Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-07-31
DECLARES
He WILL DEFEND
RECORD Of PARTY
His Reply to Reported ChaI-
Ienge Forecasts One Of
Most Sensational Contests
in Georgia's History

Senator Hoke Smith is ready to
meet Thomas E. Watson or any
body else in joint debate in defense
of the record made by the Demo-
cratic party. The senator so an
nounced in a statement issued Fri
day morning in comment on the re-
ported challenge of Mr.. Watson,
made In speech at Tennille Thurs
day.
Senator Smith was shown the dis
patch from TennilIe, as published in
the Atlanta Constitution, carrying
the statement by Mr.. Watson that
he had challenged the senator to
meet him in series of debates.
Asked what he intended to do, Sena-
tor Smith replied:
I have not received the chaI.
1cnge to which you refer, but
am ready to meot Mr.. Watson
or anybody else, in defense Of
the magnificent record which tho
Democratic party mas made dur
ing the six years which 1t was
In control of the White House
and both branches of congress.
stated in my announcement
WAS ready to defend the record
Of the Democratic party against
AL comets, and am. I stand
by it.
Big Race Forecast
This statement of Senator Smith
Following on the heels of Watsonn
reported desire for joint discussion
gives Georgia voters the prospect
of one of the most sensational con.
tests In the history of state politics.
IT means that if Governor Hugh M.
Dorsey enters the race, he will be
invited to participate in the joint dis
cusslons. and that Georgia voters
VIII have the opportunity of hearing
the issues and the platforms dis
cussed by the candidates face 70
face. These debates, if thew take
place, will attract such crowds as
have never attended political dis
cussions in this state before.
Further developments will ba
awaited with keen interest.
Dividing interest with the prob
ability of joint debate in the sem
atorial contest Friday was the report
in the Atlanta Constitution that
either Walker or Holder would with
draw, In order that the opposition
TO Senator Hardwick in his raca
for governor might be combined on
one man to insure Mr., Hardwick'n
defeat. This report brought the fol-
lowing interesting comment from n
Well-known Democrat, vino is anx.
lous TO see the Democrats present q
united front all along the line:
Why Divide Voter
notice in the mornings paper
That the plan Is to take down
either Walker or Holder, so that
one man may run against Hard.
wick for governor.
notice also the suggestion
that some one else be put in the
race against Watson, besides
These suggestions are hard
to understand.
If 1t is desirable to have only
one man run against Hardwick,
so that he may be defeated, why
10 1t not equally desirable that
the race be left to Senator Hoke
Smith against Mr. Watson?
Everybody Knows that putting
another man into the race will
increase the chances for Watson,
and that Senator Smith, run.
ming against him alone, viii GER
tainly defeat him.
Is there a desire to defeat
Hardwick and elect Watson7
This statement will be read with
much interest by Democrats who
want to see the party's record vim
dlcated in the. primary. Undoubted-
ly the interview will strike many
Dpn0nnroto Xxyifb
its logic. If house divided against
itself cannot stand in a governors
race, unquestionably many strong
administration supporters who voted
mary, will wonder if it is good stray
edy. to put out another Democrat to
divide Senator Smiths vote in his
race against Mr.. Watson in his cam
paign of denunciation of the Demo-
cratic party, its record and it's plat
form. ..-.
Senator Smith was back in At
lanta Friday after a visit to La
Grange where he addressed a large
9athering of Troup county citizens
with his reception in LAGRANGE and
confident of carrying Troup county.
Cooper In Race
Governor Dorsey is still undecid-
contest, although some unknown
friend has paid his entrance fee. He
will in all proba bility announce his
decision in the Sunday newspapers.
John r. Cooper, Macon attorueH-
has announced his candidacy for TING
senate in the following statement:
Il am going to run for the United
States senate on two planks. =
Il stand for the repeal Of the
amendment to the con-
stitution of the United States. I
am in favor of light wines and beer,
local option and the liberty Of the
American citizen. 1 find that since
the national prohibition law went
into effect that more crime has been
committed, more homicides, tried in
my state than ever before. OF
purse Island for local option and
states rights.
II am opposed to the League Of
Nations. The old constitution of the
United States is good enough for
me. We are drifting away from our
fathers constitution. l don't see
how any American lawyer who
knows anything about the constitu-
ton can be in favor of the League
of Nations.
81 am not a drinking man, but 7
want more liberty. We haven't got
enough liberty. The San Francisco
nominated Governor Cox
for president of the United States
and I am going to support him.
Temperance Conference