Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-05-09
BY JAMES 3. NEvIN.

clark Howell VINO is TO De fe-eleCl-
ed member of the national Demo
cratic executive committee, is the SEN
Tor member of that committee in point
of continuous service. He is now COM
pleting his fifth term as Georgia's
member of the committee. At the ex-
piration of his next term he will have
served exactly "a years.
BY reason of this long service, Mr.
Howell is easily one of the most inf1u
entail members of the committee. He
frequently is the one authority avail
able for settling matters within the
committee controlled largely by prece-
dent
Howells First Election.
Mr.. Howell's first election to the ma
tional committee took place in the sum-
mer of 1892. 1t came about through the
most surprising and, in many aspects,
amusing-combination Of circum-
stances ever recorded in Georgia poll
tics
Early in the year S92 an aggressive
movement was started for the presi-
dental nomination of David B. Hill, of
New York. by the Democrats. An ear
ly convention was called in the Empire
State, and Hill was handed the New
York Endorsement on silver waiter.
The Atlanta Constitution. of which
Mr.. Howell is the editor now and of
which his father the late Captain Evan
F. Howell, was editor then, warmly
espoused the cause of Hill
Hoke Smith. then the owner Of The
Atlanta Journal long Mr.. Howelrs
dearest political enemy in Georgia, took
to the Hill movement not at all.
Through Mr.. Smith, The Journal began
clamoring for "a Western man" for the
presidency. suggesting with great en-
phasis Palmer, Of Illinois, then a strong
man In his section.
Cleveland Movement Appears
Later along, however, the Grover
Cleveland movement in New York got
under way, and finally swept the nation
off its feet and Mr.. Cleveland into the
white house.
The Journal promptly dropped Mr..
Palmer and seized upon Mr.. Cleveland.
1t put up a great battle for Cleveland
in Georgia-and It won, by narrow
margin. When the state convention
came together it was found that
Smiths candidate, Cleveland had won
over Howeus candidate. Hill, by about
25 votes. 1t proceeded to elect national
delegates and to adopt ironclad Cleve-
land Instructions
When those delegates came together
for the purpose Of electing a national
committeeman, however. it was discov-
cred that Howell had a majority of
them favorable to himself as national
committeeman, Notwithstanding his loss
of the Hill fight and loss of control in
the convention.
Much to Mr. Smiths chagrin and
modification, the delegates proceeded
to elect Howell national committee
man,
Chase of Howell Begins.
From 1892 to 1912 the chase for Mr..
HowelRs scalp has been in progress.
From 1892 to 1906 repeated efforts were
made to shake Howell loose from that
national committeeman job, but never
with any promise of success until 1906.
In that year Hoke Smith swept the
state of Georgia in an election in which
Clark Howell was one of his oppo-
nents. Smiths victory was over
whelming, and when his convention as
sembled in Macon to declare his nomi-
nation, adopt a platform and do the
other usual stunts there was precious
little minority representation to make
a fuss of any sort.
1t was an off presidential year. how
ever. and there was no way Of ousting
Howell Immediately from the national
committee, so Congressman Hardwick
introduced resolution, which was vo-
ciferously passed, declaring it to be the
sense of the Georgia Democracy in con-
vention assembled that the name of
James R. Gray should be presented at
the expiration of two years for the ma
tional committeemanship held by How
ELL
This all looked pretty squally for
Howell. for it had been the unbroken
custom for 80 years in Georgia that
every Democratic governor should have
two terms, and there seemed to be no
way to head Smith off from a second
term and the control of another con-
vention. In which event, fare you well
Howell
Joe Brown Gets In.
Pretty soon after Gov. Smith was seat
ed he had a falling out with Railroad
Commissioner Little Joe" Brown. And
right there was where grand, gloomy
and peculiar things began to happen in
Georgia!
Little Joe" Brown refused to agree
TO something Governor Smith demand
ed of the railroad commission. More
over. Brown hadn't been particularly
friendly to Smiths election, anyway.
Before long Governor Smith began TO
talk pretty rough to Brown-and Brown
to talk back rough to Governor Smith.
And so. in a moment of aggravated
impatience Governor Smith freq
Brown.
Brown then said all right. but he
would see what the people Of Georgia
thought about that firing business.