Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-05-22
SENATOR SMITH, ON
WAY To CAPITAL,
|SSUESSTATEMENT
Favors Charles S. Barrett as
Head Of Regular Demo-
cratic Delegation to San
Francisco Convention

senator Eoke smith returned 10
Washington Friday at noon to be in
the senate until the adjournment Of
congress the first week in June. Be-
fore leaving the city he issued a
staten ant concerning the events of
the presidential convention held last
Tuesday, and made it known that he
is in favor of the election of Charles
S. Barrett as chairman Of the regu-
lar delegation to San Francisco.
Indications are that Mr.. Barrett
will be the unanimous choice Of the
regular delegation. Senator Smith
entertains the highest appreciation Of
Mr.. Barrett's value to the Democratic
party as chairman of one of the state
delegations.
Former Senator Thomas w. Hard
wick is likewise warmly supporting
Mr.. Barrett. = 2 he friends of Mr..
Hardwick would have supported him
for chairman of tn. delegation if he.
had not insisted on making Mr.. Bar
rett chairman. Mr.. Hardwick will
have his hands full with other work
at San Francisco, including the case
to be presented to the credentials
committee Of the national convention
and the framing of the conventions
resolutions. Hence he would not
consider the suggestion that he be
chairman.
Mr.. Barrett is president Of the Ma
tiona1 Farmers Union, a position he
has held for fifteen years. The union
in the west is particularly strong,
with large and active and influen-
tial membership. Mr.. Barrett is
known all over the country. For.
the past four years he has presided
over the joint conferences Of the
five national farmers organizations
held in Washington. He is probably
the foremost figure in organized
agriculture in America. His presence
on the floor of the Democratic ma
tional convention as chairman of
delegation from one of the largest
states will greatly strengthen the
party. ~ :.
Plans Of the regular delegation are
going forward without delay. A
of the delegation will be held
at IL o'clock next Wednesday morn.
ing in the Kimball house ballroom, at
which the chairman and Secretary
will be elected and the entire case
against the rump de1ega ton. repre-
senting Mr.. Palmer will be mapped
out.
Mr.. Hardwick has received, al
ready, assurances of support of the
the largest state delegations in the
convention, He has the utmost con-
reular delegation from a number OF
fidence that the regular delegation
will be seated.
William J. Vereen, of Moultrie, the
new Democratic national committee
man elected by the convention, will
be in Atlanta next Sunday and Mon
day on his way to New York to at
tend meeting of the executive COM
mittee of the National Association Of
Manufacturers. of which he is a
member. IIe will not be able to at
tend the meeting of the delegation on
that account, but will confer with
several members of the delegation
before leaving for New York Mr..
Vereen will support with the utmost
viSor and aggressiveness the .creden-.
tails of the regular delegation
against the rump delegation repre-
senting Mr.. Palmer.
Senator Smiths statement regard
ing the convention is as follows:
Il am glad the vote of the
Georgia Democrats in the San
\ Francisco convention will not be
cast in favor of the League of
Nations covenant as it came
back from Paris, although
would have preferred the con-
vention to express willingness
to accept the leagne with reser-
vations which nullified it's objec-
tionable features and protected
American interests and institu-
tons.
"The Democratic party should
not attempt to force upon the
country the league as it came
from Paris. America will not ac-
cept it, and our party could not .
win On such an issue. The Geor-
sia delegation will serve our
country ard party by standing
firmly against the effort.
1T is gratifying that the
convention showed a desire to
treat all factions with absolute
fairness, and: to give each fac
ton representation in proportion
to it's strength in the election.
No minority has any right to
ask more. The attitude of the
Palmer delegates in demanding,
for a minority, control over the
convention, necessarily forced
the other delegates together to
prevent the substitution of ma
chine rule for the expressed
wishes of the people at the bal
lot box
eff by refusing their fair al
lotment, the Palmer faction fail
ed to obtain any delegates to the
national convention, they cannot
blame the rest of the conven-
ton for the result. I had asked
my delegates to stand for the
policy of fair treatment to all,
and to seek no advantage to
which they were not entitled,
and to refuse to neither of the
other elements it's just rights.
The record of the convention
shows how scrupulously they
carried out this policy, and 1 am