The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1893-06-07
PLAIN WORDS.
A WRITER IN THE CHRISTIAN INDEX

Senators Scored.
From the Christian Index.
1 am common, plain, ordinary agent
at small station on railroad. l have
no influence; no political, and no special
social standing
| see from the newspapers that con-
gresham recommended a man for the
post Office in Albany, Ga, that play
ed poker. l see from the papers that
the good citizens of the town sent on
proof of the same and asked that he be
rejected by the senate. No one denied
that he was gambler. l see by the pa
pers that the United States senate
confirmed him unanimously Senator
Colquitt voted for it. Senator Black
burn said that che was one of US" The
papers say that Senator Blackburn plays
poker, and that other senators and con-
gressmen do the same. l earnestly, hon
estly ask can a christian vote to con-
firm any man to any office that is gam
bier. | do not blame Senator Black
burn for voting for the Albany post
master, for the senator CANDLES himself.
Now put this question to each IA
theirs heart, down in the depths between
him and his God, does he desire and
want. if he believes in God, his son to
play poker? If his son should ask
him the plain question, shall l play or
not, what would the answer be? Not
one but would say, my son DO not play
poker. Senator Blackburn is of strong
mind, he can play and stop it as it suits
bIm, understands the game, so that he
wins more that he loses. He forgets
that where he has brains and genius that
ten thousand men take him as a copy and
point to him as an example, and say he
is United States Senator,.he plays po-
ker, he bets and wins at cards, he stands
high in the council of the nation and in
society.
Why cannot [ do the same? Ten thou
sand boys go down to ruin trying to fol-
low in the steps of Senator Blackburn.
The lack of brain, the sense, the power
to control themselves. He can, they can
not. viii Senator Blackburn advise his
sen, if he has one, to play poker? VIII
Senator Blackburn advise his son, if he
has one, to play poker? VIII he sit
down and take bis neigbOr's boy by the
hand, and tell him to learn the game,
will he? In he believes in Gods name,
in Gods name l ask him, will he? Oh,
no. Oh no.
You ask me why l write this. And
why l ask you to publish it?
1t can be told in a few words. My
boy, just me"ging into manhood, asked
me about the esonao Of poker. I have
tried to be his friend and companion aid
to teach him to be mine. He asked me
where the harm was in it. l had told
him often that gambling was wrong. He
then told me that Senator Blackburn, of
Kentucky, played poker and for money
and he was respected and honored. He
then told me that the postmaster recent
ly confirmed for Albany was a poker
player, and that Senator Colquitt, whom
l had said to him was a good man and a
christian, voted for him. He then asked
plainly where was the harm? He said
to me | know father you mean for the
best, but where such distinguished men
approve the game OF poker, and call
the national game, where is the harm?
Are you not mistaken? And then and
there l got down on my knees and took
that boy in my arms and prayed. |
prayed that there might be some power
put forth by the great God to show Sen
ator Blackburn and Senator ColqulJt
that they we're leading my boy, it might
be, to ruin. / am poor and humble; my
boy knew it. He knew thatsenators had
more brains than l.
His impulse and feeling were to be like
Senator Black burn, not like his father.
He has sense enough to be like his IA
ther he lacks the sense to be like Sen
ator Blackburn If he tries to be like
the Senator he will go to hell, If he tiles
to be like his father he will be a citizen
filling the place in life he is qualified
tor
AMI wrong in writing this; have
put it too strong! Oh! the boys that
senators and congressman who play po-
ker and vote for poker players to office
are leading to ruin. Humble, poor, I'M
known as ! am, but am christian by
word, by act, by vote, opposed to man