Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-09-02

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To Those Who Really Wish
To See Mr.. Watson, Defeated
~ EoRGIA Democrats who feel the i'm
portance, to the party and to the
State. Of defeating Thomas e. Wat
SON In the forthcoming Senatorial primary
are wondering why Governor Dorsey's tt1n-
erary of speeches is directed so largely to
counties where the race admittedly lies be-
tween Mr.. Watson and Senator Smith. The
Governors tacticians can but realize that
this course, while adding not whit to the
strength of his own candidacy, will work
insofar as it is effectual at all, to the aid
and comfort of the Watson forces. Sup
pose, for instance, that in a. community of,
say five hundred voters, two hundred are
now for Senator Smith, two hundred for
: Mr.. Watson, and the remaining one hum
dred In part for Governor Dorsey and in
part undecided. Even If the Governor wins
the entire one hundred, it will profit him
nothing; but it will prove exceedingly help
full to Mr.. Watson by bringing about that
very division on which he relies for cleo
ton.
Curiously enough, these tactics are en-
ployed time and again, in county after
county where competent and candid observ-
ers freely declare that the defeat OIL Mr.
Watson will not be accomplished except by
a union of loyal Democrats in support of
his one formidable opponent. Senator Smith
Strangely enough, moreover, the activities
of the Governors campaign are concen-
trated, not again. Mr. Watson, whose war
record was an affront to State and nation
and whose policies are altogether destruc-
tive, but against Senator Smith, jealous and
potent worker for the winning Of his coun-
try's cause seasoned and tireless builder in
the service of his Commonwealth. For the
radical who fought every measure of mill
tary and for the most part of economic
Importance from the day of our break with
Germany to the hour the last shot was fired
these bitter factionists have only an .ndif-
ferent glance or knowing smile. But for
the Senator who supported those measures
one and ALL and whose colleagues so valued
his counsel as to create special place for
him on the military affairs committee, for
him these factionists have nothing but preju-
dice and denunciation. ~
Nor#can the conclusion be escaped that
their prime purpose in .thrusting a third
candidate into the contest between Senator
Smith and Mr.. Watson will be achieved if
only they can defeat the Senator. The peril
of wisconsin, the prestige. of. the State the
labor, the ideals of concord and progress
all weigh nothing aginst petty hate in
the minds of these political feudists While
broad-visioned men are considering how
Georgia best can be served and how the
election Of a dangerously erratic candidate
can most surely be prevented these nursers
OF lame and hoary grudge are concerned
chiefly with their spite against Hoke Smith
That is why they are sending Governor Dor
sey into counties where the race is admit
teddy between the Senator and Mr., Wat
son and where every vote diverted from the
Senator becomes in effect a@vote transferred
to Mr.. Watson That is why they leave a
real menace to the State unchalenged and
muster their crumbling forces against the
one candidate with whom the battle for Sc
eurity and constructiveness and loyal Democ-
racy can be won. sa44sva
Happily for Georgia, however, the main
hosts of her stanch Democracy are not SO
blinded by passion and prejudice that they
cannot see where civic duty and public in
terests lie. They look upon the Senatorial
race with eyes of discerning patriotism and
unclouded common sense. They behold on
the one side an agitator whose every i'm
pulse is for tearing down and whose cleo
tion would fall like a killing frost upon
Georgia's prosperity and well-being; on the
other side, statesman OF experience and
power, whose dominant delight is in build
ing up and whose recort. is packed with
evidences Of his use1ul1 &c, to the State Be-
tween these two, pushed in against his own
better judgment (and against that of his
wiser. more disinterested friends) is the
candidate of fnsen~ate factionisrn. The in
herent weakness of his position and the ex-
tremely fragile nature of his record in the
Executive office make Governor Dorseys
candidacy but broken reed to those who
are looking in earnest for a sword where
with to win against wisconsin. Their very
instinct warns them in so crucial an issue
against preferring inexperience to prac-
ticed ability and against dividing their
strength when united effort is Imperative
ly needed
Not partisan Or traditional sup
porter of Senator Smith. but as a wise
watcher of events, solicitous only for Geor-
gia's well-being that veteran Democrat
and honored citizen, Maj Joseph B. Cum
ming. of Augusta, summed the situation I'M
answerably when he said: 'tThe call of the
Senate is for the best statesmanshil that
the country affords, men of proved ability
men broad-minded mel of strong char
acter, men of experience in large affairs
1t is the negation of roaeon,a the abdication
Of Judgment lightly to regard the Senate OF
the United States as a place to which to
send almost any kird of fellow that wants
to go there, albeit he may be narrow and
superficial mediocre and inexperienced and
generally small and Indifferent or man
though able and gifted, radical in his views
extreme in his prejudices, violent in his
denunciation Of those who differ from him
blinded by passion" Choosing by this sound
standard, Georgia Democrats whose concern
for the eh1esf renraSentafiCu of tbeiT