Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1920-03-02
Georgia's Press and People
Demand Their Ballot Rights

DHWLLVU L UCT DCSII"' 49, 8 '''N
ARETY have the rank and file of Geor-
gia Democrats resented a political rule
II " more automatically or with better rea-
son than they do that by which a subsection
of the State Executive Committee proposes
to tie the voters in the coming Presluentlal
primary That the people VINO constitute
considerable if not indeed the major portioh
of the marty should be barred from casting
their ballots as their own judgment dlctates'
rather than as seven committeeman see mt TO
order offends the very instinct OF democracy
b. and brings down condemnation from every
quarter of the Commonwealth
In in the mountains of@W hitnelo Inc - "a -
too ritizen urging the right of Democrats 10
vote for Hoover in the primary IL tney Vs.
observes that the politicians ARE against Ill.,
which in very truth is the best argument IL
- fovor. q man like Hoover is needeo
80 directing the affairs of this nation IN the
trouh1ous days that are ahead Do"n W
the/ coast of Chatham, both the oaVdhn ,.
Press and the Savannah Morning News lay
rivalry aside to join in pleading tne pep ~,
an,or riohts, SAYS the Morning News IN a
cogent editorial headed, Let the VotelS D0
eide"
"Who are the people that have that
Hoover feeling? They are not hepuOll
cans and they are voters. So they must
Gratis. And if lot of Democrats IN Geor-
gia want Mr. Hoover's name to go on
the urinary election ballots, VINO Oh
earth should say them nay? II democ-
racy is democracy, let the Democratic
Z voters decide whom they want on tnelr
8 ballots"
With like vigor the Press AYERS that
..Mr. Hoover's candidacy seems to be
attracting more attnetion than that OF
anyone else in Georgia. He has dehned
his position on national matters very
clearly, and there is o doubt as to
80 where he stands
From northeast Georgia the washington
News Reporter, while not champ1onlng the
Hoover cause, declares that it is perfectly
willing to see his name on the preferential
primary ticket" that sentiment for MIN
"seems to be gaining strength since the
State Committee put one over on him." and
that "the State Committee seemed to nave
little confidence in the discretion OF the
Georgia voter To the same effect but IN
y stronger tone speaks the Cairo Messenger
from the extreme southwestern corner OF
= the State: "The fact that professional poll
ticians do not take to Hoover is another
feather in his cap. That's what the people
want real, worthy candidate, not per-
son so camoufaged by politicians that he
is an enigma" Among middle Georgia jour
Dublin Courier-Herald. It interprets the Sit
uation in this wise: Indicating the rapid
progress Hoover sentiment in Georgia is
making, one by one the newspapers Of. the
State are falling in line, if not in direct in
dorsement of Mr.. Hoover for the Presidential
nomination, at least favorably commenting
on his possibilities as such. Few there are
who are openly opposed to or belittle his
qualifications, and while there are some who
harp on what they are pleased to call his
sitting on the fence they cannot check or
avert Mr.. Hoover's swift growth in public
, favor here in Georgia. He has clearly
defined his stand on national matters, and
from all his statements it can be presumed
p beyond a reasonable doubt that he is a
Democrat in principle" In Floyd county
both the Rome Tribune-HeraId and the Rome
NeWs-another striking instance Of COMPETE
g tors rising above minor differences to defend
great principle together-attack the fnjus-
tice of Georgia voters being denied the right
to pass upon Hoover, along with others, in
the April primary So, too, contend those vet
eran and trusted counselors of South Georgia
democracy-the Albany Herald and the
Americas Times-Recorder. So contends the
stanchly loyal and keen-visioned Free Press
of Quitman. And SO a host of other dailies
and weeklies as clear-headed and true
hearted as ever stood for Democratic prin-
. ciples-from the Commerce News, which de-
clares, 1.-THE subcommittee. NAV formulate
people to the Walker County Messenger
which asks, who's Hoover?" and answers,
"Georgia's choice for President
Now what is the chief import of all these
earnest expressions from every part of the
state and from papers frequently opposed in
politics? What does it mean that Sc dis
tinguished a Democrat as Judge Andrew j.
Cobb OF Athens. a pattern of Southern con-
; seTVatlsm and party loyalty, declares that III
his opinion Hooeer's name should be allow
ed to go on the primary ballot? What does
it mean when Mr.. J. r. Smith who managed
the Howard campaign in the last Senator
ial race, and Mr.. Arthur Lucas who managed
the Harris campaign forget the keen
thrusts OF that contest to unite in tele-
gram of congratuatiOn and pledge of sup
port to the Democrats of Hall county. who
are determined that their valid petition for
.HoOYers name to be put on the ticket shah
not be treated as a scrap of paper? What
does it mean that delegation of Wilkes
county Democrats, men of leadership and
irTeproachable loyalty, speak out in these
trenchant words: "The people of Georgia
denaCd al uninstructed right to elect their
candidate for President They demand that
Z Eooyers name be presented to the people