The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-07-02

Atlanta. July 1-(Special political
talk hos centered around reports emanat-
ing from Baltimore to the effect that
Congressman T. W. Hardwick OF the
Tenth expected to enter the race for gov
ernor.
Numerous and varied have been the
suggestions as to the meaning of this an
nouncement, tentative as yet, on the part
of Mr. Hardwick.
The most commonly talked solution of
it around the capitol is that Mr. Hard-'
wick, fearing the result of the congress
sional race in the Tenth, would rather be
defeated for governor, the higher office.
than be beaten for Congress, the position
he now holds
ut is common talk in the Tenth" said
well known member of the Legislature
who halls from that district. that Judge
Horace NJ Holdeu has the congressional
race practically won. They think down
there that Mr.. Hardwick has been well
informed of this situation, and that he
is not anxious to put his head in the lion s
mouth. And, of course, 1t is easier to ex
plain a defeat for governor than one for
|
long held
This is a view of the matter which has
been quite commonly accepted in politi-
cal circles-those, of course, which are
opposed to Mr. Hardwick
There is usually added to this the state
ment that otherwise it would be difficult
to explain Mr. Hardwicks willingness to
go up against what now looks 1ike sure
thing.
Here is the way one politician figures it
out:
Jack Slaton has. first, the prestige of
alignment with the dominant faction in
Georgia; he has, it is known, the sup
port of so per cent of the 1000 or more
members of the legislature with whom he
has served in the last IL or Is years. he
has the support of many of the friends
of Thomas G. Hudson. the retiring candi-
date, who is not relishing his treatment
at the hands of the Hoke Smith leaders,
and he has the support of Thomas E.
Watson.
1t looks as if it would be practically I'M
possible to figure out plan to beat a
combination like that.
| Mr.. Hardwick says his idea in entering
| the race. If he does so, is to make fight
on Tom Watson: to enter protest, as It
were against Watson's figuring In state
politics.
IF that is the CASE said one of Mr..
| Slaton's close friends. referring to that
| view of it, why doesn't Mr.. Hardwick
| make the fight in his congressional dis
trict? Mr. Watson is warmly espousing
| the cause of Judge Holden for Congress,
and 1t would seem that Mr.. Hardwfcl<'s
contest there would be just as effective
! a protest against Watson as would a race
! for governor. The fact that he desires
to run for governor under the circum-
stances seems TO make IL more certain 70
| my mind that he is looking for a soft
place for a graceful fall
Regarding the statement that many OF
Mr.. Hudson's friends are supporting Mr..
Slaton, II will be recalled that at the
time Mr.. Hudson announced his with
drawal from the race, he said he had no
had been >impaed;Rte'e back of his CAM
paien: bit that tsere were others,
| '.hieher APP he v:ou'd be glad of an OPP
por.uniiy to set cven with.
! II is learned since tlat Mr.. Hudson was
referring to tolye Smith. and particularly
to Mr.. IIardviels because it is to Mr..
Hardwicl that Mr.. Hudson largely attri-
butes the fact that he failed to receive
the Hoke Smith support after it had been
promised him.
Mir. Hudson told friends that Mr. Hard
wick came to Georgia and protested
against the Smith support being given to
Hudson because of the fact that Hudson
| went to Thomson in an effort to secure
the support of Mr.. Watson. Anyhow,
Mr.. Hudson said to his friends. after
Hardwick's visit to Georgia. he noticed a
material cooling on the part of those par
| ticular Hoke Smith alliances which had
promised TO help him In his race
1t may be taken for granted. therefore.