Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-23
BY JAMES 3. NEViN.

Georgia nowadays, wherein two
United States Scholarships are con-
cerned, and the Governorship.
There are two factions in Georgia.
Admitted? Well, that is out of the
way, then, as matter of controversy.
1t is being urged somewhat We
hemently in some quarters that Gov
ernor Slaton must NOT appoint a
North Georgia man to the Senate
temporarily. Never-he mustn't do
that.
But why?
Because there already is a North
Georgia man in the Senate. e.. Sen
ator Smith!
Let this scribe hasten to add, right
here, that he does not say, suggest,
hint or intimate whether Senator
Smith is or is not exactly and pre-
cisely where he ought to be-that
isn't the point, anyway!
Here is where some fine jockeying
for position is going on, however.
If, say those who are not enamor-
ed of Senator Smith-there being one
or two of that persuasion around and
about, perhaps-it be conceded that
North Georgia must have only ONE
Senator, why not let that Senator be
John NJ Slaton?
If South Georgia is sincere in its
desire to see a South Georgian in the
Senate-if that be the ultimate glory
in mind. over and above ALL other
considerations-why not put up a
man for the long term against Sen
ator Smith, and not poster would-b be
Senator Slaton with a South Georgia
opponent, the while the other North
Georgia aspirant for Senatorial hon
ors is left serenely alone?
It must be remembered. say some
OF the Slaton partisans. that neither
Slaton nor Smith YET has been pass
ed upon by the people as Sena
torial proposition.
Senator Smith was elected to the
Senate by the Georgia Legislature
and there was no primary held to de-
termine the issue of his candidacy
before the people.
Why, therefore, inquire Slatons
friends. should Congressman Hard
wick be set upon Slaton's trail. when
nobody yet has set somebody on
Smiths trail?
If the South Georgia sauce is good
for the goose-no disrespect intended
either to Senator Smith or Governor
Slaton-why isn't it good for the
gander?
And echo answers, why?
Impartial inquiry along this way
will develop two lines of reply.
Those who, for partisan reasons.
favor Senator Smith will insist that
it never will do to have two Senators
from Atlanta. or North Georgia-that
one, Senator Smith, is enough.
Those who, for partisan reasons,
favor Governor Slaton will insist that
it really doesn't matter-that a Sena-
torship is a Statewide institution,
and not to be parCeled out according
to sections.
Try it out. and see if it doesn't
land you right there!
It hardly seems possible that there
will be hot fight for one term and
no fight at all for the other.
If Slaton is to be opposed for the
uneXpired term of Senator Bacon
and Mr. Hardwick's candidacy is ac-
cepted generally as sincere-it is a
mighty good bet that Senator Smith
viii be opposed for the long term.
1t may develop, too, that Senator
Smith win be opposed by Governor
Slaton, although 1t generally Is
preferred, perhaps. to make the other
race.
1t Is to be hoped that this column
is written without prejudice. 1t is
earnestly sought to be made, fair
for, after all, a politician is a poll
tician. wherever you meet htm-save
in rare occasions when his political
sagacity is so well advanced that he
10 hn
known as a statesman
Therefore. when it is stated that
the present situation seems to be
running rapidly into old fractional
ruts-and that such running probably
is altogether unpreventable - the
statement may be accepted as intend
ed to be entirely truthful one and
not a partisan expression.
1t is running in just that direc-
ton, tool
1t means. in its eventual analysis.
a great struggle to control the State
of Georgia politically-both in its ma
tional and its local aspect.
Remember, there are two Senator
ships and one Governorship involved.
The present fight win go into some
of the Congressional districts. more
cver-and two years from now the
victorious crowd will carry it into the
others
Georgians may or may not relish
the outlook. They may as well face
it, however
The candidacy of Congressman
HardwiCk, an admitted close lieuten-
ant of Senator Smith, against the
anticipated candidacy of Governor
Slaton, for Senator Bacon'S unexpired
term has been accepted by politicians
generally as both dare and a chal-
lenge direct and fair, to the oppo.
sition.
That Georgian who does not thing
the dare win be accepted prob
ably does not know his Georgia very
we'll!
We shall have some big politics
this year-politics that will be far
reaching and affect the State for
years.
This is no time for small boys with
little schemes.
The prizes to be gambled for this
year are the most glittering the State
has to ofer-and voters will be wise
to look we'll to their ballots,
And sectionalism isn't going to cut
much ice. however, in all likelihood, in
~ Low