The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-25
RACE WILL BE FREE
 FROM BITTERNESS Presidential Primary Over shadows Governor Race SLATON REMAINS LOW Issues of the Campaign Have let to Appear-Hall Makes Maiden
 Speech in Crawford, His
 Home County

1 Atlanta, March 24.--(Special )-Candi-
 dates for governor and practically every other state office in Georgia realize that
 they might as well lie low until the pres
 idential primary Is past and gone, and I as a rule, they are doing it. Some of
 them are keeping their names before the public in various ways, but they are i'm
 iting their activities and keeping them
 selves in the background for the present.
 Commissioner of Agriculture T. G. Hud- son is getting about over the state in a quiet way shaking hands here and there
 and now and then delivering an asri- cultural talk. He has already opened headquarters with Malcolm Johnston in
 temporary charge until May l. when a
 campaign manager will be chosen and lively work will begin
 Joe Hill Hall of Bibb has made the
 maiden speech of his campaign at Knox vile, Crawford county, his birthplace. MT. Hall did not unloose anything of an extremely sensational nature, and some
 of his friends thought his speech was
 hardly characteristic of him. Possibly,
 however, Uncle Joe got in his good
 work in the delivery rather than in the
 verbiage, which is way he has
 There has been a good deal ofsinquiry as to whether MT. Hall would remain in the race 10 the finish. He insists that he will, that nothing on earth can pull
 him out of it, and his close friends who have been questioned about it say un- questionably he is sincere and. in their opinion, will be found right there when the votes are counted.
 SlatOn Remains Low
 President John M. Slaton of the state senate whose "hat is in the ring" is say ing very little since his recent brief an-
 nouncement of his purpose to run. Mir. ward establishing headquarters until aFer ward establishing headquarters until ofter the presidential primary, not alone be-
 cause it is practically useless from a political standpoint, but because he feels 1t is entirely too early to start the game. While MT. Slaton is not doing any exten- sive talking he is ready for the inter viewer whenever that functionary comes along, and he is not averse to answering any questions that are fired at him. 1t is not doing MT. Hall any injustice to quote the generally expressed view that the race Is going to be between MT. Sia- ton and MT. Hudson; also there is a gen. eral belief considering the well known characteristics of these two gentlemen,
 that the race is going to be free from bit-
 terness and the ordinary political asperi- ties.
 In fact some are anticipating a sort of "Alphonse and Gaston' campaign. though perhaps that Is an extreme comparison. 1 But Mr. Slaton with the kindly manners l of Chesterfield without malice or envy l and with an innate sense of justice that l precludes his doing anyone even a slight 1 intentional wrong, is not the man to at-
 tack bitterly his opponent, and Tom Hud-
 son would rather stick his hand in a fur
 mace than say anything carrying vindic- 1 tive reflections upon either friend or foe 'Tom Hudson just cant 'cuss anybody
 out. " one of his friends remarked: "its
 not in him. You will find him speaking 1T,
 most kindly terms of his opponents, | though I think he will be found ready uo | meet any attack that may be made" ] So, too, it may well be said of Jack | Slaton. for back of that polished kindIi- | ness is a spirit of determination, a viz
 orous assertveness in the face of attack which, nevertheless. i5 ever mindful of | dignity and propriety
 | But with two such candidates pitted | against each other it may well be con
 cluded that the campaign will be free
 of anything that could be construed as 1 bordering on abuse, even though tha;
 is often excused in political fight. There | Is not likely to be any of the acrimonious
 discussion, such as provokes the com bative spirit almost to the bursting point
 and from which some of the Georgia
 campaigns have not been altogether | free.
 i Issues Yet to Appear