Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-05-31
my friends in Georgia

my friends in Georgia.
I'm these communications l stated to
them that l would very likely give no
further consideration to entering the
race for the United States senate
against Senator Hardwick.
I'm response to THIS statement from
me many of my close personal and po-
IiticaI friends in Georgia came to WASH
ington to see me about the political
situation in Georgia, and a great num-
Der of the most prominent Democrats N
the state have written me asking that
l enter the race.
You may recall that l stated to you
that if you wished it. 7 would not be-
come a candidate for the senate, but
would do all l could to help elect the
candidate whom you selected TO carry
our cause to the people of Georgia.
This is written with the hope that you
will permit me to withdraw this prom
! Use to you.
May l assure you that l am asking
this of you because my party leaders
have asked it OF me. They are your
friends as well as mine. They sincere
~ and honestly believe that Senator
Hardwick cannot be defeated by any
man now in the race. They are gener-
Gus enough TO believe that l can and
will defeat him.
Should there come time during the
campaign when my withdrawal is neces-
sary to accomplish the defeat of Mr..
| Hardwick. l assure you that I will glad
ly and willingly do so and throw all Of
my support to that candidate who may
be in the race that will make his/defeat
certain.
Let me assure you, Mr.. President. l
would not ask this of you if I did not
think after mature consideration and
counsel with my friends and colleagues
from Georgia, that it is imperative that
some one now enter this race who is
willing and able to take this issue di-
rectly and vigorously to the people.
eff you will bee good enough to view
this request as coming from one who is
still willing to make any personal sacri-
flee to serve you and the great cause
you represent and remain neutral for
the time being as between other loyal
Democrats in Georgia and myself, l
feel sure you will have no cause to be
ashamed of the progress I will make m
the next few weeks in making sure the
defeat of a man who has shamefully
misrepresented a patriotic and loyal
people.
with great respect. I am faithfully
Your friend.
(Signed
WILLIAM SCHLEY HOWARD"
PreS1oe1G'S hepIy
The presidents reply to the above let
ter was as follows:
THE White House, Washington,
April IL. 1918
NY Dear Mr. Howard: Your letter
received disappoints me very seriously
indeed, and l very much regret it. Sim
cerely yours,
CSigned) WOODROW WILSON"
ITO Hon. William S. Howard. House
of Representatives"
About a week after the above letter
was written by the president, there ap-
peared in the Atlanta Constitution the
famous Hollomon dispatch. which has
been referred to so often in the Sena-
torial race; and on reading this dis
patch the president wrote Congressman
Howard a letter inquiring whether he
intended to correct ii.
The Presidents Letter
This letter by President Wilson read
as follows:
The White House Washington, D. c.,
April 90. 1918.
INV Dear Sir: NV attention has been
called to a recent communication by
Mr. Hollomon to the Atlanta Constitu-
ton concerning our recent converse ton
at the executive office in the interview
which you sought with me. Mr.. Hollo-
mon. of course had no direct knowledge
of that conversation and his version of
it conveys a very false impression, no
doubt unintentiOnally on his part, but
the impression it conveys is so false
that l write to ask whether 1t is or
is not your intention yourself to correct
that impression.
Very truly yours,
WOODROW WILSON,
To Hon William Schley Howard.
House OF Representatives Committee
on Appropriations"
Mr. HOward's Reply
In reply to the presidents letter in
curing whether he intended to correct
the impression conveyed by the Hollo-
mon dispatch, Congressman Howard
wrote as follows:
House of Representatives Washing
ton. d. c.. April 23. 1918.
MY Dear Mr.. President: Your note
of the goth instant handed me last
evening at my home, where l am now
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