Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-03-27
SMITH AND DORSEY
Chief TOPICS At
PALMER. MEETING
Frank Divergence of 0pin-
ion Among Committeeman
Called to Further Attorney
Generals Candidacy
aY HAzELEE BRANCH

By HAGILEE H&SANCA
(staH Correspondent OF tn, Journal)
MACON, Ca, March 26.-About
fifteen members of the state execu-
tive committee appointed by Chair
man Pleasant A. Stovall to direct the
campaign of A. Mitchell Palmer in
Georgia, met here today to discuss
what action should be taken in the
light of Senator Hoke Smiths an
nounced candidacy and the probable
or possible candidacy of Governor
Hugh NJ. Dorsey.
There was a frank divergence Of
opinion among the Palmer commit
teemen as to what action should be
taken, when the meeting was called
to order in executive session. Some
of the Palmer men were frank to
state that they did not believe 1T
advisable to undertake to substitute
Governor Dorsey for Mr.. Palmer at
this time. These men declared that
they doubted if the Palmer following
could be carried; to Governor Dorsey,
as they did not see how he could
make the issue that had been made
by Mr.. Palmer when he announced
that he was running on an indorse-
ment of every act and every phase
Of the Wilson administration. On
the other hand there were members
of the committee who went into the
meeting convinced that the wise
course to pursue was to undertake
to get Attorney General Palmer to
withdraw and to back Governor Dor
sey. These men were of the opinion
that Governor Dorsey, as a native
son, could make a more formidable
race against Senator Smith than
could a candidate from Pennsylvania.
Dorsey May Decide Saturday
Governor Dorsey himself is repre-
scented here by his friends as being
sincerely in doubt as to what course
he should pursue. It Is learned that
the governor GA Thursday afternoon
summoned a number of his Political
friends to a conference In Vienna
with q view to finding out just what
support he might count on in the
event he entered the race. 1t is un-
discussion also covered the question
of whether the Palmer and the Will
son influence, which at the present
time are one and the same thing,
could be actively and forcefully
thrown to Governor Dorsey.
1t is understood that Governor Dor
sey will hold further conference
with his political advisers in Macon
this evening, at which time he will be
informed of the sentiment among
the Palmer men, as it was developed
at today's session of the Palmer eX-
ecutive committee. 1t is generally
believed here that Governor Dorsey
will reach no decision before he re-
turns to Atlanta on Saturday. Most
of his friends seem to believe that
no definite announcement will come
from him before Sunday morning.
Smiths Entry Upsets Plans
The meeting here today was called
by Chairman Stovall for the pur-
pose of furthering the candidacy Of
Mr.. Palmer and before Senator Hoke
Smith had announced his candidacy,
and before Governor Dorsey had
been discussed as a possibility. Ad-
mittedly, the entrance of Senator
Smith and the talk about Governor
Dorsey have upset the original plans
for the meeting. Until a definite at
titude is determined in reference to
the possible entrance of Governor
Dorsey. it is not likely that the Pal
mer organization can be further per-
fected. Even the most enthusiastic
supporters Of Attorney General Pal
mer admit that campaign plans are
up in the air and must continue to
be up in the air until 1t is known
definitely whether Governor Dorsey
is to be in the race.
Some Palmer men are discussing
the "advisability" Of the state ex-
ecutive committee calling off the pri-
mary and having the state send all
uninstructed delegation to San Fran
cisco. There are many, however,
who are outspoken against such ac'
ton. These point out that the COM
mittee has already got into bad odor
by its arbitrary action on the Hoov-
er matter, and that it cannot now
afford to caAce1 the primary, as 1t
would be left open to the charge
that it was playing politics in behalf
VI Soihc Par L1CuldF 'flllICdl IaCIIoI.
While the attendance upon the
Palmer executive committee is COM
paratively small, so far as numbers
go, there happens to be in session
in Macon today three statewide con-
ventions-the Georgia Educational
association; the County School Off
cials' association, and the Parent
Teacher association. Every section
of the state is represented in these
conventions. Many of the delegates
and evincing an active interest in the
political developments here. This
is taken to mean that when they re .
turn to their homes the presidential
campaign will be on in full blast.
and with people in every section of
the state keenly interested.
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