Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-08-17
what Is Best for Georg;a9'
Puts Faction,sn1 to Shame

HIGHLY noticeable and significant
~ fact in the Georgia Senatorial contest
is the temper of calm reasonable
ness in which most of the newspapers of the
State are weighing the issues. With one or
two unhappy exceptions they have put on
the rancorous partisanship of other days and
planted their discussion upon the broad, h1gh
ground of what is best for the Commemorative
Here and there, it is true, old prejudices and
hates are heard kissing again, and men are
urged to vote as emotional factionists rather
than as thoughtful citizens with mind single
to the general good. But this attitude is
becoming so rare that it is less like a living
species of politics than the bones of some
strange reptile from earth's 1ong-forgotten
past, now exhibited among the curios of a
museum. There was a time when it was
quite the mode to denounce your political op-
ponent as liar, traitor, scoundrel, Bene-
dict Arnold, viper and polecat all in one.
OF course, the hurlers Of these feckful
phrases knew that fhe gentleman to whom
they referred was not really a viper and not
really a Benedict Arnold. The campaign
over and it's asperities Gained, they not in
frequently would concede him to be useful
and upright; and if in the course of mortal
nature he was gathered to his fathers, how
their obituary harps would twang! The
amusing thing, however, is that it never oc-
Cured to them what bowling fshwives they
were making of themselves.
To see how happily times have changed
one has but to glance at the run of comment
on the present Senatorial contest-fairly
gathered and fairly presented comment, that
is to say, not the garblings and distortions OF
a hysteric press agent. Hear, for example,
the quiet, but cogent, reasoning of the Moul-
trie Observer: "Only four weeks remain of
the political campaign in this State. You
have only four weeks to forbear, four weeks
to guard against making an ass of yourself
Four weeks of controlling your temper and
refraining from heated arguments will bring
you the rewards Of peace and the esteem of
your fellows" AS for efforts to revive past
quarrels irrelevant to present issues: MANY
hatreds are being brought out of the closets
and many old warriors, snipers insurgents,
bearing wounds and harboring grudges of the
oast, are coming forth to fight anew the bat
les that should be forgotten. Shall for
ward-looking man, interested in truth, JUS
tice fair play, free vote and a fair count
worry because the professional politician and
he professional fighter is sounding an alarm
We think not 1t is better to compose your
self, control yourself, think for yourself, and
-;peak for yourself, trusting to the righteous
1ess of your cause and the spirit of fairness
and justice in which you seek to influence
others to win men and votes to your cause
8 What world of difference between this
. thoughtful attitude and the wild gesticula-
ions of certain enemies of Georgia's senior
senator! Apparently they have but one aim
md that is the defeat of Hoke Smith, re-
5ardless of the interests of the State Is i
be wondered that with SO petty pur.
,ose their appeal is to prejudice and faction
SIN, or that in venting their partisan gal
hey lose sight of the broad interests of thei1
Commonwealth? Says the Dublin Courier
Herald in a keen survey of the situation:
- sit was not to defeat Watson that
Governor Dorsey was entered, but to fur
nIsh fuel for the hoped-for consuming
hot Spc%
- Smith. AS an Atlanta newspaper writer
recently stated in Dublin, we don't care
who whips Hoke Smith, just so he is
whipped"
There you have the unmasked spirit of the
thief opposition to the senior Senator's re
election. 1t was apparent from the outse
that the race was between him and Thoma
3. Watson-the one builder, of provet
worth to the state, the other destructive ant
.,rratic. 1t was apparent, to an open-mindeG
onlooker, that the election of Mr.. Watson
would be an extreme misfortune, if not, in
deed, a calamity, and that the sure way II
prevent it lay in union of the States loyal,
Democratic and constructive forces. AS tn
man already at the SenatoriaI helm and a
one whose record of remarkably fruitful
service entitled him to consideration, Hok
Smith was from the first, as he has continued
to be- the inevitable candidate for that pur
pose. In every essential he stood, as he still
stands, the ant1theSls of Watson. The lat
ter denounced the great war measures an
urged a course that would have brought tn
country to shame; the senator supported ther
with jealous devotion and with an effective
ness that fastened the victory veteran il
Democracy's battles whose allegiance ha
known no shadow Of turning, tried an,
faithful servant of the State, whose expert
snce and influence will be valuable beyon
measure in the uncertain times ahead Sen
ator Smith is obviously the one best ftte
to oppose Watson and to render the Stat
substantial service. But the irreconcilabl
factionists would not see it so. They woul
lot have union and concord; not even for tn
good of Democracy: they would not forge
Did feuds and bitterness. not even for tn
good of Georgia. What matters it though tn
State should suffer, if only factonal ends ca
be served? eve don't care who whips Hok
Smith, just so he is whipped! ! !"
y Happily, however, this churlsh spirit i
dying While in some bosoms the old malic
still is nursed and from some pens vitupera
ton will always flow, the rank and file ar