Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

3204 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANSstate, at all times urged the opening up of new educational channels for thepeople. Much of the recent remarkable progress made in this line undoubtedly may be attributed to Senator Smith.The time came, however, when Mr. Smith could no longer resist the callof the people back to the public arena. In hearty sympathy with the reformers who had determined to throw off the yoke of the railroads andcorporations unjustly limiting the business and personal liberties of the peopleat large, nevertheless he had no desire for leadership. Already he had publicdistinction and ample means, his public services had been honorable and thequiet of his professional life congenial, but the unmistakable call that camefrom the people for help finally touched those deeper feelings t6 which thename of patriotism is sometimes applied, and he at last gave consent to becomea candidate for governor, realizing that probably the greatest political upheaval in Georgia for a half century was ahead. He was not mistaken forthe campaign was without precedent for the bitterness of the assaults madeupon the candidate who had espoused the cause of the masses in a contest withthe corporations. With the same thoroughness that had marked everyimportant activity of his life, Mr. Smith went into this great contest, visitingevery portion of the state and explaining personally to the people the issues involved. The result of the election was overwhelming, Mr. Smith receivingalmost double the vote of the combined opposition, a mark of confidence andapproval unprecedented in the history of Georgia. His inauguration tookplace June 29, 1907, and was a memorable event. In his inaugural addressGovernor Smith made a clear and strong presentation of his aims and purposesand then entered upon the duties of office confident that the purity of hismotives were understood and cheered by the enthusiasm evinced by the representative people. The Legislature then in session passed three of the mostimportant bills in the history of the state: the bill advocated by GovernorSmith for the disfranchisement of the ignorant and vicious blacks; the bill,also advocated by him, enlarging the powers of the railroad commission; andthe bill abolishing the convict lease system and placing the convicts upon thepublic roads.The substantial progress made by the State of Georgia during the yearscovering the administration of Governor Smith mark an epoch in, the historyof this commonwealth. While his public services were of inestimable value,still another field of distinguished effort awaited him, a field in which he isyet exercising ably and honorably his unusual gifts of statesmanship. Whenthe Georgia Legislature met in July, 1911, it elected Hon. Hoke Smith tofill out the unexpired term of the late United States Senator A. S. Clay, andon November 15, 1911, Governor Smith resigned the office of chief executiveof the state in order to assume the duties of senator. In 1914 he was electedby popular vote of the people to succeed himself, his first term expiring onMarch 4, 1915, when his second term of six years begins. With undiminishedinterest Senator Smith continues a leading force in public affairs in the nationand fortunately so, for surely the country has never before' needed in greaterdegree men at the helm of state who possess the calm judgment, the mentalpoise, the official experience and the personal unselfishness which are hismarked characteristics.Senator Smith was united in marriage in 1883, at Athens, Georgia, to MissBirdie Cobb. She is a daughter of the late Gen. Thomas R. R. Cobb, who wasa prominent Confederate leader, commander of the famous Cobb Legion atthe battle of Fredericksburg, where he gave up his life. Senator and Mrs.Smith have four children, one son and three daughters. The son, MarionSmith, is a graduate of the University of Georgia and succeeded to his father'slaw practice when the latter entered upon the duties of governor of the state.The three daughters: Mary Brent, Lucy and Gallic, with their mother, addcharm to the social circles of both Atlanta and Washington and are known