Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-03-04
SHES HISHATI
RING FOR PLACE
HELD BY BROWN
Announces for Commissioner Of
Agriculture On His Own
Responsibility


ATLANTA, March A, O. Bla-
lecl;, collector of internal revenao
for Georgia during the eight years
of Democratic administration, today
definitely announced that he will be
a candidate for commissioner Of agri-
sulture to succeed the incumbent, ].
j. Brown.
His announcement was contained
in the following brief statement:
Several weeks ago my name was
mentioned in suggestive way by
some of the leading newspapers Of
the state as a possible candidate for
the office of commissioner of agricul-
ture in the approaching primary for
state house officers. Although the
suggestion Of my name in this con-
nection was neither inspired nor au-
thorized by me, the publicity gwen
the rumor brought letters and per-
sonal solicitations from so many parts
vi lliC 7Attlt llleL i tOliit tlbl aNOiQ
giving some thought to the matter.
Within recent weeks these solicita-
tions have been SO insistent and have
come from so many quarters that I
have finally concluded to enter the
race. Ny formal announcement will
be given to the public in the course
of few weeks"
The definite announcement by Mr.
Blalock that he will be a candidate
will not be in the nature of political
surprise, inasmuch as the newspaper
reports referred to by him have been
the subject of statewide comment
for several weeks, and there was
general feeling that he would proba-
bly, make the race.
Made Fine Record
Mr.. Blalock's administration of the
important and difficult duties of coll
lector of internal revenue, embracing
the period when the war was at its
height and federal income taxes were
mounting rapidly, was one of the
ablest in the United States He was
frequently called to Washington for
consultation with officials of the
treasury department. He was given
a free hand in managing the affairs
Of his office, and it is said that no
recommendation he made was ever
turned down by the department in
Washington.
Mr.. Blalock is a farmer, merchant
and banker of Fayetteville, the coun-
ty seat of Fayette county, and has
made a notable success in all three
of those lines of business. His ability
in handling large business affairs was
strikingly demonstrated in his eight
years of service as collector Of inter
nal revenue for Georgia. His family
is one of the oldest in Georgia, and
has been prominent in business, So
cial and political affairs for several
generations.
In 1912 Mr.. Blalock ran for COM
missioner Of agriculture in three
cornered race against J. j. Brown
anu anu JaiiiCS ~. ilte' III bHS
state convention neither candidate
had majority and he retired from
the contest. Most of his delegates
went to Mr.. Price, who received the
nomination In 1915, Mr.. Brown de-
feated Mr.. Price, after the latter
had served four years as commits
sionef Of agriculture
On Own Hook
Although Mr. Blalock's son, ID. B.
Blalock, is private secretary to Gov
ernor Hardwick and a lieutenant-col-
onel on his staff, it is officially un-
derstood that Mr.. Blalock will not
make his race for commissioner of
agriculture in any sense as an "ad-
ministration candidate" He and the
governor have been warm friends for
many years, but there is no ami
mostly or i'll feeling on the governors
part toward Commissioner Brown. On
the contrary, the relations between
them have been pleasant all the way
since the governor went into office.
Mr.. Blalock will make his race on
his own responsibility, it is under
stood, and the governor vii take no
part in the contest, believing it to be
improper for chief executive to use
the power of his office to influence
the selection of state house officials.