The leader-enterprise. [volume] (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1912-1915, 1912-07-09
News and Notes from Atlanta


Of the past week indicate that the
eubernatorial campaign will be DIT
more lively than has been expected.
Indications that someone formerly
prominent in the Hoke Smith faction
will enter the contest, and at this
writing it comes to be between Con-
eressman Thomas B. Hardwick and
Acknowledgement Thomas S. Fielder.
Both of these gentlemen have been
what might be termed Hoke Smith
lieutenantS, but it is under
stood that Senator Smith is lending
no encouragement to the candidacy
of either. 1t is said, also, that the
Atlanta Journal is pursuing the same
course, and it may be doubted if
either will be able to obtain the
backing of the so-called progressive
element OF the party.
Rumors regarding Mr. Hardwick
began Immediately upon the an
nouncement of Judge Horace Hold
ems candidacy for that gentlemans
place in the national house of rep
resentatives. General report is to
the effect that Mr.. Hardiwick takes
the position that inasmuch as he has
been elected to congress four times,
he would not be justified in running
the risk of being defeated for that
office. If he must run such risk
he would rather take the chances on
higher office: and this, it is said,
accounts somewhat for his guberna-
rial ambitions
Mr.. Slaton will be busy with the
legislature as president of the senate
the next four or five weeks, and 1t is
his purpose to do his duty there re-
CARELESS of what happens, He in
tends to preside as if there were no
gubernatorial contest, but on off
days when the senate is not in ses-
sion he may do some speaking
The present legislature seems to
be real working body In previous
years it has been customary for the
body to adjourn on Fridays until
Mondays following during the early
days Of each session. However, the
present one worked last Saturday.
Even the senate insisted on remain
ing here and not taking the usual
weekend recess.
Several bills have been introduced
aiming at putting John M. Slaton's
permanent registration plan into
effect. The one offered in the house
by Judge Hopkins Of Thomas county,
is said to embody Representative
Slatons views, 1t provides that
when once registered a voter there
after need only pay his taxes within
the time limit fixed by the consti-
tuition, which is six months before
the election; in other words, after
qualifying once, the payment of
taxes will constitute registration I'M
less the voter changes his residence
or becomes otherwise disqualified.
This solution of the registration
question appears to be satisfactory
to both political factions and Is re-
garded as the ideal one.
A poll of the legislature taken
since the beginning of the present
session shows it to be about five to
one for Slaton against the field, as
it is or as it may be. lnasmuch as
the body is made up overwhelming.
ly of men who supported Senator
Smith, and as Slaton always voted
for Governor Brown, this condition
is taken as a good indication that
Slaton has a stronghold on the gov
ernorship.
Less than a half dozen members
of the state senate, over which Mr.
Slaton is presiding, will oppose him
regardless who comes out.
A poll of the weekly papers made
by friends of Mr.. Slaton also showed
very gratifying results, a majority
of them having declared for him
1t is reasonably certain that great
many that have not yet committed