Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1924-09-25

instantly eXtinguished. all minor
Democratic candidates.. Mayor
HyIan has discovered th9t he does
not wish to be governor. H
finds himself so tied up with the
clty's business that he cannot even
go to the Democratic convention
This curt ending of a supposed
ambition will make his admirers
wonder whatever his "boom' was
begun for if so soon it was to De
done for. Started by the Mayor
himself, on the way home from
the Hearstian Enchanted Hill IN
California, it was all along sus
pected of being bound up with a
settled animosity toward Cover
nor Smith. If the Hylan trial bal
looms was sent out to test public
sentiment as respects the Cover.
nor, it certainly fell to the earth
in ridiculous collapse.
1t is probable that this incipient
and futile plotting against him
did not enter largely into the gov
errors decision to reconsider his
personal unwillingness to stand
for a third term at Albany. He
had successfully despised the Gait
Titan swords two years ago, and
did not need to bother himself
about them now. Evidently what
he has done is to yield his strong
private inclination to the appeals
and demands of his political
friends and his party. It seems
that they put the case to him as
a publicsduty, Al things Consider
ed, and he was unable to break
down their arguments. He wall
again offer his services to the
state which pays its governor so
niggardiy a salary that another
election will mean to Mr.. Smith
and his family heavy pecuniary
sacrifice. But he has finally con
Guided that he must not let that
stand in the way Of Loyalty do
ing all he can for his PARTY
The assured nomination of Cow
ernor Smith will force a rev.
sion of the calculations of TIE
Republicans. In this state they
must realize that they viii have n
formidable contest on their hands
They can find no evidence that the
great popularity of the governor,
convertible into votes, has dimin-
ished. 1t should be heightened,
rather than lessened, by the IN
lection of national politics into
the campaign Governor Smith
emerged from the Democratic Ma
tional Convention in June stron-
er than ever with his party in
New York, and in a position 20
seize with telling effect upon ore
of the issues which is weakening
and distracting mis- political oppo-
nents. Such ostracism as the Ku
Klux Khan, with the sneaking cor
nivance of many Republican lead
ers, proposes on the score of relig-
ious creed. certainly reaches its
acme of shrieking absurdity in the
person of Alfred Smith. If he IS
not good American and a man
fit to hold high office, where can
one be found? Without a doubt
the State Democratic Convention
will be as explicit and challeng-
ing in denouncing the Khan and
all its works as the Machusetts
Democrats were on Saturday. 1t
may even parallels the action of
the Machusetts Democrats who
after asserting that the Ku Kluv
Khan is menace to the peace and
security of the country, points ar
accusing finger:
"Yet we are confronted with
the spectacle of the President OF
the United States, the leader of
the Republican party, afraid to
raise his voice against a socitey
of masked men who are striking
at the constitutional guarantee of
liberty and religious Sreedom and
who will, if not checked and dis
persed, prove deep disunion anC
disorder"
As Governor of New York the
people know Mr.. Smith to have
the most comprehensive and mi
mute grasp of all their affairs
ever possessed by an occupant Of
the Executive Mansion at ALBANY
He has shown, moreover, the high
est ideals of public service. ha.
striven for great refroms. without
partisan bias, in the methods OF
conducting the business of the
state; has won the applause anc
support of MANY Republicans f1l
the measures which he has advo
Gated for the good of dwellers il
the city and in the country alike
Governor Smith will be himself
all the platform that he need;
1t will not be necessary for hin
to concern himself about his ow,
campaign. He may with free
mind adhere to the schedule 81
speaking in behalf of Mr.. Davis
and the national ticket in other
states. to which he has alread,
agreed. The voters of New YORK.