Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-03-12
THE SoUTH,S OPPORTUNITY

IF THE Democrats Of Georgia wish to do their
part in nominating and electing a southern
man to the presidency, they should unite in
the support of Woodrow Wilson.
He is the only southerner who commands follow
ing in every other section of the country. He is
the only Democrat who figures nationally in the
contest for the nomination.
There are "favorite sons" and willing Barlises
who viii enter the convention with remnant of
complimentary votes, but of all the aspirants in
the field, only woodrow Wilson is assured of any
thing like a majority of the delegates.
In him, therefore, lies the south's and only
hope of regaining its long lost leadership in the
party's life If, then are consistent and sincere
in our demand for southern nominee, let us con-
centrate upon ,the with whom can win and
not scatter our influence among minor candidates
who stand no logical chance of being nominated
and still less of being elected
The Journal has repeatedly urged the advisability
of a southern Democrat the party's leader in the
approaching campaign, provided he be otherwise ac-
ceptable 1t is not sufficient, however that he be
of southern rearing or residence. He hold such
a measure of the entire countrys confidence that he
could bear the Democratic to victory at the
polls.
Woodrow Wilson measures up TO every such re-
quirement. He is a southerner, not by birth and
parentage alone, but through inherent sympathies,
too; his life and craftsmanship embodiment
of the souths brightest traditions he is bone of its
bone and flesh of its flesh He is virtually a Geor-
gian for it was in this state that he spent the for
native y.s-s of his career and laid the ground
wors Z. t.ose towering achievements which have
T,ftct>d slcI konor upon his home land Surely,
"a 80. d, less southern because he has wrought
in national field and has borne alOft his own Sec
tor S .-r.. i the life of the common country! On
the contrary, th.s very fact makes him the most
advisable candidate the south put forward.
Governor Wilson is indeed the only Democrat
suggested for the nomination whose prestige and
leadership truly national in extent He is as
well and as favorably known in the far west as in
the east, where he has done his great work, or in
the south where he reared. His strength is in
dictated by the character and the degree of oppos-
ton he has aroused among the special interests He
is the candidate whom they have conferred their
fire and the only one whom they seriously consider
The other candidates. for the Democratic nomination
are marked chiefly by the fact that they are all
opposed to Woodrow Wilson They are negative in
character and purpose and confined, each to a
particular corner of the nation. Evidently the mo-
tive behind them all is to split the strength of the
one really popular leader and deprive him of the
necessary twothirds vote in the convention.
Speaker Clark is being urged in the west Gov
ernor Harmon in portions of the east and Congress
man Underwood in the south but, significantly
enough none of them is trenching upon the others
allotted territory, though all of them fighting
Woodrow Wilson.
What is the meaning of this three-cornered cam
paign against the one Democrat who has a national
following and whom the special interests fear? Why
has the country been thus parceed out among three
local campaigns which, though outwardly independ-
ent are obviously inspired by a common intent and
apparently derive their financial support from kin
dred sources?
We do not charge that any one of these candl-
dates himself is knowingly party to this political
game but unhappily the fact remains that they are
being used by selfish interests for end contrary
to the good of the party and the good of the people,
The same influences, as we have said before, that
have ruled the nation through Republican regime
are now seeking to rule it through Democratic ma
chinery. They are crowding the field with candi-
dates in the hope that thus they may divide the
voters of the party, throw the convention into
deadlock and with Woodrow Wilson out of the way,
deliver the nomination to anyone acceptable to their
common cause.
The Democrats of Georgia have nothing to gain
but everything to lose by lending themselves such
a movement.
CONGRESSMAN Underwood, who is being used as
the antWson candidate in this particular section,
is a gentleman of substantial attachments and we
have no criticism so far he is individually con-
cerned But for Georgia to give. him her votes in
the convention would simply be to sacrifice our only
opportunity for nominating and eecting southern
man to the presidency. The fact is our vote would
mean nothing to Mr.. Underwood himself; it would
mean merely vote for convention deadlock that
would end perhaps in the selection of hitherto
unconsidered by the people.
If we really want southerner for the partys
leader let US set about getting him in practical
way and to that end let unite upon the one man
of our own people who can win the nomination and
,rbo ran lead the marty to success-Governor Wood
row Wilson.