Atlanta Georgian., 1914-02-27
FIELDER ANNOUNCEMENT
To TANG[E BATTLE FOR
SENATORSH|P GREATLY

There were two highly significant
and interesting developments in State
politics Friday. Congressman Hard
WICK, Of the Tenth District, formally
announced his determination not to
stand for the House again, which an
nouncement is preliminary to his fur
ther formal announcement for the
senate, and a statement was circu
lated by a friend very close to Attor-
ney General Thomas S. Fielder, and
presumably thoroughly in his conf
dence, that Fielder will make his an
nouncement for the same position
Hardwick seeks, within the next few
davs.
Congressman Hardwick apparently
has pretty well burned his bridges
behind him in the Senatorial matter.
but the entry of Attorney General
Fielder unquestionably will tangle
things tremendously. even from the
Hardwick standpoint.
Both mon ere closely allied to the
so-called Holle Smith faction in Geor-
gia politics. and for both to run
would, theoretically. at least, give
Governor Slaton, Senator West. or
whoever should undertake to stand
for that faction, q great advantage in
the contest.
Politicians therefore, were giving
themselves over Monday to earnest
speculation as to what the outcome
eventually will be, as between Hard
wick and Fielder
Messages Fly Fast.
The Attorney General recently was
in Washington, D. c., and it is known
that messages by wire have flown
thick and fast between that city and
points in Georgia, sounding the
faithful as to Felder's candidacy for
the Senate.
1t is stated that some of the fol-
lowers of Senator Smith have been
more or less upset recently by that
which they please to term Hard
WiclSs precipitate plunging into the
Senaorial race" Nevertheless, Hard
wick is now so far in that it admit
tedly will be a big job to get him out.
And yet the anti Smith faction can
hardly figure it possible that both
Hardwick and Fielder will run for the
same job, thus making the defeat of
both theoretically likely.
The anti-Smith people, ever suspi-
cious of the senior Senator, are figur-
ing that the injection of Fielder at
this time may be move really to
pull the senior Senator out of an en-
tarrassing situation, "in that with
both Hardwick and Fielder figuring
on the uneXpired term OF Bacon, the
senior Senator we'll might argue that
he is not taking a hand in program
TO sew up everything in sight" for
if he We're, he surely would move
heaven and earth to keep both of his
staunch friends from running for the
junior Senatorship. He hardly would
care to divide strength in that way.
Senator Smith Out of 1t.
On the other hand, it is known that
Senator Smith, asked directly as to
the adVisability of Felders candidacy.
replied that he would have nothing
TO do in making a decision in that
matter"-that it was something Fell
der and Hardwick must figure out
for themselves.
Politicians now are asking whether
II Will be possible to pull Hardwick
out of the Senatorial race, and, per-
haps, switch him to the Governorship
race, and simultaneously to put Felr
der in the Senatorial race, and switch
him from the programmed Governors
race.
In fact, anyway the anti Smith fac
ton looked at the developments of
Friday, they grew mighty suspicious.
1T looks to me as If this Fielder