The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1914-07-10
JOE BROWNS CANDIDACY MEANS
HOT RACE FOR HoKE SMITH
FOR SENATE.
old time RIVALS AGAIN
In BITTER CONTEST
Governor SIaton, Congressman Hard
wick, Former Attorney General
Fielder and John r. Cooper VIII
Fight It Out For the Late Senator
Bacons Seat.

Atlanta, Ca, July 1O.-Joseph
Browns announcement of his candi-
dacy for the United States Senate to
succeed Hoke Smith has set the politi-
cal fireworks in Georgia to swapping
and Sizing at a furious rate. For
some time past the campaign for the
governorship and the short-term sena-
torship has furnished some more or
less interesting skirmishes, but it re-
manned for Joe Brown, twice governor
of the state and a past master at the
game of politics, to prime and adjust
the heavy artillery that will assure a
genuine battle. With the announce
ment of his candidacy the campaign
begins in earnest. Flying flags, brass
bands, stump speakers, straw votes,
and all the other ancient and honored
appurtenances will be on the job from
now until the polls close on primary
day.
With two senatorships and a COVER
norship to fill. the forthcoming sum.
mer primaries will constitute the hot
test contested election in the history
Of the state. Interest now centers
largely in the fight Of Hoke Smith for
reelection, though until very recently
it appeared that there would be no
m In HI
turn to the senate. The situation as
it then appeared was without a paral-
lei in the history of Georgia politics.
In the past Hoke Smith had been
obliged to fight for everything he ever
received from Georgia, with more than
one defeat chalked up against him,
but this time he appeared to be con-
sidered SO strong that he would be
returned virtually without opposition.
A few weeks ago, however, it be-
came apparent to the political wise
acres that Brown was getting ready to
run for something. This was evil
denced by renewal of his long stand
ing war on the labor unions. But
even then 1t was supposed that he
would come out as a candidate for the
short-term senatorship, to fill out the
unexpired term of the late Senator
Bacon. But there were several reas-
ons why the former Governor pre-
ferred to tackle Hoke Smith for the
long-term senatorship rather than en-
| ter the free-for all race for the short
term.
Friendship For SIaton.
The principal of these reasons prob
ably lies in the fact that Brown is
the leader of the anti-Smith faction
and would rather defeat Smith for
reelection than stumble into a gold
mine The presence of Governor Sla-
ton among the entries in the short
term contest also probably Influenced
Brown in entering the long-term con-
test Slaton has always been a close
friend and political ally of Brown. In
will at least have a chance of killing
two birds with one stone-a chance to
! even up accounts with Hoke Smith
and at the same time aid his friend
Slaton in his contest for the short
term.
| In addition to Governor Slaton there
are three active candidates for the
unexpired term of Senator Bacon.
They are Congressman Thomas W..
Hardwick, former Attorney General
T. B. Fielder and John R. Cooper, a
prominent attorney of Macon. The
winner of the contest will serve from
the date of the November election uu-
til March 4, 1919, at which time the
six-year term of Senator Bacon would
have expired.
For the governorship, there is gen.
uine contest, with the winner much in
doubt. Among the active candidates
at present are William ]. Harris, late
Director of the United States Census;
Judge Nat s. Harris, of Macon; j.
Randolph Anderson, of Savannah, and
Judge l.. G. Hardman, of Commerce.
Another possible entry, and a formid-
able figure, is Solicitor General Hugh
Dorsey, of Atlanta. Mr.. Dorsey was
the prosecuting attorney In the case
of Leo Frank, the young factory su-
| perintendent now under conviction