Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-03-25
FORMAL Statement
FROM GEORGIAN IS
To BE ISSUED SOON
Senior Senator to Go Before
Voters on April 20 as
Candidate for Democratic
Nomination

Senator Howe Smith will enter
the Georgia presidential primary to
be held April 20 and within the next
twentyfour hours will issue a state
ment to the voters of The state. Al
his rooms in the Piedmont hotel there
was given on Wednesday morning
the following announcement:
ut was learned Wednesday morn
ing at Senator Hoke Smiths rooms
in the Piedmont hotel that he had
definitely determined to permit the
use of his name in the primary OF
April 20 and that he would within
twenty-four hours issue an announce
ment to the Democratic voters OF
Georgia"
The decision of Senator Smith to
enter the primary was made in re
Spouse to requests that have come
to him from all parts of Georgia to
give expression to a viewpoint not
now represented by the candidacy OF
Attorney General Palmer or the can I
ulQdCy OIL SeIldIOr ItSSV.
How Democrats Feel
Many Democrats feel that the
great body of loyal Democratic opin
ion in Georgia is neither in favor
Of such an unqualified Endorsement
of every act of the administration
as Attorney General Palmer repre-
Of
qualified reputation Of the admins
tration as Senator Reed represents
They have represented to Senator
Smith that the overwhelming senti
ment of the state is in favor of the
ratification OF the peace treaty wita
reservations, rather than complete re
lection of the treaty because the sen
ate insisted upon reservations. In
view of Attorney General Palmer',i
announcement made when he entefS
ed the primary that his candidacS
should be understood as an. isliorse
ment of every phase" of the al
ninistration, it is generally believe!
that he supports the refusal Of Pres
ident Wilson to accept the treaty IL
the form passed by the senate. Gcor
gia Democrats have insisted -
Senator Smith that this extrenl2
view does not represent their feelin&
in the treaty matter-that rattle
than see the ratification of til
treaty delayed twelve months, i
not prevented altogether, they woul'
prefer it in the form passed by tn
senate. 80
On the other hand, it has been pre-;
sented to Senator Smith that Georgi&
Democrats do not demand, as doe
Senator Reed, complete rejection G.
the League of Nations; that the grea
body of Georgia Democrats, in othe
words, are not bitter enders;" tina
they resent personal antagonlSm To-
ward the president.
An Unwilling Choice
Hence the feeling among Demo
Gratis all over the state that thero
has developed in the prcsidentic
primary very unfortunate situatioh.
They have told Senator Smith thu
they are presented with an unwi-
ing choice Of which two extreme :.
neither one of which would be an e.,
preston of their true sentiments re
garding national affairs.
What they desire, and what the
have urged Senator Smith to repre-
sent in the primary, is the middi
ground viewpoint between these e,,-
tremes; the viewpoint which they be-
Ilieve to be typical of the overwheln
ling sentiment OF loyal Democrats al
over Georgia.
1t has further been urged upol
Senator Smith that a large elemel.
of the party in Georgia were deniC
In 'ticipation in the primary in con
Inection with the suggestion of He:
bert Hoover as the nominee at SCI
Francisco that another large ele-
ment favoring uninstructed delegate
cannot express itself; that the pre-
idential primary as it stands now is 4
choice between sending to San Fran
cisco a Palmer delogatio or a Re- /
delegation. -
AS stated by Senator Smith in 4
statement issued Tuesday, his fee
ing is that the Democratic party
Georgia has honored him with man
evidences Of it's favor and it's CO.
fdence, and not to be willing to re-
der a service to the great body
Democrats in this peculiar situate /
would amount to ingratiude. Henc.
he has determined to place himse,
lat Ae disposal of the party without
regard to the effect upon his polite |
future, and he. makes it very pla |
that the delegates to San Francisc
l., i'll be placed by him in a positicl
to vote as their best judgment di
t2.es for the party's nominee f..
DrpSideOL