Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-06-07
TOM HUDSON WAS
BETWEEN TWO
M|LLSTONES
Both Watson and Smith Indif
terent, and Lacking Money,
He Quit Governors Race.

The sudden and spectacular with
drawal of Thomas G. Hudson from the
eubernatorial race yesterday is the sole
and absorbing topic of comment among
Georgia politicians today.
The absolute frankness and candor of
Mr. Hudsons statement of withdrawal
has amazed many old timers. and not a
few of them declare that nothing like it
is of record in Georgia political history.
While some evade the use of Thomas
E. Watsons name entirely in their po-
litical discussions while others handle
the red headed person" gingerly and
as if they were afraid the handling
might burn their fingers, even as they
pray devoutly it will not and while
still others really regard and speak of
Mr. Watson as forceful and worthy
leader in the militant Democracy of
Georgia, it remained for Mr.. Hudson to
pay Watson the highest tribute he ever
has received at anybodys hands.
Sought Watson's Support.
Mt Hudson admits unqualifiedly that
he sought Mr.. Watson's support dill
gently, because he assumed it to be
completely necessary to Hudsons sue
cess: that ne failed to get it, and that
he withdraWs because he realizes the
utter futiity of proceeding without it,!
Mr. Hudson believes that Mr. Wat
son has held the whip hand in Georgia
politics for a number of years, and he
considers him the balance of power in
the state, without doubt
Hudson's coming right out into the
sunshine, into the middle of the big
road and admitting all of this, without
bubble or hesitation, has astonished
the politicians almost beyond the point
of coherent comment and discussion.
Some Inside History.
It is known to Mr.. Hudson's init
mates that he first began to doubt when
he failed of Watson's support.
He called upon Mr. Watson at the
instigation of a man high in the con-
hdence of Senator Hoke Smith and
who usually speaks by the card for Mr.
Smith Whether Mr. Smith had actual
knowledge of Hudson's impending Wis
it to Watson. Hudson does not know.
but. being advised to call on Watson
by the certain man who did advise it.
Hudson undoubtedly felt that his sup
posed hackers knew what they were
doing. And, as a visit to Mr. Watson
and the seeking of his support seemed
to MT Hudson the fit and proper things
to do, he went to Thomson and talked
Things over with the red headed one"
This visit brought Hudson no com
fort
Mr.. Watson frankly told him that he
could not. and would not. support him
if he was TO be the candidate of Sem
;stor Smith, even if he had no other
reason to be against him.
Mr.. Hudson did not then feel at lib
erty to say that he VAS not to have
the cordial backing of Senator Smith
and his faction because he did believe
that he would get it. He, therefore, left
Mr. Watson, feeling that he would not
get Watson's support.
Hudson Awaited Developments.
Notwithstanding Mr. Watsons re-
buff, Mr.. Hudson did not Immediately
consider quitting the race for governor.
He felt Mr. Watson had little against
Hudson. He believed Watson was
was for him.
In the Underwood fight Mr. Hudson
was personally for the Alabama man.
He did not make a fight on Wilson but
he did not hesitate to let 1t be known
that he would cast an Underwood vote
For this Underwood attitude, Mr.
Hudson was taken severely to task by
certain parties of the Smith faction
He stood pat, however, for he felt that
the disapproval of the Smith faction in
the Underwood matter might vet win
him. if not Mr.. Watsons support, at
least his passive opposition
Hudson's Hopes Fail.
Il was not long after the close OF the
Underwood Wilson fight before Hud-
SON found that he was being ground to
powder between two millstones the
opposition Of Tom Watson on the one
hand and the Indifference and growing
coldness of the Hoke Smith faction on
the other
He called upon those friends in the
Smith lineup who had. early in the
game. promised him financial backing
What he got was nothing-worse than
nothing.
He was advised to raise the wind"
himself, as best he mght-to mortgage
his farm, and keep things going as
long as he could and see if anything
turned up.
Then Hudson determined to throw
UP the sponge He realized with some
bitterness. that his supposed friends
had thrown him down. and that the
friends he. had attempted to cultivate
had repealed him
With no money and no Tom Watson.
despair seized upon Tom Hudson, and
he quit.
Pathetic Story.
The foregoing is the loosely running
story of the rise and fall of the Hudson
campaign in Georgia. 1t does not make
happy reading, interviewer in the
warp and wool of it is much Of the
pathetic and the depressing.
The charge that Hudson's primary
mistake was deserving his former Ter
rell (Brown) friends to flock with Ter
o