The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1906-01-17
SMITH -AOWELL DEBATE.
TWO Georgia Gubernatorial Candidates
Engage In Forensic Contest in Co.
lumbus-Only One Sensation.

lumbus-Only One Sensation.
The first Of the joint debates in the
Georgia gubernatorial campaign was
pulled off in Columbus Wednesday be
tween Candidates Hon. Hoke Smith '
and Hon. Clark Howell.
The speakers were greeted by an
audience of nearly 1000 people, and
both were given an ovation, and the
partisans of both sides are making
sweeping claims as to the result Of
the meeting.
A sensational feature of the debate
was when Mr. Howell said that he
had been offered the support Of Hon.
Tom Watson, and when some one in
the audience shouted for proof" Mr..
Howell produced and read two letters
which, in part, we:S as follows:
Atlanta, Ga, July Ia, 19o5.-Hon.
Clark Howell-My Dear Clark: have
just wound up an interesting trip or
eight days touring through Tennes.
see and Virginia with my friend, HoD.
Tom Watson. We thoroughly discuss.
ed the chances of Hon. Hol1e Smith
and yourself, and came to the con-
Ilusion that all this corporation talk
is nothing but skirmish flght-that
the all.absorbnG contention will be
the disfranchisement OF the negro.
MIR. Watson, you will remember, in his
Atlanta speech of September, 1904,
pledged himself to disfranchisemen
You will recall that have for years
been your warm personal friend -
ever since we served together in the
house Of representatives, of which
you were speaker. l want you elect
ed governor, and l am particularly
anxious to have you secure Mr.. Wat
sons support to that end.
If you had agreed to support the
disfranchisement amendment, I feel
satisfied that Smith could not secure
Watsons support. l know that he dis
likes Hoke Smith, and know the VIZ
famous treatment of Mr.. Watson by
Hol:e Smith and the Atlanta Journal in
the past ranliles in his breast, ospec,
tally the open charge Of corruption
made by MI. Smith in Augusta.
1t is true that both you and Smith
were bitterly opposed to the Hard.
wick disfranchisemeDt bill at the
time it was defeated in the general
assembly. And yet Hokes deep anx
iety for political promotion is such
that he will not hesitate to make
deal bartering his conviction on this
subject.
You have the first opportunity to get
Watson's support if you want it.
Let me hear from you on the sub
ject Address your reply to my old
home, Juniper, Talbot county, Georgia,
and it will be forwarded to me. Your
friend, JOHN A. SIBIEY.
TO this Mr.. Howell replied as fol
lows:
Atlanta, Ga, July II, 19O5.-Hon.
John a. Sfbley, Juniper, Talbot Cour-
ty, Georgia. - My Dear John:
have you very kind letter written ar.
ter your trip through the mountains
with Hon. Tom Watson.
| would like to see Mr. Watson re
turn to the democratic party and to
have his support as a democrat.
unfortunately he seems to have
dr1fted too far from his original moor
ings to affiliate with the party, and
| can quite understand now how. as
one who is bitterly antagonizing dem.
ocratlc success, he should be willing
to inject new issues into democratic
counsels with the view Of dividing the
white vote Of Georgia.
Personally, I am very fond of him
and much admire his brilliancy and
his literary attainments.
l am opposed to the kind OF dis.
reimbursement as proposed by the
Hardwick bill, because l believe that
instead OF really disfranchising the
negro it will disfranchise thousands
or them and disfranchise tens or
thousands of white citizens.
My record in this matter is based
upon conscience and I must be con.
sistent
would not have the governorshiD
II I had to barter my convictions to
get the Office.
with assurance OF personal esteem,
am, with best wishes, sincerely