Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-04-30
BEHIND THE MASK.

The Democrats of Georgia viii not be duped by
those political trafRckers who. under pretense of
supporting Congressman Underwood, are really con-
spring to corner the states vote in the national
convention in order that they may it for their
own particular ends. Week by week and day by
day their fimsy mask has become more and more
transparent, so that now one has only to open his
eyes to perceive the true purpose it put on to
conceal
There is not the faintest effort to press the so
called Underwood candidacy over the country at
large Nor is there the slightest expectancy that he
win figure in the Baltimore convention. So far as
the presidency is concerned he Is but a political
shadow that will vanish the moment the decisive
hour for the nomination arrives. The substance Of
this candidacy is to be found in a group of self
interested politicians, allied with the btterest foes
the Democracy Of Georgia has ever known.
It is for these that Underwood ballot on May
the first viii count
1t is they who are really the anti-wilsOn can
didate-
This situation is coming home to the minds of
Georgia voters more and more clearly each day 1t
Is indeed so evident that no one who observes the
trend Of events doubt its existence. 1t has i'm
pressed the most neutral people 1t has forced
itself into the recognition of the nOnpartisan
element OF the states press. Throughout this con-
test the Athens Tribune has pursued singuarly
cool head and liberal policy toward all the candi-
dates in the field In recent issue, the Tribune
declares editoriaIIy:
eThe time has come CheH it must be dppdT-
emf to az thinking GeorgiaHs that MT. Under
rood has absolutely no chance Of being noHlt
mated for the presidency"
This is not the assertion of an advocate, but the
deliberately formed conviction Of student who has
observed the primaries being held in state after
another. and who has seen 1nat in no instance has
Mr. Underwood's name been so much mentioned,
save in Alabama and that there in his home state,
the vote accorded him simply in the nature
OF a compliment and that at the vital moment Of
the national convention it will go to Woodrow
Wilson.
The Tribune continues:
Does Georgia count for little in the
greatest political FIGHT since the days Of CleUe-
land a fight IN iChich the UfctOry is almost
within our grasp, that she should GiHlIessy fire
her gam into the arr"
That tersely put. is the issue which the Demo
Gratis OF this state determine in the approach
ing primary.
Are we 10 vote for purely nominal candidate,
who is not really in the race and who cannot count
in the convention, simply to further the design of
Political clique?
Are we 10 surrender our rightful influence in the
party's national council to alliance of alien
politicians and Democratic enemies who will barter
it about for their own narrow advantage?
Are we TO desert true leader, who is southern
born and Georgia bred, and who by virtue of his
ability and his nationwide prestige can bear the
party's standard to success. to desert such
a man for political willO-the-wisp?
The approaching primary will afford Georgians
the first opportunity they have ever had of voting
for a candidate for the presidential nomination
II they vote for Wilson, their ballots will count
for sure and a definite cause; but, if for Under
wood they will be sacrificed to the sheerest lottery
that was ever cOntrived.
It is not question Of whether we shall favor or
reject Congressman Underwood. for he is simply not
in the contest 1t is a question Of whether we wish
to maintain rights and power of citizenship,
whether we shall say for ourselves how our vote in
the Baltimore convention shall be used savishly
hand over our suffrage to a political clique to be
trafHcked In the dark for their own benefit
bad citizen is one whose room is preferable to
his company.