Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-04-12
WILSON STRONGEST
CANDIDATE PARTY
COULD NOMINATE
In His Nomination and EIec-
ton We Have an Opportunity
to Place a Southern Man in
the White House

In an interview authorized Saturday.
United States Senator Hoke Smith, of
Georgia. makes his position clear in his
advocacy of the name of Woodrow Will
son for Democratic president.
Senator Smith arrived in Georgia, Fri
day, on private business, and immediate
ly the opportunity was used by his friends
TO confer with him upon the campaign
which is being fought by Woodrow Wilson
against the field throughout the country.
He brought good news and big news
with him from Washington. for Mr.. Will
sons friends. confirming their own an
ticipations as to the power which Mr..
Wilson's candidacy would develop when
it was subjected to the fire of the COM
bined opposition.
Senator Smith gives three reasons why
he favors Governor Wilson's candidacy
because Governor Wilson is without a
superior among the candidates; because
his prospects of election are the best;
and because he is a southern man, almost
a Georgian, and his wife is a Geor-
gian.
He is today by far the strongest can
didate for the presidency" says Senator
Smith.
In every state he has powerful sup
port"
Everywhere Governor Wilson is the
leading candidate"
President Taft will certainly be renom-
mated by the Republicans, according to
Senator Smith; and Mr.. Taft's nomina-
ton leaves a heavy disaffected Republi-
can insurgent vote in Wisconsin, Mime
sofa, and the Dakotas, Nebraska and
Kansas to vote for Wilson, in addition
to ali the Democratic vote in those states.
i believe that the Endorsement of Geor-
gia viii make his nomination certain,
and that his election viii follow" says
Senator Smith.
Here is his authorized interview in
full;
SENATOR SMITHS VIEWS.
Several weeks ago I reached the con-
clusion that the Democratic national
convention should nominate Gov
Woodrow Wilson. I reached this con-
clusion in spite of my personal at
tachment to another candidate
Just before the delegates to the
Democratic national convention were
selected in Oklahoma, I was urged by
friends there who knew my views to
express in an interview my conviction
that Governor Wilson should be nomi-
mated. I did so primarily to aid his
cause in Oklahoma, where had many
friends, owing to the fact, in part, that
the Oklahoma strip was opened under
my administration as secretary of the
interior, and really believing at the
time that Governor Wilson would re-
ceive the Endorsement of Georgia with
out a serious contest. Now that a
contest is on, while desiring to avoid
taking part in local politics in Geor-
gia, I feel that 1 should give my rea-
sons for believing that Georgia Demo-
Gratis should support Wilson.
III
FIRST. He Is certainly without a SUI
perior in ability among the candidates,
and from him we may Justly expect an
administration unsurpassed in its serv-
ice to the people.
Second. His prospects for election
are the best.
Third. In his nomination and cleo
ton we have the opportunity TO place
in the white House a southern man,
reared partly in Georgia, almost him
self a Georgian, and his wife being not
only a Georgian, but one descended
from a line Of ancestors who have
lived and worked in Georgia, thereby
honoring our state and at the same
time serving the best interests Of our
country.
In urging these propositions 1 have
not one word 10 say against either of
the other candidates.
1 wish to discuss the three PROPOSE
tions in their reverse order.
WHO WILSON is.
Woodrow Wilson was born in Vir-
ginia. He spent his boyhood in Au-
gusta. He was educated at Davidson
College, North Carolina, and at the
University of Virginia. He was adj
mitted to the bar in Atlanta and prac-
ticed law here for two years. His wife
was the daughter of DR.. Axon and the
granddaughter of DR.. Axiom and DR..
Hoyt. The lives of these three great
GeOrgians. their faithful ministry to
our people are known in numerous
places where they preached.
Governor Wilson was called to a
professorship at Princeton; he became
the president of Princeton, one of the
great universities of America. After
a splendid administration as president
of this college, he was called by the
Democrats to carry their standard as
a candidate for governor in New Jer-
sey. The state had been largely Re-
publican for many years. BY his pow
er to present Democratic principles 10
the people he won them in thousands,
and carried the state Democratic by
an overwhelming majority. His dis
cussion Of Democratic truths during
this campaign and his subsequent
WOndSr1u1 COMMUNICATION as BOVe1noE
won the admiration Of the voters ev-
erywhere. He is today by far the
Strongest candidate for the presi-
dency.
HAS POWERFUL SUPPORT.
I am assured by men who ought to
know that in every state he has a
powerful support. From Maine 20
washington, from Georgia to Califor-
mia. in al the middle states, his great
leadership is recognized and his cleo
ton is called for.
Outside Of Georgia and two or three
states nearby to Alabama it is Speak
er Clark opposing Wilson in one sec