Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-04-19
SENATOR HOKE SMITH LAUDS
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OPE

North Dakota instructed for Gov
ernor Burke. the governor of that
state. but I am personally responsible
for the statement that Governor Burke
/ is for Governor Wilson and has mott
/ fed him that the delegates are already
for him. Then wisconsin-but stop
one minute. I forgot about Underwood.
who was not even a candidate.
Then wisconsin had its statewide
primary. Governor Wilson swept the
state There was not single vote
cast in the primary for Mr.. Under
wood.
clark beat Governor Wilson badly in
Illinois. Then came Pennsylvaia- Gov
ernor Wilson swept the state clean with
her IS votes. But it never occurred to
anybody to present Underwood's name
anywhere. Not because he was a south
ern man-Governor Wilson is a southern
man, too-but because Underwood was
not known. until the last six months, ex-
cept in his own state and among his
/ friends in congress. He had not that
hold upon the people that would make
him a candidate.
Now, let US consider the other states
Just a minute. Nebraska will acct in
few days Harmon and Clark are run
ming there. I think Governor Wilson will
get more votes than both Of them. I'm
derwood is not running Oregon will act
before you do. on May /. The race is
between Governor Wilson and Mr.. Clark,
but Governor Wilson will carry the
state, but Mr.. Underwood is not run
ming in Oregon
Down in Texas the race is between
Mr.. Harmon and Governor Wilson. In
Louisiana the race is between Harmon
and Governor Wilson. In Kentucky the
race is between Champ Clark and Gov
ernor WILSON, and Mr.. Underwood is not
running az ALL although he was born
there. In Virginia I am assured that the
delegation. in spite of the fact that they
have machine politics, is going to de-
mand the nomination of Woodrow Will
son. In Tennessee Mr.. Underwood is not
running.
THE SOUTH AND HER SONS.
They have told you within the last few
days that the south has not the courage
to present one OF her sons. I am here
to present one of the south's greatest
sons-woodrow Wilson. If it is matter
of prejudice in the south on which IN
derwood is running. why don't he run in
Louisiana. Texas. Tennessee, Virginia?
He is not running. except in two or three
states where they are trying to use his
name to defeat the nomination of the
first southern man who. in over so years,
has had a chance for the nomination,
and when that man is the only man who
can lead tn party to victory.
Why, my fellow citizens, Mr.. Under
wood has been renominated in Birming-
ham for congress from that district, and
is running for congress from Birming
ham, while they laugh at you for think
ing that he is running for president.
If you want Champ Clark vote for
him. He is a candidate. If you want
Woodrow Wilson vote for him. He is
a candidate and Will be elected.
PREDICTS WILSON'S ELECTION.
say he will be elected. Listen to
mel 1t is a firm conviction have
talked with senators from Maine. They
tell me that Maine will vote for Wilson
against Taft or Roosevelt He is the
strongest candidate in Massachusetts.
skip New York a moment He is the
only man that can carry New Jersey.
He is the strongest man in Ohio by
so 900 votes. Both the senators from
Indiana have told me that if nominated
he is certain to carry that state with
out a campaign. Wisconsin is safe,
in spite OF LaFollette's power as a Re-
publican. Both the Dakotas will swing
into line. The Democrats of Montana
will support him against either of
the Republican candidates.
A senator from Oregon tells me Will
son can carry that against either of
the Republican candidates. Two edi-
tors OF the leading independent papers
in California say that against Taft,
Wilson will have a walk-over in Cali
fornia. and they are convinced that he
would beat Roosevelt also.
Now come back to. New York. am
assured by some of the very best in
formed men in New York that with
Governor Wilson We will have our
strongest candidate in that state and
that he can certainly beat either Taft
or the colonel When Georgia. the EN-
pire state OF the south, declares her
preference on May 1. believe that the
national convention in Baltimore will
see both empire states line up and vote
for woodrow Wilson One of the dele
gates yesterday, who is one of the
foremost men Of New York, told me
that we need not be troubled about
New York. that when Wilson needed
those votes to nominate him he was
satisfied he would get them. l came
down on the train today with another
delegate from New York, who is an
earnest friend of woodrow Wilson
1 want to tell you another thing. /
did not believe il two weeks ago when
IL was told. One Of the leading par
ties in the politics of Pennsylvania told
me that the people of Pennsylvania
were so determined to get rid Of boss
rule, that they would turn from the
Republican party and that Wilson would
carry the state. The one question
with the masses Of the people there was:
shall we be boss-ridden by men or
shall we have a legal administration
and administrators who consider the in
terests of the great mass of the peo-
ple2"
Why has Wilson got the mass of the
people? Because after taking the
presidency of the great Princeton Uni
versity. Or 20 years strong young men
have gone out over the country, III
tense believers in Wilson. The whole
United States came to admire him.
And when New Jersey, having been
trust-ridden by the Republican party,
wanted candidate to lead them, they
turned to Woodrow Wilson and nomi-
mated him as the Democratic candidate
for governor. Then the man went he
fore the people face to face and
promised them popular government.
He promised them reform in their
election laws. He promised to drive
out bosses. He promised them public
service improvements. and legislative
improvements in the school system.
So fully did he carry out his prom
Uses. in spite Of almost overwhelming
opposition. that he stood squarely by
the people and forced the Legislature
to stand by the rights Of the people.