Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-08-24
Thinking Georg;ans Unite
On Smith to Beat Watson


8 the Senatorial contest develops it be-
"A comes increasingly evident that tint
race is between Hoke Smith anc
Thomas E. Watson. This is but natural IN
view of the striking antithesis which these
two present in purpose, in policy, in tempera-
ment and in record. The one is interested IN
things useful and constructive, in the security
of business, the progress Of agriculture, the
upbuiIding of industry, the advancement OF
education, in the substantial rights and well
fare of the rank and file. The other is in
terested primarily in political adventure, IN
arraying class against class and section
against section, in tearing down where others
seek to construct, in invoking hatred and
strife where others plead for good will and
co-working Senator Smith has been fight
ing Democracy's battles from the perllous
depths of Reconstruction up to this high hour,
never failing, never firing. Mr.. watson mas
been hating the Democratic party Tor the
, last forty years. Senator Smith supported
every war measure put forward in the coun-
try's struggle with German militarism, and
/ through wise counsel and Jealous labor has
tened the dawn of victory. Mr.. Watson re-
: sisted those measures, turned hostile hand
against the cause for which the nation was
pouring out her dearest blood, and urged
course that would have made Americas name
) q byword and kissing for the ages.
: It is natural, we say, that with two such
fundamentally opposite characters, two such
radically different records in the field, the
contest should lie between those two, regard
less of the effort to inject irrelevant issues
and minor candidates. 1t is natural, more
over, indeed inevitable, that open-minded
-Georgians who prefer substance to sensa-
tionalism and think the wisdom of their Re-
epublic's fathers to be better than Bolshe-
n of
candidate who stands out as the strong cham
pion of their interests, the candidate who can
WIN for the prosperity and the honor of the
State. There are scores Of good Democrats,
be it granted, who in point of patriotism and
native ability might well bear the standard
of Georgia's loyal hosts in this momentous
campaign. There are educators, jurists and
ministers, there are business men and big
Drained artisans, there are captains of indus
try and captains of agriculture who would be
well worthy, in point of character and
thought power, to lead. But need it be said
that those qualities alone do not suffice in a
contest so crucial this, nor for problems
such as a United States Senator, especially if
he is from Georgia and the South, has await
ing him. 1t is not a simple question of who
is worthy, but also a question of who can
win against the adroit and dangerous Mr..
Watson, and OF who best can serve the Com
nlonwea1th.
These are the considerations that give de-
the support of all who wish to see this bat
tie won for Georgia's material interests and
good name. His is the experience, his the
forcefulness, his the strategic position re-
quired for the great task in hand. It is easy
to see why advocates of Mr.. Watson would
favor the thrusting of other candidates into
the race and smile complacently at sunder-
ing of the true Democratic vote But it we'll
nigh passes understanding why any who wish
for Mr.. Watson's defeat should ever have
nlod diuici oh how
forced third candidate who obviously can
not be elected and who can only sap strength
from the party's critical battlefront. One
motive and one alone explains that blunder,
the motive of blind malice which certain po-
litical feudists ever have, and doubtless ever
will, hold against Hoke Smith. All that he
has done for Georgia weighs nothing against
their petty grudge. ALI his services to agri-
culture and business and education, all his
talent in originating useful laws and his skill
in pressing them to enactment, all his labors
of patriotism in season of war and his work
for disabled soldiers since the armistice his
strength and integrity of character, his val
liable friendships and influence at Washing
ton. his high worth to the party and the Com
monwealth, all count for nothing in the eyes
of them who cannot see for petty hate
So 1t is that they go on abusing Senator
Smith doing their utmost even though I'M
Willingly, to weaken the snew and split the
vote of the States true Democracy Judged
Thomas E. Watson; they are interested solely
in defeating Senator Smith. They would
hazard the States birthright of honor to feed
upon pottage of factional revenge.
Happily, however, the rank and file OF
Georgia's citizenry have hearts less bitter than
this, and better balanced heads. Many of
them have differed with the senior Senator
ON issues gone by, but they are not therefore
incapable of thinking now in terms of vital
present instead of dead past, and in the
hrNo fy,fn oP %hnin Gfcta irc& 10fy,
row factionism They see the contest as il
really is, that it lies altogether between Sen
ator Smith and Mr.. Watson, and that the
common welfare imperatively demands a
union of loyal forces behind the cause fol-
which the senior Senator stands. This is the
view of appropriated, practical patriotism
and the view that must prevail for Georgia's
sake.
A newsdealer in Newark has just died
leaving one hundred and eghty-five thou
sand dollars, which would indicate that edi
tors are on the wrong end of the game