Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-08-13
AMERICANS ARE FIGHTING IN OUTSKIRTS OF BRAY
PRESIDENT ASKS
GEORGIANS TO
SUPPORT HARRIS
States His Position on Sena-
toriaI Race in Reply to Mr.,
HoWeII-HoWard Speaks in
Macon Tonight

Urging the voters of Georgia who
are jealous of the reputation of the
party and the success of the government
in the present crisis to combine in
support of William ]. Harris. candidate
for the United States senate to succeed
Thomas w Hardwick. President Wood
row Wilson has indicated his views on
the senatorial race in Georgia in letter
written to Clark Howell, editor of the
Atlanta Constitution and member of
the national Democratic committee from
this state.
President Wilson's letter was in re-
ply to request from Mr.. Howell that
the president take the people of the
state into his confidence and give ex-
preston to his views on the senatorial
situation. -.. az sa- ~ - 1
Congressman Howard had no state
ment to make Monday in reference to
the correspondence between President
Wilson and Mr.. Howell. He left at 1880
for Macon, where he had an engagement
to speak tonight in the interest of his
candidacy for the senate. Further than
announcing that he would fill this en-
gagement, Mr.. Howard declined to make
any statement. Mr.. Towards headquar-
tiers were thronged with friends Monday
morning and it was stated there by
members OF the H6duQ udi lSI oNdlL IAASAA
kilograms were pouring in from all over
the state urging him to remain in the
race.
The letter from the White House
reads as follows:
NY Dear Mr.. Howell:
Allow me to acknowledge the re-
ceipt of your letter Of July oath,
which has been supplemented by
number of others from prominent
citizens of Georgia bearing the same
inquiry as to the attitude of the
national administration with regard
to the pending contest for the
United States senatorship in Geor-
gia Your own letter, / observe, is
addressed to me by you in your ca
pacity as member of the national
Democratic committee, and | as
sumo that it is your feeling that 1t /
is proper for me to answer the
question in the interest of the party
as a national unit.
I must say, however, that l have
been surprised by the question, be-
cause I had supposed that the peo-
ple Of Georgia fully understood my
attitude The recent correspondence
between Mr. William Schley How
ard and myself. which | understand
has been published, is surely self
explanatory. l have never under
taken. and 1 never would presume to
undertake, to dictate to the voters
of any state the choices they should
make, but when my views have been
sought by those who seemed 10
have a right to seek them, ] have
not hesitated to give them. | gave
them most frankly to Mr.. Howard
when he asked for them.
Senator Hardwick has been a con-
slant and active opponent of my
administration. Mr.. William j. Har-
ris has consistently and actively
supported it, In my opinion the OBJ
vious thing for all those to do VINO
are Jealous of the reputation of the
party and the success of the govern
ment in the present crisis, is to COM
bine in the support of Mr.. Harris
Very sincerely yours,
WOODROW WILSON.
The White House, washington,
August I.
Mr.. Howells letter to the presldeht
was as follows:
Ny dear Mr.. President:
am calling your attention to the
senatorial situation in Georgia, Tor
cannot believe that YOU are ac-
quainted y with conditions here
brought about by several candidates
appealing to the loyal sentiment OF
the people against one VINO Is pTdc-
tically defying your administration
in justifying his antagonistic course
both before and since this country
entered the war.
Nothing could be more deplorable
than to have this state placed in the
attitude of refusing to uphold your
course, when the sentiment of the
people overwhelmingly n d or S IS
every step that has been taken to
nut the whole force of our country
back of our men now at the front. !
am taking This method of COM
municat.nF with you to give eX-
preston to my opinion that the best
solution Of the problem here is for
you to take the people of the state
into your confidence and given them
the benefit of your view Of the
situation.
If this fight can be centercd to a
straight-out contest between the
loyalists on one side and the out
spoken or half-hearted tories on the
other. there will be no possible doubt
of the result.
But Il is going to take a bold
stroke to bring about such a con-
centration and nothing would so adj
mirabIy serve this purpose as di-
rect expression from you.
Should you see fit to send such
message. I will be glad to present IL
to the people of Georgia.
With cordial personal regards, 1
am, with best wishes,
Sincerely yours.
CLARK HOWELL,
Member of the National Democratic
Committee from Georgia.
To Hon. Woodrow Wilson. the White
House washington d c.