Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-07-26

THE GAINESVILLE HERALD
AND ADVANCE
Official Organ of Franklin County
HON. HOKE SMITH

The real test of a mans character Is
prosperity. 1 do not mean by this to
disparage the courage of those who bear
with patience and fortitude the vicis-
STUDIES of i'll fortune, nor yet to chal-
Ienge the truth of the poem which has
it that 1.-THE man worth while is the
man with smile when everything goes
dead wrong" But the man who rises
from the humble station to the dizzy
heights of affluence and power and has
the strength and character to keep his
poise amid the flattery and sycophancy
which inevitably await him in that rari-
fed atmosphere has successfully met the
acid test. The searching. pitiless, public
ity of success reveals more surely ones
real character than the obscurity of
failure.
singularly interesting illustration
Of this is found in the life of Senator
Hoke Smith of Georgia. Today Senator
Smith occupies an enviable position in
the councils of the nation. He is a
member of the dominant party that now
controls all branches of the government
and chairman of one of the important
senate committees. His advice is
sought and his influence is felt in
all matters of legislation now coming
before senate for consideration. But he
is the same kindly, unassuming, self
reliant, genial Hoke Smith that came
to Atlanta thirty years ago with fifty
dollars in pocket and a great deter
mination in his soul to make good He
has done so in ample measure, finan-
cially, in his profession and politically.
The simple narrative of Senator
Smiths life is at once a story Of deep
human interest and an inspiration to
the ambitious young American who
has no capital but his youth, his
health, and a boundless determination
to win. When young Hoke Smith ar
rived at Atlanta he proceeded to lay
the foundation of his fortunes by rent
ing a small room in a dingy brick
building which was to be both law Office
and residence He furnished this with
cot, a rickety stove which both cook
ed his meals and warmed the room, a
few tin dishes, a chair and his law
library, which, by the way, consisted of
a copy of the revised statutes, Bar
croft's forms and the daily paper-when
he could afford to buy that Thus
equipped young Smith with the cheer
full optimism and courage which has al
ways been his, flung his single to the
breeze and dared fate to withhold from
him the success to which he was en-
first but surely, as it is bound to come
in response to such indomitable courage
and perseverance when rightly applied.
The coming of prosperity enabled Hoke
Smith with that ever-ready sympathy
which has always been his strongest
characteristic, to extend a helping hand
to other struggling youths. This was
one of the first genuine pleasures that
money brought to Mr.. Smith, for money,
to him, is only valuable for what it
will bring. And when it brings educa-
ton and opportunity to other boys it
has given more happiness to Mr.. Smith
than if it were boarded away or piling
up interest for him from some profitable
investment
Upon one occasion at the graduation
exercises of the Atlanta High school he
was particularly attracted to a young
man who delivered an grafton. and asked
to meet him. The young man was pre-
scented and was advised by Mr.. Smith TO
finish his education at Georgia Univer-
sity. The young man replied that II
would be impossible as his father was
poor and could not AFFORD it. you. come
to my office, think know a gentleman
who will let you have the money"
OF course Mr.. Smith was the man who
furnished the money, and the young
man who graduated from the Georgia
University is today an able and learned
District Judge in one of the Western
States.
On another occasion Mr.. Smith. who
was then campaigning for the governor
ship. spent the night with a farmer. He
was impressed with the brightness of
the little lad who carried water to his
room and performed other services for
him, and advised the father to send him
to college. 81 cannot" said the father. Il
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