Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-03-27
STANDS FORLEAGUE
W|THRESERVAHONS
ASPkRTY PLATFORM
Effect Of Possible Entry Of
Governor Dorsey on Pal
raer Campaign Discussed
In Political Circles

M I'OStEGCC1 Vii Vf0C
with tine formal announcement ct
Seza&eF RolIe Smith, entering tAa
Georgia presidential primary, the
fight for the Democratic nomination
in Georgia became intensely interest,"
ing Thursday. Sena tor Smith reach
ed his decision. to allow the use at
his name in the primary on Wednoe-
day, and his formal statement was
given to the press Thursday morn
ing, having been prepared by him
Wednesday evening before he left
for Savannah, where he spoke
Thursday night. ~~
In his announcement Senator
Smith declares that ''the most viSAl
question baAore the Democ- otto partv
today snd enc that will affect 3t9
fortunes for fifty years 10 What att
titude shall the national convention
take with regard TO the League Of
Nations?" - l... ~
"Unless / enter the Georgia prA
mary" Senator Smith declared In hts
announcement, II am assured that
the voters Of this state will be 1irn-
tied In their choice on this great
question to two candidates. One Of
these represents the extreme view
that the league should have been rat
flied without any reservation and
should have been rejected II substar-
tial reservations were insisted upon
The other candidate represents the
eq',ally extreme view that the entire
treaty should have been rejected
with or without reservations.
IT DO not believe either view rep
resenNn tho public sentiment Of our
state. I aIn convinced either would
DO luxurious to the country. do not
believe the Democratic party, If COM
mittsd ak Sam Francisco to either
view. O0ttld hope to return to power
at this election or at any time within
\ generation"
senat>T Ennsth asserts further in
his statement '~tiaat the wise course
for the Democratic party is to base
tts eampatgn on the great achieve
mentn Of the Democratic administra--
tion and the Democratic congress,
and not TO hlindly endorse every
chase Of the administrations rec
ord"
'Y would lrfinitely prefer TO make
the fight without myself becoming
a Consolidate" the senator declares
"and II 10 only when It became APP
parent that the issue would not be
presented In any other way, that
; consented to enter my name DEM
Dcrats from all over Georgia tell me-
that the present situation prevents q
real expire ssion OF public opinion and
practically disfranchises thousands
Of voters"
In his statement, Senator Smith
makes it plain that while he would
appreciate the Endorsement or h.s
state, he would not seek to hold the
delegation pledged to him should
situation develop which in their opin-
ion made it advisable for them to
vote for some one else. In that event,
he would release them from any obi
CATION and enable them to freely
choose in connection with other dele
gates that candidate who was con-
sidered most available on the prin-
ciples announced, and who most
truly represented the fundamental
doctrines on which the Democratic
party has rested since it's founda-
ton. In no sense. he declares, would
he seek or wish to control their
choice.
The publication Wednesday of
Senator Smiths decision to enter the
Georgia primary brought from Gov
ernor Hugh M. Dorsey, who was In
Macon, the statement that he was
considering allowing the use OF his
name. An interview with the Gov.
ernor in which he said The would
"sleep over the matter" was given
prominent display Thursday morn
ing and was carried in Associated
Press reports. Thursday Governor
Dorsey left Macon for Perry, Ca
and up to this hour no further state
1od
Along with abe announcement that
Governor Dorsey might enter this
presidential primary, a story was
printed here under a Washing
ton date, indicating that pressure
was being brought to bear upon Gov
ernor Edwards, Of New Jersey, TO.
allow the use Of his name in Geor-
gia, although previously Governor.
edwards had notified the secretary
of the Georgia Democratic executive
committee not to place his name
upon the ballot in the Georgia. prl-
mary. Similar notification was
given by Governor Edwards to Dem"
ocratic committees in other states
where his name had been proposed
as presidential candidate.
The publication in reference to
Governor Dorsey as possible can
dldate in the Georgia primary was
discussed with much interest Thurs
day in political circles. There was
considerable speculation about the
effect of Governor Dorsey'S candi-
dacy hpon that of Attorney General
A. Mitchell Palmer. Many were of
the opinion that Governor Dorsey's
entrance into the primary would nec-
essarily mean the abandonment OF
Attorney General Palmer by the
very elements who had induced him
to allow the use of his name in
Georgia. 1t was not deemed credi-
BILE that both the attorney general
and Governor Dorsey would make the
race in view of the fact that much
by the press, would be alienated bs
Governor Dorsey. y
AS the situation stands Friday.
there are three candidates definitely
in the race in Georgia-Attorney
General Palmer, who has announced
as his platform an Endorsement Of
every phase" of the Wilson admin
istration; Senator James A. Reed,
who has been known as a bitter
ender," opposed to the League Of Ma
CloHS III ally 1o4In, anu against 0Ho
administration in practically every
phase" and Senator Hoke Smith,
who favors the ratification of the
League Of Nations with substantial
reservations that clarity and Ameri-
canize it. With these three cand:-
dates in the race, and Governor Dor
sey considering allowing the use Of
his name, Georgia voters are con-
fronted with one of the most inter-
estin gpolitical contests n the his
tory Of the state.
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