Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-04-08

w clared to the Democrats of Georgia.
in his keynote speech at Gainesville,
that Senator Hoke Smith "is not a real
candidate for President" the Pennsylvania
aspirant was evidently ignoring certain sa-
lient facts concerning his own sporadic can
didacy. He was ignoring, for instance, the
tell-tale news from Michigan, in whose pref
erential Democratic primary Mr.. Palmer ran
fifth and last, receiving less than fourteen
per cent of the popular vote. Rather an arti-
fetal showing for a real candidate" is it
not?
The Michigan result appears the more sig
snificant when one looks into it's elements and
circumstances. Under the rule in that State
il name is once duly listed for a primary
contest It goes on the ballot even though its
owner personally wishes it withdrawn. Thus
it was that four of the entries in this case
those, namely, of Herbert Hoover, Governor
Edwards, William G. McAdoo and William
s. Bryan-were made and maintained with
out the consent, if not indeed against the ex-
pressed will of the individuals concerned.
Mr.. Hoover declined at the outset to sane
ton the entry of his name, and later intima-
ted that under certain conditions he would
accept the Republican nomination. Governor
Edwards and Mr.. McAdoo both requested
their friends not to consider them in the race.
and Mr.. Bryan regarded his own involuntary
part in the affair as political pleasantly.
There was but one avowed and aggres-
sive candidate-Hon. A. Mitchell Palmer. He
sought the votes of Michigan Democrats up
on substantially the same ground that he
seeks the votes of Georgia Democrats. He
made the most vigorous and resourceful
fight of which he and his political aides were
capable The chief Of those aides was the
Democratic National Committeeman of Mich
igan, one Mr.. William F. Connolly, veteran
in politics and holder of the whip hand in
his partys state organization. The National
Committeeman made vitriolic attack on
Mr.. Palmer's leading opponent, outpouring
all the Walls of wrath against Democrats who
dared stand for candidate other than the
one whom he, the National Committeeman,
and his clique had picked. Realizing how
great would be the import and effect of the
decision in that Comm onwealth, Mr.. Palmer
and his supporters exerted themselves to the
utmost, while the four others, being in the
contest by no wish of their own, looked dis
interestedly On or remained even unaware of
the unsolicited efforts put forth in their be-
half. The Attorney General hoped highly. He
planned skilfully. He strove manfully. And
he ran last.
We cheerfully concede that so earnest an
effort and so genial a gentleman deserved
better fate; and we doubt not that had the
Michigan matter been a tournament of per-
sonal popularity Mr.. Palmer would have
come through with plume erect. But inasmuch
as it was a business-like procedure on the
mart of practical minded Democrats seeking
a candidate whose policies would appeal to
the thoughtful rank and file, we submit that
Mr.. Palmers place in the popular award is
not a very inspiring one-certainly not for
a 'real candidate" Nor will the interested
observer fail to recall in this connection
what the Philadelphia Record, that far-famed
and leading Democratic journal of the Key
stone State wired in response to recent tel
egram from the Mayor of Savannah asking
If there was any great opposition TO MT
Palmer among the Democrats or MS nome
Commonwealth. The opposition to him is
general replied the Record, and aodeo
sFew Pennsylvania Democrats take Palmer
candidacy for the Presidency seriously:
Likewise Congressman Guy e. Camppeil'
Pennsylvania's foremost Democratic Repre-
sentative upon being telegraphed by another
distinguished Georgia democrat for an opln'
ion as to whether or not Mr.. Palmers can
didacy was taken as serious matter ln
Pennsylvania or anywhere else, sent the fol
lowing acute reply: II believe Michigan an
swers your inquiry much more intelligently
than I can.
The fact is, the Attorney General is ask
ing the people of Georgia to do what it il
quite evident the people of his own STATE
would never do. He is asking them to give
him their support for position which
he assuredly must realize he has no pros
pect whatsoever of obtaining and which in
deed he is not even seeking before tn
neople save in one other State. He was seek
ing it in Michigan, it is true, but that stor
is now done. He is not taken seriously as
candidate in Pennsylvania, according to s.
competent witness as the Ph1ladelphl'
Record and Congressman Campbell In tn
other forty-seven States, Georgia alone ex
cepted, he is not running at all. In thes
circumstances it is hardly to be imag1ne'
that Georgia Democrats, having the oppor
tunity to vote for their own senior sena
tor who champions a real principle,
real cause, real Democracy and real Amer1
canism. will waste their support on cand
dacy which, if we may judge by the light
before us, is sheer imagination.