in the next election if the
Democrats present proper candidate
Let us realize that the opportunity is ripe that
the moment for nauguratins a Democratic president
has arrived and that if throw away this splendid
chance it will not return again for perhaps another
generation.
Georgia's responsibility in this crisis is peculiar
and it is great; greater, perhaps than ever before
in a presidential election. This state has never
played important part in determining the polti
cal policy of the country it is playing today in ,
this presidential campaign. In large measure Geor
gia is now pivotal state in deciding the Democratic
nomination If she stands by Wilson, his nominal
ton is assured and his election will follow almost
as matter of certainty For the support of this
state. together with the strength he has already
gathered from the country at large, will annihilate
the hopes and the plans of the interests opposing
him. If we vote for Mr. Underwood however we shall
be voting merely for a convention deadlock and po
litica lottery. If support Wilson, shall be
honoring people, and in doing so, bring the
highest honors to Georgia she has ever received.
How. under these circumstances, can we hest
tate? If Governor Wilson were less available than
some other candidate we might pause If he were
less able than others, we might pause. If
sure that any one of the candidates. now opposing
him, could be nominated and elected we might pause
but even then it would be natural that Georgians
should vote for a and family of their own.
But hot0 Geoygidns be expected to vote for po-
IticdI imposstbiIty; for HnrepresentGtUe candi-
date for tOho cannot hope to the nomtnG-
tion the election If nominated, and in doing so
repHdidte only the most available candidate and
greatest national figure before the public, but
at the same time deny their state the high honor of
furnishing from among its ocn people the head of
the government the first lady of the land, and the
entire presidential fdnltIy@
We do not decry the character or the relative
ability of others We simply say to our own people
the truth: that these other candidates cannot be
elected even if they are nominated, and there is
little probability that any OF them be nomi
mated They make appeal to the country at large.
They have national following. They do not stand
in fearless opposition to the illegitmate interests,