Atlanta Georgian., 1914-02-26
By JAMES 8. NEvIN.

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BY JAMES 8. NEVlN.
Taking off our hat to-day to one
w. c. Fereen, of Moultrie-the great
unknown in the beginning of the
Senatorial race, as concerns the ad
interim appointment, and about the
best-known gentleman in the bunch
in the finish!
No matter what else happened, We
reen certainly has been put on the
political map in large, red and engag-
ing letters!
Entered as a business mans" can
didate. and doomed as such, he soon
became the talk Of the hotel lobbies
and the deliciously uncertain factor
in the Senatorial situation.
And his booster bunch was the real
article! Headed by Thad Adams. of
The Moultrie Enterprise, 1t never
slept.
1t was on the Job all the time
morning, noon and night 1t never
missed an oppor unity to buttonhole
any promising person in sight and ask
him, DO you know Vereen?"
At first most folks didn't. But that
lasted only day or so. Pretty soon
everybody who was anybody knew the
Moultrie man, and knew what it was
his friends were asking in his be
half.
Nereen-well. Vereen's all right.
That much has been written in the
stars, anyway Never was candidate
for position of high honor more in
telligently, more earnestly, or more
effectively exploited by his loyal and
loving friends.
The John r. Boifeuillet boom, which,
while 1t lived lived in clover. appar
emily was spontaneous. and had no
sectional hackers From all parts OF
the State came willing and voluntary
indorsements-by the hundreds.
There isn't more popular man in
the whole State than the clerk of the
House of Representatives and his
thousands of friends stood by him
stoutly. He never was an active as
pirant for the position. and his boom
was started without his knowledge or
consent
He didn't win, but he must be glad
his name was entered as a prospect
i've appointee II nothing else. ii
served TO show the quality of enthu
siasm behind him
As for the new Senator:
William Stanley West was born in
Marion County, Georgia, August 23,
University After leaving college. he
engaged In teaching, and later stud
led law, graduating from the law de-
partment of Mercer University. He
entered the practice of his profession
at Naldosta, and quickly attained
high standing at the bar.
Colonel West has long been promi-
nently identified with the sawmilling
and lumber industry in Southern
Georgia and Florida, and has varied
other business interests, being one of
the most successful farmers in the
State. He has always taken a keen
interest in public affairs, and has for
many years been recognized as one Of
the ablest Democratic leaders In
Georgia He was a member of the
State House of Representatives from
1892 to 1897, and in 1S9S-99 was a
member of-the State Senate. In 1902
he was again elected to the lower
house of the Legislature, and served
until 1904. In 1905-06 he was return
ed to the State Senate without oppo-
sition, and was elected President of
that body. AS President of the Senate
he displayed marked ability, dignity
and impartiality, his administration
being regarded as one of the most
notable in the history of the State.
During this session much important
and far-reaching legislation was en-
acted.
In 1908 Colonel West was sent as
delegate large from Georgia to the
National Democratic Convention at
Denver.
Colonel West introduced the bill
providing for a uniform system of
text books in the Legislature in 1892,
which, despite stubborn opposition,
was finally passed in 1903. He is
properly regarded as the father OF
the present admirable schoolbook
law. He took great interest in the bill
establishing the State Normal College
at Valdosta, and after it was passed
was one of the largest contributors
toward purchasing the splendid site
now occupied by that institution.
While in the Legislature he intro
duced a bill looking to the erection
of a new passenger station for the
Western and Atlantic Railroad in At
lanta, which, though defeated, he re-
garded as a most important one for
the safeguarding of the States most
valuable property. Another measure
in which he took great interest was
the bill looking to the leasing of the
Western and Atlantic Railroad after
the expiration of the present lease.
Colonel Vests political career, like
his professional and business life, has
been marked not only with ability and
courage of conviction, but with un-
usual candor and honesty Of purpose.
He has not hesitated to oppose vigor-
ously those things which he consid-
cred wrong, or to espouse whole
heartedly the measure he believes
right.