Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-08-24
SPEAKER DECLARES
OTHERWISE HE IS
IN RACE To FINISH
In Letter to Editor Howell
He Says He Is Now the
Strongest Candidate in the
GubernatoriaI Race

OuUOI IICAlOl ICkI llSASS
In an open letter to Clark Howell,
editor of the Atlanta Constitution,
made public on Monday, Speaker
John N. Holder. candidate for the
governorship, offered to retire from
the guberna torial race as suggested
by Mr.. Howell. provided Mr.. Howell
would withdraw his candidate, Cow
ernor Dorsey, as candidate for the
United States senate.
Mr. Holders letter is in reply to
editorials appearing simultaneously
in the Constitution and the Macon
Telegraph fe wdays ago, urging
him to withdraw from the governor"
ship race in favor Of Clifford Walker.
to the end that the defeat Of Thomas
w. Hardwick might be accomplished.
In his letter Mr.. Holder points out
that if the anti-Hardwick vote is be-
ing divided between Clifford Walker
and himself. the anti-Watson vots
in the senatorial race Is being SINH
larly split by the entrance Of Cove
ernor Dorsey as a candidate.
In support of his contention that
he is the strongest opponent of Mr..
Hardwick, Mr.. Holder quotes xtracts
from letters received from several
counties.
He charges Mr.. Howell and Mr.
Anderson of the Macon Telegraph,
with having "hand-picked" their cam
didates for governor and United
States senator with delivering a
"Brutus stab" in an effort to accom-
plish his (Holder's) political assassi-
nation.
Mr.. Holders Letter
Mr.. Holders letter follows:
Hon. Clark Howell,
Editor Atlanta Constitution.
Atlanta, Georgia,
Dear Mr.. Howell:
In reply to your editorial in
the Atlanta Constitution of Au-
gust 20, 1920, demanding that I
withdraw from the race for gov
ernor in the interest of the loyal
democracy of the state, L desire
to state that this is the first
opportunity that 1 have had to
reply, as 1 returned on Satur-
dag night from very strenuous,
= and successful weeks campaign
in South Georgia.
When Mr.. Hardwick entered
the race for governor 1 held a
conference with my loyal friends
from every congressional dis.
trict of Georgia, and said to
them then that I stood ready.
at all times, to render any ser.
vice to democracy, even to the
surrender of the cherished am
bition of life time, and that II
they thought 1 should retire from
the race I would gladly do SO,
In this conference 1 earnestly
urged my friends not to give
consideration to my political
fortunes, but only of the good
of the party and the welfare of
the state. They were unanimous
that 1 alone could win this raoa
have endeavored all my life
to be fair and just to all mem
to be true and loyal to my party,
my state and my nation. I have !!
always been your friend, trus
and loyal. I was the first can. =
didate to defend you against the
attack Of MIR. Hardwick, and 7
expected nothing less than fair
treatment at your hands, but In
stead you have given me a Bru-
tus stab In an effort to accom-.
p1ish my political assassination
aTid TO elect your candanate.
You say that unfortunately
the loyal Democratic vote Of the
state Is divided between Walker
and Holder, while Hardwick In
able to concentrate around his
candidacy all the discomfort, dew.
il1nent and dis1oya1ty that are
working both from within ana
without the state.
The situation presented in the
race for the United States SEN
ate is even more acute. There
is political chaos in Georgia.
You are responsible for it. Your
effort to hand-pick the can.
dfdates for the highest offices in
the gift of the people of Geor.
gia and your determination to
dominate the politics of the
state has caused feelings Of in.
tense resentment against you
and your methods. Since you
ordered me to get out of the race
for governor hundreds have ex-
pressed their indignation at your 4
audacity. 1 wish to quote a few
sentences from the many letters
that I have received since your
political mandate to me:
How People Stand
From prominent Atlanta citi.
zen: Stay in the race. If the
Constitution and it's allies, the
Macon Telegraph, and others,
are to run Georgia politics, say
who shall be the Democratic
nominees, ETC., what's the use
of a primary or convention?"
From a Gainesville merchant:
II see there is an effort On the
part of the Constitution to get
yo out of the race for governor,
I hope you will pay no attention
to this bosh, and that you will i
stay in the game to the finish.
1 do not know much about other
sections of the state. but I do
know that you are decidedly the
stronger in this section"
From a prominent citizen Of
Lumpkin county: II read the
editorial in fOdav'S Constitution
which does not perturb us in the