Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-07-09
LET GEORGIA LEAD THE CHARGE
FOR WILSON-AlARSHALL VICTORY


Democracy enters the approaching presidential
campaign thricearmed in the business of its cause
and buoyed with hope that springs from duty
squarely done 1t has adopted as it's platform set
of principles which meet the vital and practical
needs of the time. It has chosen its candidates
men to whom all Americans, wishing better and
a freer government, may turn with confidence and
enthusiasm. 1t only remains therefore, for the
partys rank and file to rally to its standard and
press forward the splendid vantage already won.
In this essential work George should take the
lead She should set out forthwith to roll up the
biggest majority in all the Union for the Wilson
Marshall ticket and to aid and hearten the party S
cause in states that are doubtful 1t is not enough
that she shall 90 Democratic that much is accepted
at the outset as matter of course. She must poll
the greatest vote in her history, and she must also
throw her full strength and ardor into the night
where-the battle lines may be close and wavering.
This movement should begin promptly and with
systematic purpose. First of ALL there should be
organized a wilsonMarshan club for the state at
large just as though this debatable territory
Week after week. between now and November, our
people should be imp essed with the fact that this is
Democracys rpest year. that the outlook for victory
is clearer than ever, but that Tor this very reason
the need of active loyalty is peculiarly urgent.
Furthermore, in every county of the state Wilson
Marshall clubs should be organized in order that the
spirit of the campaign may be borne directly to the
individual citizen. In times gone by Georgia, though
doing her Democratic duty has stood rather aloo in
presidential contests. In common with most of the
South she has been content cast her vote in the
electoral college, but she has not caught the swing
or the fire of a truly national campaign, largely for
the reason no doubt, that she has been of her
own position That attitude. should be sup
planted by one of aggressive interest and there is
no better means of bringing this about than to
ize a campaign club in every community and thus
enlist the service of every Georgia Democrat.
There are extraordinary reasons why this should
be done. In the first place, the party's leader is
Southern born and Georgia reared. 1t was in this
state, among our own people, that Woodrow Wilson
spent his young manhood and laid the foundation of
his brilliant and useful 1t was here that he
married Georgia girl and here two of their daugh-
tiers were born.
The Democrats of the East and the North and the
West will work for his election because he represents
as no other American could. the principles of the
party and the hope of the hour But the Democrats
of Georgia and of the South will work with the added
incentive that he has sprung from their soil
and represents their traditions.
1t has been a matter of regret that Georgia did
not declare herself for Governor Wilson in the
primary But that is now dead history and what
ever differences of opinion may have existed prior to
the Baltimore convention are now merged and
forgotten in a loyalty to the party's leader.
We believe indeed that the rank and file of our
people who cast their ballots against Woodrow
Wilson in the spring primary have to rejoice
that the views they then held did not ultimately
prevail, and that today they recognize in him the
one logical leader for the 1912 campaign. Nor can
they fail to be stirred by the thought that his cleo
ton viii mean Southern man as president and
Georgia woman as the First Lady of the Land.
We should not only strive to poll recordbreak-
ing vote for the wilson-Marshall ticket in Georgia.
but we should also lend most liberal efforts to
Democratic success in other states. The harder we
work at home. the helpful will be influence
abroad. BY the very earnestness of our example we
can stimulate Democratic comrades in every part
of the Union. But more than that, we can, and
should, raise here in Georgia handsome campaign
fund to aid the fight in doubtful sections And this
should be one of the definite purposes of the Wilson
| Marshall clubs.
Democracy's face is turned to the rising sun. The
party has kept faith with its truest ideals. has
met the demands of a people who are weary OF
disagreement 1t has named leaders worthy a
thousand times of the they represent But
when all has been done and said, victory must rest
upon the loyal efforts of good citizens one by one the
country This battle is not yet There are
states in which it will continue to surge and wave1
up to election day. Therefore, let the people of
Georgia plunge into the thick of the fight, not as
members of state alone, but the followers OF