Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-06-17
HOKE SMITH FAVORS
SEN. VIM. ]. HARRIS
FOR RENOM|NAT
BY THEODORE TILLER
Atlanta Journal News Bureau,
408 Evans Building,

WASHINGTON, D. c., June IA
Former Senator Hoke Smith, OF
Georgia, late Saturday announced
his intention to vote for the renom
nation of Senator William j. Harris
as the senior representative -" the
state in the upper branch :. con
gress. This statement from former
Senator Smith came after he had
read additional reports from Geor'
gia that a movement was under way
to bring out opposition to Senator
Harris.
BY this announcement Mr.. Smith
has eliminated himself as a possible
candidate for the senate.
Some months ago he informed
close friends in Georgia that he
would not seek to re-enter public
life, and would not be a senatorial
candidate under any circumstances,
and it is known that. since that
time, political supporters of the for
mer senator have felt him out
from time to time, only to nave
him repeat that he would not be
candidate.
On Saturday Mr.. Smith went fur
Their and came out fatty for the
denomination and reelection OF Sen
ator Harris.
Further inquiry here disclosed
that Senator Harris had no knowl-
edge of the action of former Sen
ator Smith, and the senior senator
will learn through reading this dis
patch to The Journal that Mr.. Smith
unreservedly is in favor of Senator
Harris return to the senate.
Without dispara ging the good in
tent and the political freedom of
opponents of Senator Harris. who
are talking Of bringing out can
didate in opposition, former Senator
Smith said that he disapproved OF
such A movement and doubted Its
wisdom. Although former Senator
Smith and Senator Harris have not
trained together" in the Georgia
politics of the past, game in which
Mr.. Smith is a veteran and Senator
Harris a comparative newcomer,
Hoke Smith today believes that Mr.
Harris should hold the seat in the
senate.
Mr.. Smith spoke with character.
istic candor and directness when he
said to the journal correspondent
late Saturday:
'T am opposed to the movement
among his opponents in Georgia to
bring out a candidate against Will
liam J. Harris. I intend to go to
the state and vote for the re-nomi-
nation of Senator Harris. My OBJ
servation Is that Senator Harris is
doing good work for his eonsti-
tuents.
HE is the second ranking Dem
ocrat on the senate committee of
appropriations, probably the most
important committee in all congress.
He has worked himself up to that
position, and this means that he
Is a conferee on all of the appro-
priation bills in session after SEES
sion.
LAS ranking Democrat and a SEN
ate conferee on all appropriation
measures, Senator Harris is in
strategic position to care for the
interests Of his state and the south
east, and he has been jealous in
caring for the interests of his state
and section.
"A new man in the senate would
require several years to attain his
present position Of influence.
Everything considered, his energy,
his committee assignments in the
senate, and the influence he is
capable Of welding, convinces me
that he should be retained" With
this former Senator Smith turned
to law brief he was preparing
and ended the interview with q
smiling statement:
'Inv lew of the general situation
in Georgia l thought I might prop
erly express my views at this time. :"