The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1908-09-02
LEFT HANDED COMPLIMENTS
Governor Smith and Tom Watson Saying Things to and
of Each Other of an Interesting Nature.

Smith, in Reply to Charge of Bad
Faith, Says 1t Is an Exhibition of
Ignorance and in Keeping With
WatsOn's Vanity.
In a recent article given to the
newspapers Tom Watson made an at
tack on Governor Smith for the lat
+er's approval to the disfranchise-
ment amendment pOstponing it's 60
ing into effect until January LIST,
and charged that the governor had
not kept faith with him. He charged
that the purpose for which this
change was made is Ito allow Hoke
Smith and that element of his party
to use the negro vote in November
ostensibly for Bryan, but more par
ticularly for the purpose of Destroy
ing Watson, most astonishing
breach of contract.
Governor Smith Talks.
Governor Smith replied vigorously
to Mr.. watson, saying:
Il have never made an agreement
with anyone about when the consti-
tutional amendment should go into
effect
My work upon this subject was
in the interest of no individual but
for the public generally, and Janua-
Ty list. was fixed as the date when
the constitutional amendment will
90 into effect solely because it would
be impossible to complete a registra-
ton under the constitutional amend
ment for the November election.
This difficulty was overlooked at
the first session of the legislature,
but became so apparent when we
were studying new registration laws
that | brought it to the attention Of
the general assembly at the first of
the last session in my message.
'Watson's charge that the opera
ton of the disfranchisement amend
ment was postponed to injure his
chances in Georgia is regarded by
persons familiar with the actual rea-
sons that prompted the charge as a
reflection on Watson's intelligence.
They regard it as an exhibition of
ignorance in keeping only with Wat
sons vanity.
Here are the facts: The change
from October, this year, to January
next year was necessitated because
the legislature unanimously recog-
1lzed that it would be impossible to
put the provisions of the constitu-
lional amendment into operation in
Inc two weeks that would intervene
between its ratification at the Octo-
ger election and the November cleo
uon, much less offer the desired OPP
9ortunlty to purge the registration
lists as required by law.
The November election occurs on
November 4tb
The October election occurs on
October 18th.
Experience has shown that two
weeks are required in which to get
,ne returns from the various coun-
les of the state. consolidate them
'"tIdIIy and publish a proclamation.
Inc vote on the Acknowledgement
amendment promises to be heavier
nan usual, and it is entirely prob
nGIe that even more than two weeks
viii be required to definitely ascer-
am the official result.
he two weeks required to learn
me late of the amendment would
.uroW the declaration of the result
up 10 October 21st., at the earliest.
any man in Georgia should know
ana most of them do know-that
IT. would be matter of physical i'm
poSslOl!ity for the registrars to pass
upon the qualifications and register
nat OF the voters as the amendment
tequITeS. And if the books should
t 2e closed the customary ten days be-
lure election the registrars would
I ,S only four days in which to do
parent. becomes il'0i : ''p
Watson knows, and everyone else
r mHo"S' that the amendment requires
la, making of new registration
1g;o oC yet Watson presumes to be-
G isne mat this could be done in four