Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-04-19
]. R. SMITH STILLS
CHATTER ABOUT THE
COUNTY UNIT PLAN
Former Joseph M. Brown
Campaign Manager Makes
Hit With the Big Au-
dience

Before an aurience composed OF thou
sands OF voters. Hon j. r Smith. cam
paign manager for Hon Joseph NJ.
Brown in his gubernatorisl races, Tues
DAY night praised Gov. woodrow viii
son. Of New Jersey. as Democratic
ahlest leader. and presented Senator
Hoke Smith to the crowd that packed
the auditorium.
Mr.. Smiths speech was brief. but
full OF convincing arguments. and not
once did ne indulge in bitter personal
titles.
Mr.. smith pleaded for Mr. Wilson as
a man OF the south and as Democrat
fitted by virtue OF his position and his
long study OF governmental economies
as the leader Of the party. he told how
Mr.. Wilson had demonstrated his abil-
ity as leader. and urged Democrats TO
unite for his support
The speaker urged that all local and
state preiudices be laid aside in the
great national campaign. to which they
are foreign He paid tribute to Hon
Oscar Underwood as a great Democrat.
but not the man who has demonstrated
bis ability to lead the party 10 victory.
Mr.. Smiths speech was received en-
Enthusiastically. II follows in full:
We have assembled here this evening
for the purpose OF discussing problems
and interests which extend far beyond
the borders OF our own state
We have as our guest OF honor. one
Of the ablest Democratic leaders within
the ranks OF this great party; and in
accepting the Craftsmanship Of this
meeting i shall speak briefly, Civ
ing some Of the reasons why I believe
he should be chosen as Democracy's
leader in November next
In the nrst place. but few men have
had the opportunity that Governor VIII
son. BY virture OF his position. has had
to study ,impartially governmental econ
nomics.
] do not believe there Is a Democrat
IL American who is better equipped 70
lead Us TO victory at this time
DAWN OF A NEW DAY.
Since the civil war the south has laid
dormant in national politics. can now
see the dawn OF new day and a mis-
take at this time would be almost GRIM
inaL
our political convictions arc the prod
ucts OF environment and our conclu-
sions are based almost entirely upon
sentiment ! can see and feel the old
south giving way 70 the new. I love
and cherish the memory o. the old and
/ welcome the new We. must take a
step forward and regain that which we
have lost / shall welcome the day
when there shall be no south. no nortH,
no east, no west. in America. and hope
70 see the people composing this great
nation united under the Democratic nag.
Ours is q democratic country: the peo-
pie believe in democracy. and there is
but one thing that can or will defeat
US and that is the lack OF harmony
among our own leaders.
For months ! have hoped that there
would be a cessation OF the internal war
which. has been going on in our Demo
cratic ranks. but thus far my hopes
have all been in vain Here in Georgia
there have been efforts to create dissen-
sion and division rather than 10 use our
best efforts and energies 20 harmonic
and aid the party at this critical hour.
We should do more 10 unity and
strengthen our party and less 10 weak
en- and defeat IL.
There has been an effort to inject
into this campaign local issues and
prejudices OF every kind and charac-
ter. ] admit that we have had our
honest differences and perhaps suI
have them, but do insist that they
should not be used in a national cam
paign TO which they are foreign
There has been an effort made IL
show that the men in Georgia who
have stood and still stand for the
county unit plan in this state are re-
pudiating themselves when they sup-
port the candidacy Of Woodrow VIII
son for president I take this occa-
sion 70 say for myself. upon this par
ticular subject. that. quite to the con-
trary, in 1905 when ! was fighting Tor
the re-establishment OF the county unit
plan in this state, used the analogy
OF the United States. showing that
the state lines marked the units which
compose the United States. so the
county lines mark the units which
compose the state II would be ludi-
crous and absurd 20 think OF recOg-
mixing county lines in a federal gov
eminent. or IN a national campaign
A MAN OF THE SOUTH.
Then. again. the argument has been put
forth that we should vote for Mr. Under
wood. OF Alabama. because he is a south
ern man. grant you. from my own view
point, that this is a splendid reason: and
while that does not wholly determine my
choice. IL is one OF the reasons why
shall vote for Woodrow Wilson: a man
horn in the south, reared in the south,
lived Tor many years in our own state,
married one Of our own Georgia women,
and two OF his children were born here;
and IL any man wants TO vote strictly
upon the question OF sentiment see no
good reason why ne should not duplicate
and vote twice for Woodrow wilson
once FOR himself. and again for his good
wife
Do not misunderstood me, for I am
proud Of the fact that Afr. Underwood
was born in the south: I am proud Of his