James G. Woodward

For other people named James Woodward, see James Woodward (disambiguation).

James G. Woodward
34th, 37th and 41st Mayor of Atlanta
In office January 1913 – January 1917
Preceded by	Courtland Winn
Succeeded by	Asa Griggs Candler
In office January 1905 – January 1907
Preceded by	Evan Howell
Succeeded by	Walthall Robertson Joyner
In office January 1899 – January 1901
Preceded by	Charles A. Collier
Succeeded by	Livingston Mims
Personal details
Born	(1845-01-14)January 14, 1845
Died	August 29, 1923(1923-08-29) (aged 78)
Resting place	Oakland Cemetery Atlanta, Georgia
Political party	Democratic

James G. Woodward (January 14, 1845 – August 29, 1923)^[1] was an American newspaperman and politician, having served as the 36th, 39th and 43rd Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia.

Woodward made his living as printer through the newsrooms of the Atlanta Journal and Constitution over the years. He was elected mayor in 1899 and 1904. Following the Atlanta race riot of 1906, he won the 1908 Democratic primary (in a virtually one party state) but was arrested for public intoxication less than a month before the December general election and was defeated by Robert Maddox.^[2] He served his third and fourth terms following Courtland Winn. Trying for a fifth term as Atlanta mayor, he ran (and lost) in September 1922, a year before his death.

The Atlanta race riot of 1906 was a defining moment of Woodward's political career, to which occasion he did not rise.

The New York Times reported that when Woodward was asked as to the measures taken to prevent a race riot, he replied:

The best way to prevent a race riot depends entirely upon the cause. If your inquiry has anything to do with the present situation in Atlanta then I would say the only remedy is to remove the cause. As long as the black brutes assault our white women, just so long will they be unceremoniously dealt with.^[3]

He had gone around the city on Saturday night trying to calm the mobs, but was generally ignored.

• 
  1916 plaque located in Piedmont Park and listing the mayor and members of a local bridge committee.
• 
  Woodward Bridge in Piedmont Park.

Notes

1. Franklin Garrett Necrology Database - Atlanta History Center
2. Kemp, Kathryn (2002). God's Capitalist: Asa Candler of Coca-Cola. Macon, Georgia: Mercer University. pp. 173–175. ISBN 0-86554-782-3.
3. "THE ATLANTA RIOTS" (September 25, 1906) New York Times

Preceded by Charles A. Collier	Mayor of Atlanta January 1899 – January 1901	Succeeded by Livingston Mims
Preceded by Evan Howell	Mayor of Atlanta January 1905 – January 1907	Succeeded by W.R. Joyner
Preceded by Courtland Winn	Mayor of Atlanta January 1913 – January 1917	Succeeded by Asa Candler