Atlanta and Environs: A Chronicle of Its People and Events, 1880s-1930s

Chapter 94: 1916

CHAPTER 94 1916 ORMER Atlanta citizen Woodrow Wilson, in spite of his fine record, had no easy victory for re-election as president in 1916. The Republican party, reunited after its split in 1912, fought a vigorous fight with a strong candidate, Charles Evans Hughes. The many achievements of the Wilson administration were cited during the contest, though the slogan of the campaign became, "He kept us out of war." For awhile the election was in doubt, with Hughes the apparent victor. California proved to be the crucial battleground. It finally went for Wilson, however, and his victory was assured. The electoral vote stood 277 for Wilson and 254 for Hughes.1 The Georgia gubernatorial contest of 1916 was also a lively affair. Preceding it, however, the Legislature, which met in regular session on June 28, passed some significant and interesting bills. Among them were the Compulsory Education Bill, providing that all children between eight and fourteen should attend some school or pursue a course at home in the elementary branches of an English education at least four months a year. Also the Yeomans Bill, authorizing county school boards to furnish school text books to children at cost or for a small rental. The same Legislature passed a bill permitting women to practice law in the courts of Georgia, though they still couldn't vote; and it also passed legislation creating the State Highway Commission, of which T. E. Patterson, of the State Prison Board, was elected first chairman. Largely through the efforts of the Georgia Federation of Women's Clubs, the same Legislature adopted the Cherokee Rose as the official floral emblem of the State.2 A bill passed by both houses known as the Neill Primary Election Bill, providing for a second primary in cases where candidates failed of election in the first primary, was vetoed by Governor Harris as he considered it an unnecessary expense to put on individual candidates already burdened by the cost of the first primary. For this veto he was severely criticized.3 For this reason, and partly because of his age and his active support of prohibition, considerable opposition developed, 'during the spring of 1916, to Governor Harris5 re-election. Dr. L. G. Hardman, a prohibition advocate, who contended that Georgia had had enough lawyers as Governor and now needed a physician, entered the race against Harris, as did Joseph E. Pottle, of Milledgeville, former Solicitor-General of the Ocmulgee Circuit.4 Meanwhile a call went forth for the able Solicitor-General of Fulton County, Hugh M. Dorsey, famed for his recent prosecution of Leo M. Frank. At the time he was engaged in prosecuting Victor Innes, in connection with the mysterious disappearance of the Nelms sisters. Feeling it his duty to push that case to a decision before the court, Dorsey was deliberate in answering the call, but pressure became great and the prospect of success at the polls so assuring that he finally entered the race. Supported by Tom Watson, and campaigning upon a platform of upholding the verdicts of the courts, Hugh Dorsey, on September 12, was elected by a large majority over his three opponents. The Governor-elect was a member of one of Atlanta's best families—originally from Fayetteville—where he Atlanta—Vol. 11-43 F 674 ATLANTA AND ITS ENVIRONS was born in 1871. After graduation from the University of Georgia and a year of law at the University of Virginia, he began the practice of law in Atlanta in 1895. Appointed Solicitor-General of the Atlanta Judicial Circuit in 1910 to fill the unexpired term of Charles D. Hill, deceased, he was elected to that position in 1912 and held it until he was elected Governor.5 When Dorsey resigned as Solicitor-General, Governor Harris appointed an Atlanta lawyer, Eb. T. Williams, to succeeed him. In the fall primary, however, John A. Boykin, also a member of the Atlanta bar, was elected for the full term, succeeding Mr. Williams.6 Another Harris appointment of 1916 brought a former and distinguished citizen back to Atlanta. On September 6, Justice Joseph Henry Lumpkin, of the State Supreme Court died. To succeed him Judge Sterling Price Gilbert, then of Columbus, was appointed for the unexpired term. Judge Gilbert remained on the bench until his retirement in 1936, and continued to reside in Atlanta to the end of his long and useful life, which closed in 1951 at 89.7 In addition to Solicitor-General John A. Boykin...