Americus times-recorder., 1920-04-13
700 SIGNED Up
IN SUMTER TO
SUPPORT Smith
Club Backing Senator's S
Candidacy Holds En-
thusiastic Meeting

About fifty voters attended the
meeting of Hoke Smith supporters
IN the private dining room of the
windsor Hotel last night, the room
belng. almost uncomfortably crowd
ed with workers who are active in
the interest of the senior senator. A
member of the club who was present
stated at the close of the meeting that
unusual enthusiasm was manifested
by those present. Every district in the
county was represented at the meet
ing, he said, farmers and business
men being especially prominent.
Plains and the Seventeenth district
were well represented
L. G. Council, presided at the meet
ing, and in his remarks told the mem
bers of that club that he was not in
politics to participate in petty fights
between partisan politicians, but that
the issues involved in the coming
presidential primary are of such i'm
portance not only to Sumter county
and Georgia, but to the nation and
the whole world, that he considered
it his duty to put his full influence
into the fight. Mr.. Council asserted
vigorously that Senator Smith not
only represents the best interests of
the Democratic party and the Ameri-
can people in his stand on the
League of Nations issue, but that his
is the only sane and reasonable stand
for every loyal Democrat and pa
triotic citizen.
"Not Disloyal To Differ
No discourtesy to the president as
the party's leader, or disloyalty to
the nations best interests, Mr.. Coun-
Gil said, could possibly be found in
the attitude of Senator Smith, who
honestly differs with President Will
son regarding Article X, and certain
other features of the League of Ma
tions covenant. "a man can be loyal
to his party leader and yet differ with
him on vital issues" Mr.. Council as
serted, and then he added that Sena-
tor Smith, representing the people of
Georgia in the senate, had conceived
it to be his duty to insist upon certain
reservations regarding the League of
Nations covenant, which reservations
he believed are approved by a major
ity of Georgians.
J. W. Tomlinson, of the 18th dis
trict, and j. Randolph Logan, of the
Plains district, made short addresses,
plans for furthering Senator Smiths
candidacy were then discussed.
W. I. Lane made the principal talk
on this subject, paying particular at
tention to attacks being made on
Senator Smith by Palmer supporters
and Watsonites. eve should and will
meet the issue squarely," said Mr..
I EtDbic &c e.,
paign of personal bitterness and
abuse. No issue was ever settled
through abuse, and l, for one, will
have nothing to do with such a cam
paign," he said. at is not necessary
in order to put Sumter county in the
Hoke Smith column-where the coun-
ty has always been"
To Speak In County.
Mr.. Lane then took up the various
arguments being made by Palmer and
Watson supporters, and explained
to the club members what he referred
to as their weakness" So forcible
was his argument, and so clear his
explanation of the issues involved
that the club members insisted that
he go, with others, to Leslie, Plains,
DeSoto and perhaps other points in
the county, for a talk to the voters.
It was accordingly resolved that Mr..
Lane, w. T. Wallis, J. J. Hanesley.
Dan Chappell, Robert Lane and r. L.
McMath should go to Leslie this af-
ternoon for a discussion of the cam
paign issues.
One Of the most enthusiastic out
bursts of the meeting came when
John T. Methvin presented an addi-
tional list of members who had been
enlisted in the 28th district since the
clubs meeting. When this list was
passed over to Secretary Dan Chap
pell he made announcement that the
club membership had reached a total
of about 700, or nearly third of the
total voting strength of the COUNTY.
After some further discussion, it
was decided the club should meet
again Friday night at 1880, and
Chairman Council stated that mas
much as the room occupied seemed
unlikely to hold the crowd that would
attend he would see that ample quar-
ters for the meeting were provided,
even if it became necessary to throw
the main dining room of the hotel
open for the purpose of the meet
ing.