Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-06-07
TOM HUDSON WAS
BETWEEN TWO
M|LLSTONES
Both Watson and Smith Indff-
ferent, and Lacking Money,
He Quit Governors, Race.

The sudden and spectacular WlIn-
drawal of Thomas G. Hudson from the
gubernatorial race yesterday is the sole
and absorbing topic of comment among
Georgia politicians today.
The absolute frankness and candor Of
Mr. Hudsons statement of withdrawal
has amazed many old timers and not
few@of them declare that nothing like it
is of record in Georgia political history
While some evade the use OF Thomas
E. Watsons name entirely in their po-
litical discussions, while others handle
the red headed person" gingerly and
as if they were afraid the handling
might burn their fingers, even as they
pray devoutly it will not, and while
still others really regard and speak of
Mr.. Watson as a forceful and worthy
leader in the militant Democracy of
Georgia, it remained for Mr.. Hudson to
pay Watson the highest tribute he ever
has received at anybody's hands
Sought Watson's Support.
MI Hudson admits unqualif1edly that
he sought Mr.. Watson's support dill
gently, because he assumed 1t to be
completely necessary to Hudson's sue
cess; that he failed to get it, and that
he withdraws because he realizes the
utter futility Of proceeding without it!
Mr. Hudson believes that Mr.. Wat
son has held the whip hand in Georgia
politics for a number OF years, and he
II. u,
the state, without doubt
Hudsons coming right out into the
sunshine, into the middle of the big
road, and admitting all of this, without
bubble or hesitation, has astonished
the politicians almost beyond the point
of coherent comment and discussion.
Some Inside History.
1t is known to Mr.. Hudsons init
mates that he first began to doubt when
he failed of Watson's support.
He called upon Mr.. Watson at the
instigation Of man high in the con-
fdence of Senator Hoke Smith and
who usually speaks by the card for Mr..
Smith. Whether Mr. Smith had actual
knowledge of Hudson's impending Wis
1t to Watson. Hudson does not know,
but, being advised to call on Watson
by the certain man who did advise 1t,
Hudson undoubtedly felt that his sup
posed hackers knew what they were
doing And, as q visit to MT. Watson
and the seeking of his support seemed
to M Hudson the fit and proper things
to do, he went to Thomson and talked
things over with the @red headed one"
This visit brought Hudson no COM
for.
Mr.. Watson frankly told him that he
could not, and would not, support him
II he was to be the candidate of Sen
atsr Smith, even if he had no other
reason to be against him.
Mr. Hudson did not then feel at lib-
city to say that he was not to have
tie cordial backing of Senator Smith
md his faction, because he did believe
nat he would get it. He, therefore, left
DR.. Watson, feeling that he would not
ret Watson's support.
Hudson Awaited Developments.
Notwithstanding Mr. Watson's re-
buff, Mr. Hudson did not Immediately
consider quitting the race for governor.
lie felt Mr.. Watson had little against
Huson. He believed Watson was
moe against Hudson because Smith
wa for him.
/ the Underwood fight Mr.. Hudson
wa personally for the Alabama man.
Heidi not make a fight on Wilson, but
he aid not hesitate to let it be known
ths he would cast an Underwood vote.
7or this Underwood attitude, Mr..
Hdson was taken severely to task by
ceiain parties Of the Smith faction.
Htstood pat, however, for he felt that
tn disapproval of the Smith faction in
tn Underwood matter might yet win
hin. If not Mr.. Watson's support, at
lest his passive opposition.
Hudson's Hopes Fail.
1t was not long after the close Of the
hderwood- Wilson fight before Hud-
"a found that he was being ground to
pwder between two millstones-the
OPPOSITION of Tom Watson on the one
had and the Indifference and growing
cdness of the Hoke Smith faction on
I'll other.
lie called upon those friends in the
Sith lineup who had, early in the
g;ne, promised him financial backing
nhing.
lie was advised to raise the wind"
imself, as best he might-to mortgage
Is farm, and keep things going as
Ing as he could, and see if anything
uned up.
Then Hudson determined to throw
the sponge. He realized. with some
tterness, that his supposed friends
ad thrown him down, and that the
lends he had attempted to cultivate
ad repealed him.
With no money and no Tom Watson,
Despair seized upon Tom Hudson, and
he quit.
A Pathetic Story.
The foregoing is the loosely running
story of the rise and fall Of the Hudson
campaign in Georgia. 1t does not make
happy reading. interviewer in the
warp and wool of 1t is much of the
pathetic and the depressing.
The charge that Hudson's primary
mistake was deserving his former Ter