The Savannah morning news., 1904-11-02
MIR. WATSON AT sTATEsBoRO.

In his speech at Statesboro, Mr.. Wat
son cast serious reflections upon the
majority of the white men of this state,
if he has been correctly reported. THE
whole machinery of the Democratic
party in Georgia" ne is alleged to have
said, lis controlled by the Southern
Railway, through Hamp McWhorter
and other lobbyists" BY inference,
the control is by corrupt means for
corrupt purposes. The allegation
means, If it means anything, that the
Democratic party is corrupt, that many
of the leaders of it are "grafters,' that
the voters of the party are led around
by the nose and voted as the leaders
please, and that, for these reasons, the
party is not fit to be trusted.
Is that true? Who are the men that
constitute 1.-The machine?" 1t would re-
quire more than a page in newspaper
to enumerate them by name merely,
but 1t is a very safe assertion that in
each locality the Democratic leaders
are among the best citizens. known
of their neighbors as substantial and
upright men. The reader in any local
ity has but to remember who is the
Democratic leader of his locality to
ascertain to his own satisfaction wheth-
err or not that leader is a corrupt
man and likely to be dominated by
lobbyists or by his own sense
of right and wrong. An impor-
tant cog in the Democratic machine is
the congressman from Mr.. Watsons
own district; another is the chairman
of the State COMMITTEES; another is the
Governor; others are members of the
National Committee others are the re-
naming congressman. and the chair
men of the Congress district commit
tees, and the chairmen of the county
committees. Would Mr.. Watson
charge any of these individually with
corruption and being in the employ
of a corporation for political purposes?
1t seems to us that in his zeal for
his own interest, Mr.. Watson has lost
sight of the public interest. He'd pre-
fer to tear down the Democratic party,
if he could, in the hope that he might
be able to build party of his own
on the ruins. And in his effort to tear
down, he is accomplishing nothing
more than giving aid and comfort to
the political enemies of the South and
of the white people of the South. Mr..
Watson knows just as we'll as he knows
that the sun will rise tomorrow that
the contest is between Theodore Roose-
n, AL.A
he cuts no figure in it other than that
of a marplot. He knows also that
every speech he has made since the be-
ginning of his canvass has been direct
ed mainly against the Democracy, and
thus in aid of Republicanism. He
his party stand on all public questions,
as well as where Roosevelt and his
party stand. He is aware that Par
ker is the representative of the con-
stitution and law and white supremacy,
which cannot be said of Roosevelt.
He knows that Judge Parker stands
for economy in the cost or government.
for justice to all men and nations and
return to the sound principles of the
founders of the government. And vet.
Mr.. Watson is willing to give the
weight of his influence to the other
man. Is it because Roosevelt is a
radical?
1t is a pity that man of Mr.. Wat
sons acknowledged ability should have
become so politically soured that he
cannot recognize the good qualities of
his own neighbors who are Democrats.
Mr.. Watson should have remained a
Democrat and advocated his reforms
through the Democratic party. I'm
der present circumstances he is whist
| ling against the wind.
/