Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1920-03-25
SENATOR SMITH
GIVES PLATFORM
TOVOTERSOF GA.
Formal Announcement
Of His Candidacy For
President Is Made

ator Hoke Smith, of Georgia, today
announced his candidacy for Presi-
dent of the United States, permitting
the use of his name in the preferen-
tial primary to be held April 20. His
statement is as follows:
'To My Fellow Democrats of
Georgia:
81 have authorized the use of my
name in the preferential primary for
president on April goth. This action
was taken in response to the urgent
request of Democrats in every part of
Georgia and after careful consider
alton on my part.
"The most vital question before
the Democratic party today and one
that will affect it's fortunes for fifty
years is what attitude shall the ma
tional convention take with regard to
the League of Nations.
"Unless | enter the Georgia pri-
mary, | am assured that the voters of
this state will be limited in their
choice on this great question to two
candidates. One of these represents
the extreme view that the league
should have been ratified without any
reservations and should have been re-
jected if substantial reservations
were insisted upon The other can
didate represents the equally extreme
view that the entire treaty should
have been rejected with or without
substantial reservations.
Either Injurious.
81 do not believe either view reps
resents the public sentiment of our
state. | am convinced either would
be injurious to our country. do not
believe the Democratic party, if COM
mitted at San Francisco to either
view, could hope to return to power
at this election, or at any time with
in a generation.
"The great question to come be-
fore the San Francisco convention is
shall the Democratic party commit
itself to national campaign on the
proposition that the League of Ma
tions should have been ratified with
out the dotting of an 'I'' or the cross
ing of st." | am unalterably op-
posed to its taking such a position.
For reasons that l will discuss fully
before the people of the state, the
treaty without substantial reserva-
tions was so inconsistent with Amer
lean interests, American institutions
and American ideals that it could not
and should not be forced upon an un-
willing country. With proper reser-
vations. substantially those that the
senate adopted on vital points, the
League could have been a great IN
strument for good and should have
been accepted. ~
1"The wise course for the Demo
cratic party is to base its campaign
on the great achievements OF the
Democratic administration and the
Democratic congress, and not TO
blindly indorse "every phase OF the
administration record.
Georgia First State.
"On this principle l announce my
candidacy. Georgia is the hrst state
to act in primary on this SUBJECT.
It's action will largely influence the
action of other states. Indeed, It's
rosition is such that it may be the
controlling factor Regardless OF
anv question of personal politics
an1 regardless of any affect 1t may
have on my personal fortunes,
would he derelict in my duty II
failed to make fight for these prlh-
ciples in the coming primary
II would infinitely prefer to make
the fight without myself becomihg
candidate and it was only when 1t pc
conc apparent that the issue Wou4d
not he presented in any other way
that I consented to enter my name.
ssDnmocrats all over Georgia tell
H. rraSant situation pre- |
vents a real expression ol PSDinc
oninSon anda practically DISTINGUISHES
thousands of voters. ., u5
"The issue is one OF prlhclple anu
Of nrinciple alone. If the poslCl0h
snnnSrt meets with the approval Vi
+bfvoters on April 2Oth-and l am
CONVINCED that it does represent Gne
nGy L;a,ys of the overwhelming majority
soN tho Democrats-the delegation TO
G. G. VI francisco from this state Will De
ono committed to this view
0ii0 Wouldn't Hold Delegates;
81 would greatly appreciate the en-
,.,.1o,,,ent of nv state and would hoC
aio uol 81 80 hold the delegation pledged TO
sven .Lonid O a situation develop when
ny thniI. oninion, made it advlsaole
f til tbor, to vote 4or someone else
Iol n,,TI IL in that event, release them
from any obligation to me e, ana nonnec en-
afSIe ale them to freely. choose in connec- g;
tion ton with other delegates that canGi- ii
date date who was considered most avail
able able on the principles announced s ana
who most truly represented the tun-
damental doctrines on which tne
Democratic party has rested since It's
foundation.