Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-03-16
Putting Georgia Democracy
In a Ridiculous Position

~ ~ 1AIL%EL DbUUS 4 USELIOT
F there is any significance in the fact that
all the Democratic constituencies which
thus far have voiced a preference CON
cefn1ng the Presidential nomination. either
through primaries or in the appointment
or delegates, are pronouncedly for Herbert
HooVer, then he is far and away the ikeliest
prospect now on the horizon of the San Fran
CISCO convention. The Democrats of New
hampshire, casting about with unusual
care Tor the strongest securable candidate
20 PIT against General Leonard Wood a
NAIVE OF their state and probab BILE
republican nominee, voted overwhelming.
~ Tor Hoover. The Democrats of Cal.
norma, approaching the peculiar ext
gencles of the coming campaign and seeing
that Hiram Johnson, a native Californian
might be on the Republican ticket, likewise
nave united upon Hoover as the one man
VINO, IN their opinion, can lead the party ia
victory. The Democrats of Iowa rea1izine
mat only nominee capable of carving the
independent vote can win either in that re-
g1on or IN the country at large, have selected
hoover as pre-eminently qualified In New
hampshire the choice was made directly at
the polls. In California and Iowa the dele
gates, though not under explicit Instructions
are avoWedly for Hoover as the undeniable
preference Of the voters whom thew, repre-
sent. SO stands the record for the Demo-
cratic rank and file who thus far have been
given the. right and the opportunity of de-
claring their will, without hindrance or dicta-
ton, on this most vital question of the party's
affairs.
Who, then, can maintain that the Demo
Gratis OF Georgia are not entitled to vote in
their approaching primary, on this man who
obviously leads in Democratic favor. wherever
the people have spoken and who Certainly
Will figure as major force in the San Fran
cisco convention? Professional politicians,
more interested in manipulating party ma
chlnery than IN ascertaining and executing
party sentiment, may dislike as they will Mr.
HooVer's steadfast refusal to handy and barter
with them. But they cannot in reason or JUS
lice deny the voters right to free expression
They can offer no tenabIe excuse for rule
which says to Democratic Georgians, "You
shall vote upon only such names as we see
fit to place the ballot; you shall not vote
on Herbert Hoover, no matter what convic-
tions you hold or what petitions you make -
That position is not only the height OF
unfairness, but the height of absurdity as
we'll Here is the most typical American OF
his day, national figure and world figure
the one name that has evoked substantial
enthusiasm as a Democratic suggestion for
the Presidency, the one name that has mus
tered a following from the rank and file and
given promise of notable strength in the ma
tional Democratic convention. This great
minded, great-hearted American whose every
utterance on current issues rings true to the
principles of Jefferson and whose life itself
bears eloquent witness to his democratic
spirit; this unpretentious but wonderfully
able doer of big deeds, who seeks no office
but is sought after by thoughtful voters
throughout the Union; this abhorrer of what
is either reaCtlOnary or radical and uphOlde1
of all that is liberal; this man of the hour
who is good enough Democrat, not only fol
the party in New Hampshire and California
and Iowa, but for thousands of Georgians
as well, Georgians of as discriminating a
political judgment as Judge Andrew J. Cobb
and representing all regions of the Common.
wealth from the mountains to the coast-he
it is whose name the rule-makers of the State
Democratic Executive committee presume tC
say the people OF Georgia have no right tC
vote on.
Such a position, we say, is preposterous II
amounts to ignoring and denying, not only
the plainest rights of the voter, but also
the plainest facts of the Democratic situation
It puts the Georgia division of the party in
the ridiculous attitude of overlooking the only
nomination prospect which has aroused in
terest in the country at large, and the one
which, as matters now trend, is most likely
to materialiZe into convention choice Oul
State Executive Committee cannot plead il
justification that Mr.. Hoover would not avov
to them that he was a Democrat. He ha.
Gone no more and less in the case O
Georgia than in the case of New Hampshire
California, Iowa and every other State wher,
the question has been preached. Repeatedly
he has declared that ne is not seeking tn,
nomination, and that, therefore, he will hav,
nothing to do with his name being entered
in preferential primaries. But just as per
sistently, nevertheless, the nomination keep
seeking him, and wherever Democratic voter
baVe been consulted so far, they have de
cared Enthusiastically for Hoover.
Politicians who for purposes of their OWL
are bent upon eliminating him in spite o
the popular will, have sought to create tn
impression that while he would not sanction
the use of his name ON the Democratic bal
lot in California, he consented to its OF
the Republican ballot. There was never
shred of truth to this piece of gossip blu
to set it permanently at rest, Mr.. Hoover, il
an interview with The Journals Washington
correspondent, has issued an explicit denial
in the course of which he says:
81 have not authorized the Republi-
cans of California to use my name on