The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1905-02-23
Received at the Cotton Convention
With as Much Enthusiasm as
at Campaign Meetings
THE PEOPLE WILL HAVE A SPEECH
Talks About Trusts and 0ver-Pro.
duction While People go Hum
cry and Poorly Clad

or the $500 or more representative
cotton producers who met at the Cot
ton Problem there was no one in all
that vast assembly who so captivated
the people as the Georgia Commoner,
Thos. E. Watson. We clip the follow
ing from the New Orleans Times
Democrat of January 28:
when Mr.. Watson was introduced
he stepped forward and gracefully sug-
gested that he had been invited to
speak at s o'clock and the time now
lacked but three minutes of $3.50. At
this juncture j. Poole Brown, chair
man OF the committee who invited Mr..
Watson to speak, endeayored to in
terrupt him.
Mr. Watson would not grant the
! floor to Mr.. Poole, and the convention
cried loudly for the speaker. With
adroitly turned sentences Mr.. Watson
suggested that he relinquish the floor
to Captain Hobson, and that he would
willingly await until afterwards.
"IIe resumed his seat, but the con-
yention would not allow him to retire,
and after the delegates had worked
themselves up to the highest pitch of
enthusiasm Mr.. Watson arose from
his seat and stepped forward. The
convention was wholly his during his
eloquent address, which is printed be-
| low U-ssssaaseezznaas1sS4s4k~
"Such an ovation as was accorded
Mr. Watson when he completed his
Grafton was never before witnessed.
and it Is doubtful if more demonstra-
| tive tokens of admiration and appre-
! citation have ever been accorded
speaker in New Orleans.
Captain Hobson, who followed, was
received with what seemed but slight,
applause, after the thunderous cheers
had subsidized for his predecessor, Mr..
| Hobson, the hero of the Merimac cpl
sode, gracefully complimented the ef-
| fort Of Mr.. Watson and at once launch
ed into a brilliant discussion of the
cotton question from the standpoint OF
the desirability of trade with China.
Presenting two contrasting styles
Of oratory, the Hon. Thos. e. Watson
and Capt. Richmond p Hobson were
head by the cotton convention last
night. The demonstration given Mr..
Watson was overwhelming in it's in
tensity, while but two or three ripples
were accorded Mr.. Hobson.
"The two men were placed in what
may be called an oratorical contest by
parliamentary slip, which made the
time allotted Mr.. Watson, but little
more than one-half hour. And Mr..
Watson profited by the slip.
Upon being introduced, Mr.. Wat
| son faced his audience, already fired
by his appearance, and after paying a
graceful tribute to Capt. Hobson, ex-
planned the difficulty of both himself
and Capt. Hobson, speaking in the
| limited time allotted, and insisting that
it would cause embarrassment both to
j himself ami Capt. Hobson, he again
asked that the entire time be given to
Capt. Hobson.
"This famed the flame of enthu
siasm that had been kndled, and
loudly the delegates from every sea-
in the immense audience clamored fol
the Georgia orator.
please don't misunderstood me,
said Mr.. Watson. Il have no idea tha
he would abuse that courtesy. wOult
listen to his address with more pleas
ure than you could possibly listen t.
mine, and when the captain finishe!
what I know will be magnificent ora
tion, I will then address you without
embarrassment to him or to myself
Allow me to do that, please"
However, when Mr.. Watson resumed
This seat, SO loud and inslstent were