Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-03-07
BLALOCK ANNOUNCES
FOR COMMISSIONER

A. o. Blalock, collector Of internal
| revenue for Georgia during the eight
years of Democratic administration,
| today definitely announced that he
will be candidate for commissioner
Of agriculture to succeed the pres
ent incumbent, j. 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 agri-
culture in the approaching primary
for state house officers. Although
the suggestion of my name in this
connection was neither inspired nor
authorized by me, the publicity given
the rumor brought letters and per-
sonal solicitations from so many
parts of the state that I could not
avoid giving some thought to the
matter. Within recent weeks these
solicitations have been so insistent
and have come from so many quar-
tiers that I have finally concluded to
enter the race. My formal announce
ment 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 a politi-
cal surprise, inasmuch as the news
paper reports referred to by. him
have been the subject of statewide
comment for several weeks, and.
there was a general feeling that he
would probably make the race.
Mr.. Blalock's administration of
the important and difficult duties Of
collector of internal revenue, en-
bracing the period when the war was
at it's height and federal income tax
es were mounting rapidly, was one
of the ablest in the United States.
He was frequently called to Wash
1ngton 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 de-
partment in Washington.
Mr.. Blalock is a farmer, merchant
and banker of Fayetteville, the
county seat Of Fayette county, and
has made a notable success in all
three of those lines of business. His
ability in handling large business af-
l01I was OIL hlllSly oSILOllSIIdL0u Ill
his eight years of service as collector
Of internal revenue for Georgia. His
family is one of the oldest in Geor-
gia, and has been prominent in
business, social and political affairs
for several generations.
In 1912 Mr.. Blalock ran for com
missioner Of agriculture in a three
cornered race against J. J. Brown
and James D. Price. In the/ state
convention neither candidate had a
majority and he retired from the
contest. Mr.. Price received the
nomination. Six years ago, in 1916
Mr.. Brown defeated Mr.. Price, aft
err the latter had served four years
as commissioner of agriculture.
Although Mr.. Blalock's son D. B.
Blalock, is private secretary to Gov
ernor Hardwick and lieutenant
colonel on his staff, it is officially
understood that Mr.. Blalock will not
make his race for commissioner of
agriculture in any sense as an "ad-
ministration candidate.''
Mr.. Blalock will make his race on
his own responsibility, it is under
stood, and the governor will take no
part in the contest, believing it to
be improper for a chief executive
to use the power of his office to il
f1uence the selection of state house
officials.