Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-10-16

the day it was born were farmers and the
sons of farmers.
"Mr. President, you can't raise a man
on a brick pavement-men come from con-
tact with mother EARTH they are bred
on the farm You do well, Mr.. President
and gentlemen of the convention, to as
semble in Georgia "a state which owes
her greatness to her sons that till the soil.
Georgia is a glorious state-glorious
in her historys in the achievements OF
her sons. One of the original thirteen
states, in the dark days Of the revolu-
ton, Georgia in her devotion to liberty
in her suffering in it's behalf, demonstra-
ted that character which has left its in
effaceable impress upon her people, and
won for her a record second to no other
of the original states of the union"
Referring to the race problem. Governor
Gambler said:
I'm no other state does the presence
of the negro impose a greater burden up
on the whites than in Georgia. Yet the
negro in Georgia is in a better condition
than in many other states. He is educa-
ted. treated without discrimination. We
teach him that Georgia is the best state
for good negro, and the worst state for
bad one.
"As governor OF this state, have often
been called upon to consider the pleas Of
the negro As God is my judge, 1 have
never allowed myself to think of him save
as one entitled to that equal and exact
Justice the state of Georgia awards to
all of it's citizens. Georgia offers her rec
ord as an answer to any queries as to her
attitude on the race problem"
Referring to the people who first settled
Georgia, the governor repealed the charge
that the first settlers were criminal ex-
Hes He paid a warm tribute to the men
who composed the first force of colonial
settlers, as men of high character, rank
ing with those of any other colony. Speak
ing of the influx into Georgia of settlers
from Virginia and North Carolina, he
said:
1.-The Virginians In the old days were
all F. F. VS.. The Virginian of those
days thought he was just a little better
than any one else, and the bulk of them
were well-to-do. When some of them
concluded to emigrate to Georgia, they
came in covered wagons, the horses adornr
ed with tinkling bells that sounded the
line of their march.
when they passed through North Car
DINA, the North Carolinians had never
seen wagons, and they followed those
wagons into Georgia to find out when the
hind wheels would overtake the fore
wheels, and thus North Carolinians helped
to settle Georgia."
Speaking of the civil war, he said:
1--WE will not enter discussion of that
period save to say to those who fought
under the stars and stripes believed they
were right, and as God is my judge those
who fought under the stars and bars be-
lieved they were right. In that struggle
Georgia suffered-her lands were devas-
tated, her homes darkened by mourning.
In the years that have passed-through
the days of reconstruction, till now,
Georgia has demonstrated the courage and
determination of her people. No people.
however, could have accomplished what
the people of Georgia have accomplished
since the civil war, except with such soil
as Georgia possesses-the most prolific
on the face of the earth.
'In the name of that Georgia, Mr..
President, ladies and gentlemen, in be-
half of her people, welcome you to the
! Empire State of the South. If you shall
come to Atlanta 1 extend to you a cor
dial welcome to visit the capitol-it is open
to you. l bid you God-speed in the great
work that has brought you together in
this great convention"
A delegate from New York as the gov
ernor sat down, jumped to his feet and
proposed three cheers for Governor Cand-
Ter, which were given with the deep north
ern and western hurrah. A delegate from
West Virginia called for three cheers for
the governor. The response was the IA
At the conclusion of Governor Gambler s
address of welcome, President Flanders
called upon Hon. Harvie Jordan to re-
spond on behalf of the convention.
Mr.. Jordan's Response.
"Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen
of the Farmers National Congress: I
have listened with great pleasure and
qualification to the impressive words of
welcome which have just fallen from the
lips of the chief executive of the Empire
State of the South, and to the splendid
words of greeting from the honored pres
ident of the chamber of commerce of your
beautiful Central City.
Governor Gambler has most fittingly
conveyed to us the sentiments which 1 am
sure actuate the hearts of that great
mass of farmers who have made Georgia
what she is-one of the greatest in all
that spleidid galaxy of our agricultural
states.
The prompt and decisive action of