The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-11
Candidates Are Already
Making Their Appear
ance and Talking
GOVERNOR SLATON
HAS MUCH ABILITY
Has Only Been in Office Short Time
But Has Already Demonstrated
That He Can Handle Mo-
mentous Questions
BY FRED LEWIS

BY FRED LEWIS
Atlanta, January 10-(Spec
| Georgia has just entered upon new
political year and candidates are al
ready beginning to make thier appear
ance. 1t is a year of many interest
ing political possibilities, but only time
can tell how many of these will ma
terialize. There has been talk of some
six or eight contests for state offices
and as many more for Congress, but
so far no actual fight of any moment
has developed.
Notwithstanding the fact that talk
continues in certain quarters, there is,
so far. no indication of contest for the
United States Senate or for governor.
and in the absence of a fight over these
two offices the prospects are for a
rather tame and quiet political year.
1t is usually the big fight that pro-
vokes the little one and when there is
a contest over the governorship it
brings about more contests for other
statehouse offices that crop up when
the governors election is without OPP
position This is no doubt on the the
ory that the big fight stirs things up
and gives the outside candidate for the
smaller office a better chance than he
could expect in a quiet and unemo-
tional political year
1t is possible. of course, that some
thing may turn up, but at present it
does not look as If anyone is desirous
of starting something in connection
with either of the big offices.
Governor SlatOns Ability
Governor Slaton has demonstrated
remarkable ability in dealing with the
problems which confront him. Although
he has been in office only about six
months he has had some important
problems to solve and he has gone at
them with due care and deliberation
reaching in every case the best practi-
cal solution.
This fact has been particularly com
mented upon in the manner in which he
handled the recent trouble in Louis
vile, Ca, when he not only prevented
the probable lynching of three negro
prisoners, but made it unnecessary for
the state TO go to the expense of send
ing troops there to protect them, by
digging up and applying a law which
many seem to have forgotten, although
Il is but little more than two years
old. Widespread favorable comment has
been made upon this action of the gov
enor. 1T is only one instance in which
he has exhibited far seeing wisdom
that gives promise of much benefit and
advantage TO the state.
Governor Slaton's refusal to pardon 3,
lot of criminals just because it was
Christmas, attracted attention all over
| the United States, and outside papers gen
orally commended him for this stand al
though it sometimes involved criticism
of their own governors
The governor is taking his time in
reaching decision with regard to the in
ternal dispute in the military department.
He is much concerned over it, but in no
esnse excited, and he is going about it in
the same calm and careful manner with
which he deals with practically every
problem that comes before him. 1t is
safe to say that when he reaches de-
eision it will be one that will satisfy ev-
erybody, with the possible exception of
some of those who are most directly in
terested.
The Inheritance Tax
And still no instance has developed of
tax having been paid any estate
left in Georgia since the inheritance tax
law went into effect, more than four
months ago. Under the law. there is
no chance for legacy to escape taxation
this event the inheritance cannot legally
pass unless the tax is paid.
If anybody should desire to raise the
point at any time, they could bring
about a contest of the will upon ehe
strength of nonpayment. of tax. State
officials are very much interested in the
new law and are watching closely to see
where the first Inheritance tax money will
come from.
Two Opponents to AdamsOn
After an uninterrupted service in Con-
gress of somewhere toward 20 years.
Representative w. G.. Adamson of the
Fourth district is at last Threatened with
| an opposition that begins to look serious.
Mr. Adamson has been so long without
opposition that he would harly know
what it was if he met it in the road He
has taken good care of his constituents
and has given satisfactory service, and
they have been glad to return him to
Congress term after term.
| Now there are two possible candidates,
one or both of whom may contest the
| honors with him in the primaries this
| year. One of these is Joe Durham of
Buena Vista, and the other is w. C.
| Wright of Newman, former chairman
of the state executive committee 1t is
said both of them may run and another
rumor has it that when one of them
definitely decides to make the race, the
other will give way to him.
Whoever it is that may be designated
| to make the fight against Charlie Adam
| son, is going to find that he has his
| hands full If not just little hit more
Both Mr. Durham and Mr.. Wright, how
! ever, are good politicians and probably
neither one of them would get into II
without knowing good deal about how
| the land lies. If either one of the-
crosses weapons with Congressman Adam
son it will be a lively and interesting
| fight from start to finish.
Henderson for "Hoke"
| Representative j. A. Henderson q;
Jones county, one of the younger men,
| bers of the lower house of the Geor-
gia legislature. after having opposed
| United States Senator Smith up to the
present time. has just made public an
nouncement of the fact that he is with
and for Senator Smith from this tins
| forward
THE fact that have never supported
Senator Smith before has nothing to 6e
with my present political alliances" said
Representative Henderson. II am wiff
| him from now on because he has put
himself in a postion5to be of incalculabls
value to the democratic party in Geor-
| ga, and is helping to carry out the poll
cies that are best for us. There is nc
question in my mind that he is a power
l have decided that generally spealxin.;
| from now on. his politics are my poll
ties
]