Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-06-18
HARDWICK ACA|N
IS SEEN IN RACE
FOR GOVERNOR
HoIden's Candidacy for Con-
gress From Tenth Upsets the
Political dope Sheet"

The announcement Of former Justice
Horace NJ. Holden. of Richmond coun-
ty, for congress from the Tenth dis
trtct, has started anew much specula-
ton concerning the govemorship race.
Not a few politicians have taken
Judge Holden's announcement to mean
that he has had a fairly straight tip
that Thomas w. Hardwck, who has
not yet announced for re- election to
congress. will enter the governorship
race and leave the congressional field
to others whose ambitions call them to
that vicinity of political effort.
Others are able to see nothing what
ever In that point Of view. holding that
the former supreme court Justice is
merely carrying out long settled de-
termination to contest with Mr.. Hard
wick for congress this year, and that
the only effect his announcement at
this time will have will be to bring the
congressional situation in the Tenth to
an immediate head ana precipitate Mr..
Hardwicks announcement for re-elec-
ton.
What viii Hardwick Dot
PROFESSIONALLY the lone hope Of op-
position to John M. Slaton and Joe
Hill Hall for the governorship dwells
within Hardwick
All attempts to interest others have
faied-the last collapse being the
Hartman boom.
If the so-called Smith faction is to
dispute seriously with Slaton or Hall
F., - Ill
put forward Hardwick Hardwick is
the last bet the Smith faction has GU
bernatorially. and. many think, the
best.
If Hardwick runs for governor be
will get the hearty and wholesoul back
ing of the Smith clans-no doubt about
that. He is a good fighter. and cour-
ageous. If he gets into the game ne
will get in for scalps and gore.
At the same time, there Is no doubt
whatever that those who love Jack
Slaton and Joe Hill Hall neither wisely
nor too we'll realize that 1t is mighty
late to get into a row over the gov
ernorship
If Hardwick elects to enter that row
he takes his political life In his hands
and there probably is no man in Geor-
gia who understands that more thor
oughly than he. At the same time he
has the grit-or the nerve" which
ever one chooses to call ito do it, II
he thinks his side of the house de-
mands the possible sacrifice.
Hardwick Is Ambitious.
Hardwick would like to be governor.
There is no sort of mistake about that
He has harbored gubernatorial ann
billions for years. He likely would be
in the race now had not the Wilson
fight gone to such disastrous defeat in
Georgia recently.
In the congressional matter Hard
wick feels that he has a bird in the
hand Whether he thinks It worth two
gubernatorial fowls in the bush is
probiematical, but quite likely.
The impression is that he will run
for congress again. and leave Slaton
and Hall to fight it out between them
selves in the matter of the governor
ship.
And even at that. he will have BIT
ter fight to hold what he has. For
Thomas e. Watson, a power in the
Tenth, is out in support of Holden.
Sees Walkover For Holden.
In discussing Holden, Watson in a
recent issue of his Progressive Demo-
crat said:
1t seems reasonably certain that
Judge Horace Holden will have a
walkover for congress in the Tenth.
The judge is all right His pri-
i
a blemish
AS Judge of the superior court OF
the Northern circuit he made good.
AS associate justice of the SUI
preme court, he made good.
Whenever he has come before the
people he has been Endorsed, and |
predict for him an easy triumph in
his candidacy for congress.
Up one side and down the other. pol
iticians generally expect to see a Hard
wick Holden Watson fight confined 10
the Tenth congressional district. rather
than Hardwick- Slaton-HaII fight
spread over the entire state.
Hardwick Welcomes Fight.
Hardwick is quoted as willing to try
conclusions with Watson again, and it
is thought that he will welcome hight
in the Tenth if for no other reason
than that. He will rejoice more in de-
feating Watson than Holden--for he
unquestionably will make Watson, and
not Holden, the object of his imme-
date wrath.
No man is more cordially hated by
the Smith Hardwick faction in Georgia
politics than Tom Watson That fac
ton would rather chastise Watson
than anybody else in the world
Maybe it can get the auburn 7hued
scalp-lock by mixing it congressionally
rather than Internationally, and maybe
it is to be obtained in neither direction.
Result Is Important.
Many people have gone forth in
quest of the red headed" ones scalp
but, 50 far. the red headed one has
managed to retain possession of it.
To have Holden defeated by Hard
wick now would seriously and last
ingly damage the political standing OF
Watson: to have Hardwick defeated by
Holden now would seriously and last
ingly damage the political standing Of
the Smith Hardwick lineup
All in all, and any way one looks AT
it. the forthcoming fight In the Tenth is
to be one far reaching in its effect upon
Georgia politics generally.
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