The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1894-03-14
Mr.. ATKINSON In DAWSON.
THE INTERNATIONAL CANDIDATE
MAKES A sPEEcH
To an Audience of About Ore Hundred and
Fifty PeOple--Wants His Reward
Here. General Evans Can
Have His Heraaffer
Have His Hereafter.

Here. General Evans Can
Have His Hereafter.
Colonel w. Y. Atkinson, candidate for |
governor of Georgia, reached Dawson at
$50 o. clock, over the Columbus Southern |
from Albany, Friday morning, and at II
o'clock addressed an audience of about |
$50 voters, at the opera house. The |
audience was about equally divided be-
tween country and town people, and it |
was eviden, that majority of them were
for General Evans.
Before the spe aking number of our
citizens, irrespective of their preference
for governor, called on Colonel Atkinson
at the Farnum House, and did all they
could to make his visit to Dawson a
pleasant one.
Judge Query introduced Colonel At
kinson in some very eulogistic remarks.
Colonel Atkinson devoted the first part
of his speech to making known his posi-
ton on national issues. He that that Mr..
Cleveland was patriotic man of honest
conviction, but that the policy of the
administration was not such as suited
the needs and demands of the people.
He then directed his remarks TO the
race for governor. He said the churches
do not select for bishop a man because
he was general, but man in every
way qualified for such a place. So in
of their peculiar fitness for positions.
To show that he was fitted for the gov
ernor's office he reviewed his legislative
career and told what he had accomplish
ed while q member#of that body, nam
ing over all the bills With wai;h he was
connected and explaining how the people
were benefited by them. Among these
measures were the bills establishing the
girls industrial school, adjusting the
bettermerts claim, increasing the pen
sions, and the bill relating to the fees
derived from the inspection of fertilizers.
He also spoke of his experience in poll
tics, and reminded his hearers that when
he was chairman of the state committee
Georgia gave a democratic majority of
10000.
A considerable part of the speech was
devoted to refuting the charge that he
was not friend to the old soldiers. He
said he had done more for them than
my man who ever wore brigadier gen.
erals epaule+, unless it was in preparing
their souls for the hereafter. General
Evans had done more in that direction
than he had, and, that being the case, he
said, ''let General Evans get his reward
on the other shore and rev ard me now"
Colonel Atkinson also thought ne de-
served reward for fighting the Atlanta
ring.
He made some keen thrusts at the At
lanta Journal, the Constitution and 9th.
er papers generally, saving they amount
ed to very little, as their vote would
only count one.
The speech closed with an appeal to
elect him governor and in future years
parents could point their sons to him
with pride as an example of what could
be accomplished by poor boy brought
up in humble circumstances.
Colonel Atkinson is a fine speaker, and
was given close attention and frequent
applause.
During the speech some excitement
was created by an old veteran interrupt
ing Mr.. Atkinson. There were one or
two sallies between them, punctuated
with uproarous applause, after which
quiet was restored and the speech con-
tinued.
In the afternoon Colonel Atkinson
mingled With our people on the streets
and met many of the citizens of Dawson,
receiving them all in a happy manner.
He is a gentleman of pleasant address,
and has that mien that is always pleas
ing.
Colonel Atkinson left Dawson next
morning at $50 o'clock for Preston,
where ne spoke to Webster county au-
di ence.
GENERAL EVANS INVITED