1922 Encyclopædia Britannica/Georgia, U.S.A.

GEORGIA, U.S.A. (see ). The pop. of Georgia in 1920 was 2,895,832 as against 2,609,121 in 1910, an increase of 11%. For the preceding decade the rate of increase was 17.7%. During 1910-20 negroes increased from 1,431,802 to 1,689,114, but relatively they decreased from 45.1% of the total pop. to 41.7%. The urban pop. was 25.1% as compared with 20.6% in 1910. The density of pop. in 1920 was 49.3 per sq. m., as against 44.4 in 1910. The census of 1920 revealed an important movement of population from the mountain counties of the northern portion of the state and from central Georgia to south-central

and south-eastern Georgia. This shifting of population was due to the presence of large areas of undeveloped and fertile land in the southern half of the state. The highest density of population, however, was still to be found in the northern half.

History.&mdash;In politics Georgia continued throughout the period 1910-20 solidly Democratic both in state and national affairs. The most interesting political contests were those growing out of World War issues. U.S. Senator Hardwick stood for reëlection in 1918. He had not supported the administration in a way acceptable to President Wilson. The President threw his support to Hardwick's opponent, William J. Harris, who was elected. By the time of the elections of 1920 a considerable reaction in sentiment had occurred. Hardwick entered the race for governor and defeated two administration candidates. Thomas E. Watson, a former Populist leader and an uncompromising opponent of President Wilson and his war policies, was elected U.S. senator over Hoke Smith and Dorsey.

The total number of soldiers furnished by the state during the World War was 86,973. Of these 20,132 voluntarily enlisted; 66,841 were taken into the service through the selective draft. The amounts subscribed to the Liberty and Victory Loans totalled $179,866,850.00. The names and dates of the governors were: Hoke Smith, 1911-2 (shortly after his inauguration Smith was elected by the Legislature to succeed J. M. Terrell as U.S. senator); Joseph M. Brown, 1912-3 (elected at a special election to fill Smith's unexpired term); John M. Slaton, 1913-5; Nathaniel E. Harris, 1915-7; Hugh M. Dorsey, 1917-21; Thomas W. Hardwick, 1921-. (R. P. B.)