Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-09-06
maine AND GEORGIA
BALL0T|NG TO TEST
TEMPER OF PEOPLE
Hoke Smith Faces League
of Nations Issue Test in
State Primary.

Two straws. indicating which way the
wind may be blowing politically, are
due to drift before the public gaze
shortly. In Georgia, next Wednesday,
primaries will be held for the nomina-
ton of United States senator, twelve
representatives in Congress. governor
and other state officers and members
of the assembly. In Maine. September
13. the state and congressional elections
will be held
In Georgia the primaries are ex-
pected to reflect the democratic sent-
ment on the league of nations; in Maine
the elections should show the temper of
the people of that commonwealth on ma
tional questions and broad party issues
between the republicans and democrats
Maine does not vote on the United States
senatorship this year. Georgia's prim-
airy announcement is equivalent to cleo
ton.
Four Candidates Oppose.
There are four candidates for the SEN
atorial nomination i'm Georgia. Senator
Hoke Smith, democratic incumbent.
seeks denomination. He is opposed by
Thomas f. Watson, the former populist
leader; Gov. Hugh Dorsey, who is serv-
ing his second term as the states execu-
tive, and Col. John r. Cooper. an attor-
ney of Macon. There are four candi-
dates for the governorship. former Sen
Holder, speaker of the state house OF
representatives Clifford Walker. for
merly state attorney general and Wal
ter R Brown. an attorney of Atlanta
Loyalty to the Wilson administra-
ton and Endorsement of the league Of
nations are the chief issues in the
contest for the guberpatorial and SEN
atorial nominations. Administration
war activities figure in the campaign
also. The campaign has been one OF
the most vigorous and bitter the state
has experienced in many years-and
Georgia has been the field of some
spirited and notable contests in the
past. Georgia is often referred to as
1.-The Indiana of the south, having In
mind the reputation of the Hoosier
state as the place where the people
live and breathe politics.
The fight for the senatorShip is at
tracing attention outside of the land
of peaches and watermelons. Senator
has been prominent in the Senate
many years, and was member of
Grover Cleveland's cabinet as Secre-
tary of the Interior. His attitude on
the league of nations is what might
be called a composite affair. He heart
lily indorses the platform of the league
of nations adopted by the democratic
national convention. and he is also
satisfied with the course of Gov. Cox
In the Senate he voted for the Lodge
league. He was also one of the twen-
ty-one democrats who voted for the
final ratification of the treaty, separ-
ating from the twenty-three demo-
Gratis who voted against ratification.
His friends claim that his position
his support of the national
platform and the national candidate
he subscribes to the full measure of
loyalty to the democratic party.
only candidate for the senatorship
who gives full Endorsement to the
Wilson administration. He is for the
league of nations and limits his
sanction of reservations to those de-
scribed by President Wilson. He
stands up for every act of the ad-
ministration and has staked his all
on that position.
Watson Against Administration.
Thomas E. Watson is against the
Wilson administration and against
the league, even with reservations.
He wants nothing to do~with the
league and can see no reservation
which will make it acceptable. Col
cooper also is against the admins
tration and the league and has
near-wet plank in his platform.
Former Senator Harwick's candi-
Cacy for the governorship brings the
administration and the league in the
.
anti-Wilson and -anti-league. 1t will
be recalled that President Wilson's
downright opposition to Senator
Hardwick was attributed by the lat
ter for his defeat for denomination
to the Senate.
Clifford Walker stands for the adj
ministration and the league in his
candidacy for the goyernorship.
Speaker Holder. who sought at first
to stress state issues. has had to face
the music and is in general indorsing
the administration. Walter r. Brown
is running mainly on an anti -Gompers
and union labor platform.
The Maine campaign<is classed as
proceeding along normal political lines,
an old-fashioned try-out between the
democrats and republicans for the
offices. In the next fortnight speakers
of national prominence will be thrown
into the state, as each party is an
xious to carry it. for. the psychali gical
effect upon the rest of the country.
1t has been tradition for years
not always exemplified, however-that
the election in Maine is a forecast of
the temper of the people at large.
At any rate the party which carries
the state always feels nightly cheer
ed up and brags heap at the time,
while the opposition pooh-poohs the
importance of it and says, Just you
wait. and. see s.what happens in
November" !.