The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1908-04-22
MR.. SMITHS "PROHIBITION" RE-
CORD is RIDDLED AND
MADE RIDICULOUS.
THE MEN BEHIND JOE BROWN

HE MEN DCntND SVG OuVVN
He Tells Who They Are and Calls
MIR. Smiths Attention to the Glass
of Citizens the Governor Is Brand
ing as "Lurid Politicians" and
s.Whiskey Ringsters." The Utter
Absurdity of the "Disfranchise-
ment" Charge Laid Bare. Smith
Yelling sFire!' to Distract the
People From the Real Issues.
To the People of Georgia: Gov
ernor Smith, in the evening papers,
April 10, published a card which be-
gins with the following words: The
letter of Mr.. Joseph M. Brown con-
firms the charge that combination
of liquor interests has been made to
capture the state"
This charge" to which Governor
Smith alludes was made in his own
organ, the Atlanta Journal, April y
hence, evidently was inspired by him.
In other words, tracing it to its
source the charge" was doubtless
Governor Smiths own. The "charge"
thus made by Governor Smith was
that / was the candidate selected
to represent the saloon interests.
This charge is so void of truth that
it would receive no attention from
me but for the fact that he is gov
ernor and seeking reelection.
Who Brought Him Out.
Now, of course, my candidacy rep
resented in its incipiency those
whose requests that | run and
pledges of earnest support brought
me out. Who were they? The Wage
Farmers Protective Association of
Macon 1900 strong, hundreds OF
farmers and marble workers OF
Cherokee county, besides other petit
tions and letters signed by confeder-
ate veterans, travelling statesmen,
manufacturers, farmers, merchants,
labor organizations and others IN
various walks of life, from the
marshes of Charlton to the peaks of
the Blue Ridge. These were abso-
lutely the only people who wrote or
spoke to me or who communicated
means whatever in regard to my run
ming for governor of Georgia. THESE
were the people who declared that
Governor Smiths incumbency In the
Office he holds had already dlsas-
trously damaged and would ultimate
" wreck the prosperity OF the state.
Hence, as these, and these alone,
we're responsible for my raising the
standard against Governor Smiths
misrule, his extravaganza and ms
blunders. these, and these alone, are
the parties whom he terms "a COM
bination of liquor interests and cor
porate interests, which, by my can
didacy, would "debauch our state.
A Palpable Attempt to Misrepresent.
These worthy citizens of Georgia
who represent her integrity, industry
and sobriety are thus referred to by
Governor Smith as a combination
of liquor interests" To such des-
perate straits is he reduced by the
revolt of the people against the
travesty on government with when
he has brought want into thousands
OF homes in Georgia. Governor
Smith then refers thus to my letter
to the people OF Georgia: There is
a poorly concealed admission that he
would approve legislation repeating
the prohibition bill.
There is not a word in my letter
which sustains this statement by Gov
ernor Smith. Referring to the pro-
hibition law, / said that If it be the
peoples will that it be amended
they will elect general assembly TO
enact their will Nobody knows
better than Governor Smith the diff
ference between an amendment OF
the law and a repeal of the law.
His language which / have quoted
betrays a palpable attempt on his
part to misrepresent me. The gov
ernor of Georgia should hold himself
above such attempts.
I further said: 81 am unaltera-
bly opposed to the saloon. There
can be but one meaning to the word
"unalterably." The saloon is out
of Georgia. No governor can bring
it back.
A Comparison of Records.
I am perfectly willing to stake my
candidacy in the approaching prima-
nv upon the comparison of Governor
Smiths career and record with mine
upon this question and all others.
The naked assertion of Governor