Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1920-02-24

gia won't vote for him"
Three different versions of the rule
of eligibility for candidates in Geor-
gia's Democratic preferential pri-
mary, to be held April 20, have been
issued by Hiram L. Gardner. secre-
tary of the Democratic state execu-
tive committee, and secretary Of the
subcommittee on rples of the state
committee.
Version No. 1, given by him to
the press on the afternoon of Friday,
February 6, Immediately after the
meeting at which che subcommittee
drafted the rules of the primary,
provided that the name of ANY man"
might be placed upon the ballot by
a petition signed by enc hundred or
more white Georgia Democrats"
-" Version No 2, given by him under
date of February 81, in a communica-
ton addressed to the editor of the
! Atlanta Constitution, Lprovided that
the name of "Auy Democrat qualified
for the esidency" could be plac-
ed upon the ballot by one hundred Or
ngW 'Qualifea whiss Democrats,
Version No. 2, given by him under
date of February 10, in a circular
sent to the chairman Of the several
Democratic county executive COM
mittees, provided that the name OF
ANY Democrat qualified for the pres
idency of the United States" could be
placed upon the ballot by petition
signed by one hundred or more reg
istered viii Democr ats oe the state
of Georgia, qualified to vote in said
primary"
QUESTIONABLE TO Hoover
But version No. l is not the
version accepted by the subcommit-
tee as the official version, although
1T was published in a number of
newspapers over the state and was
accepted by the public as the cor
rect version and was not challenged
By Secretary Gardner, so far as any
body knows, until after the secret
meeting held by the subcommit-
tee in Atlanta last Thursday aft
, ernoon.
At that meeting it was decided
that candidates in the primary must
% avoWeG Democrats; and furthef
recided that Herbert Hoover must
avow himself a Democrat before his
name could be placed upon the bal
lot in response to petitions bearing
! more than the requisite number OF
signatures, which had been receiv-
ed; and further decided that Secre-
tary Gardner should address a let
ter to Mr.. Hoover requesting him
to say whether he considered him
self eligible under Xersion No. 8
which the subcommittee seems to
have taken as the official version
Acting in pursuance of the SUD
committees directions, Secretary
Gardner has mailed from Eatontop
letter requesting Mr.. Hoover tt
make known to the subcommittee
! whether or not he is a Democrat
This letter as telegraphed to The
Journal by Mr. Gardner is as fo1.
| lows:
Text OF the Letter
( I1OL. I1SI DSIl -. I1OON6E, L lis
Raleigh, Washington, D. C.--My
! dear Mr.. Hoover: At a meeting OF
! the Democratic executive committee
of the state of Georgia, held in At
lanta February 6, 1920, Demo
| cratic presidential primary was or
dered to be held in Georgia April 20
! 1920.
! "A committee of seven was ap
| pointed to make all necessary rule:
and regulations to govern said pri
mary The committee formulated
and promulgated through it's secre
! tary rules, a copy of which l have
| the honor to enclose herein, dated
February 10, 1920.
Among the rules is the follow
! ing: Each candidate for the Demo
cratic nomination for president shall
file with the secretary of the STATE
Democratic executive committee no
tice f/his candidacy by noon,\ Apri
l, 1920. The name Of any Democrat
qualified for the presidency of th,
United States, may be placed upor
the ballot to be used in said presi
Dental primary provided one hun
|.dred or more registered white Demo
~ e"t9F quul4ASu 70 NOl0 III SdIQ pfl
mary. shall petition the state Demo
cratic executive committee, through
its secretary. to have his name thu
placed, said petition to be filed Will
the secretary Of the state Democratic
executive committee by noon, Apri
l. 1922
I'm view. of recent newspaper in
terviews purportng to come from
you. we do not know whether Or no
it would be your desire to qualif!
under these rules to have your nam
placed upon the ballot in the Demo
cratic primary we propose to hold
"One hundred or more registered
white Democrats of Georgia have pc
titioned this committee that you
name be thus placed and it is tn
desire Of the committee that you ex
press. to us, yourself, whether o
not you would meet the require
ments made prior to the suggestion