The Washington times., 1922-09-28
WATSON S TOCA
V|LLMAKE FUR
FLY IN GEORGIA
Big Political Scrap Expected
When Unexpired Term Is
to Be Filled. ..
by Universal Service.

ATLANTA. Ga, Sept. 2S.--Sen.
ator Thomas +. Watson 8 death
will precipitate a bitter fight for a
Senatorial successor in Georgia for
his unexpired term. 1t will be
fought out In Democratic pri-
mary about October 25, as the law
is interpreted to demand.
As a result OF this, present
Georgia political alignments are
likely to be shaken to their foun.
dation.
Thomas f. Watson went to
Washington as Senator at the same
time Thomas w. Hardwick went
into the governorship OF Georgia
on a straight-out anti-league of ma
ton platform.
The two Toms" made a spec
tacular campaign and won by a
wide margin OF votes.
In the late State primary Senator
Watson and Governor Hardwick
became separated on local is.
sues and Governor Hardwick
was defeated for reelection by Cliff.
ford Walker, a pro-league and pro.
Wilson Democrat, Senator Watson,
however, not yielding to Walker in
his firm opposition to these issues.
Undoubtedly the Watson follow.
ing in Georgia. which Is tremen.
dous, especially in its anti-league
attitude, will demand that q sen.
ator be named who may be de-
pended on to carry on without fail
Mr.. Watson's ideal
Harris PrO.League.
Especially Is this likely in that
the Georgia Senator, William J.
Harris, is pro-league and pro.
Wilson senator, having defeated
Hardwick for reelection to the
Senate in 1913 just as the war was
closing.
In these circumstances It is GER
tain that the Watson forces, IL
they can be held together, now
that their leader is dead, will never
be allied with the Walker forces in
the forthcoming Senatorial primary
as they were in the late governor.
ship primary. Hence that alliance
may be shattered even before 1t
gets acquainted with itself
Governor Hardwicks appointment
to the vacancy occasioned by Sen.
ator Watson's death will amount to
nothing II made, for with Congress
n recess, the appointee could not
qualify until December, when Con.
grcss reassembles, and at that time
a successor will have been elected
by the people Of Georgia in the
general Congressional election on
November 4.
Governor Hardwick, who is has.
teping home from Canada where he
has been on vacation. is being spoken
Of as an ideal candidate for Mr..
Watson's successor, especially since
there never have been any differ
ences of opinion between himself
and Mr.. Watson on the League OF
Nation issue and since the Watson
following in Georgia would probably
rally to him.
Hardwick to Stick.
II is not, however, at AL likely
that the governor will agree to be.
come a candidate for the Senate.
His term as governor does not ex.
pire until next June, and II is
thou"ht he will prefer to complete
that term before making any other
move.
The man most spoken Of at pres.
ent as the leader of the anti-League
of Nations lineup in Georgia is
William J. Vereen, chairman Of the
State Democratic committee, and Of
the likely candidates of the pro.
league. pro. Wilson forces, the names
OF Clark Howell, editor Of the At.
ianta Constitution and national Dem.
ocratic committeeman from Georgia,
and II. II. Dean, prominent and
wealthy Georgian, are most spoken
of.
In the event Of this sort Of con.
test, Georgia political machines as
at present existing and lately et-
feCted by the Hardwick. Walker
gubernatorial primary would be just
about shot to pieces. but the out
come would be an entirely new ma.
chine such as Georgia has not seen
in many years.