Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-08-10
SLATON IS HOST
TO LEGISLATORS
Members of General Session Take
Time Between Sessions to Cele-
brate at Cold Springs-After-
noon Session Is Demoralized.

when the roll is called up yonder IN
be there" sang Reading Clerk Me-
Claiche in a rumbling bass voice, while
a whole trolley load of legislators Joined
ia the chorus.
Irreverently. possibly, but not irrele-
, vently was the famous old hymn chosen
on this particular occasion. for the roll
was going to be called up yonder' at
the state capitol when the clock struck
four, and the whole crowd was hurrying
back from Senator Slatons barbecue in
order to be there" when the speakers
gavel sounded for the resumption of bus
mess
They hated to quit a good barbecue
when the festivities were just at their
height, they hated still more the prospect
of working on a hot Saturday afternoon
when even offrce boys had half-holiday.
but they had promised Mr.. Anderson of
Chattanooga dern him-to quit their
fun at $3.50 o'clock, TO leave the luscious
pig-meat beneath the leafy trees, and re-
sumo their tiresome. stupid labors in the
dismal old gray state house. They wished
they hadn't made any such promise, but
shaving made it. they were going to bt
game and face the mournful music.
And that was why the annual barbecue,
given by President ]. NJ. Slaton of the
senate to both branches Of the general
assembly Saturday afternoon at Colo
Springs had to be a rather hurried ar
fair so far as the members of the house
were concerned. But before bidding their
genial host a reluctant farewell, speaker
Holder and his colleagues unanimously
declared that the occasion, despite It's
brevity. would be long remembered by
them as one of the most pleasant In
their entire lives.
A FINE SPREAD.
The tarhacue was one of the finest ever
served on a Georgia pine-board table the
weather was ideal. the Cold Springs grove
formed a Beautifully picturesque setting
for the banquet, the Scrowd was con-
genial. and Mr.. Slaton. as usual proved
himself a perfect host. -,
A string of special cars, loaded with
about $50 of Mr. Slaton's guests left the
capitol shortly after o'clock and ar
rived at Cold Springs an hour later. The
table had already been prepared. Presl-
dent Slaton, knowing that MS
guests could not tarry long, and feeling
that II would be true hospitality to facili-
tate their return when the time came
ANNOUNCED that cars would be ready al
l3.30 to carry them back to the capitol
all of them except Mr.. Joe Hill Hall. VINO
had chung too close to the near-beer
barrel and was now in no condition tc
make laws for sober commonwealth.
When the laugh at Mr.. Halls expense
had subsidized. Mr.. Lee Barnes, of the
Aragon Hotel, with number of other
Atlanta gentlemen who were helping TO
entertain the legislators, sang the fellow
Ing toast to their guests the words OF
which had been composed by Mr. Barnes:
TOAST IN SONG. 4
1--WE remember you, we remember you,
Every one dandy fellow;
Not a single streak of yellow
Can be found in any member of your
body true;
We remember you, yes indeed we do,
Gee. we're awful glad we met you,
Bet your life we don't forget you,
Wen remember you"
There was no speech-making, that is.
no formal speech-making. Plenty of that
during work hours! Too much OF 1t, in
fact! When a shoemaker goes off for
picnic. does he amuse himself by making
! shoes? Well it's just the same with
speech-maker. He wants rest some
times-so do his hearers. So the whole
crowd took it easy" and when they
finally wanted to thank Mr.. Slaton for his
delightful hospitality, they simply rose as
one man. and. led by Senator ]. T. Price,
of Oconee. gave three rousing cheers for
Jack Slaton," hearty cheers that made
the countryside to re-echo and caused the
little dicky-birds to fly away in fright to
another grove.
Mr.. sLATON RESPONDS.
And when Mr. Slaton responded to this
whole-souled tribute, he simply stood for
a moment with outstretched arms and
said my friends, love you ALL" There
was true eloquence.
Practically all the members of the gen.
eral assembly,, including the officers and
clerks of the two branches, as well as
number OF other state house officials par
ticipated in the barbecue. Between 300
and 400 people were present. Among the
special guests were the following gentle
| men: Gen. Clement A. Evans. Justice
Lumpkin. OF the supreme court. Judge
Pendleton, of the superior court, President
Matthews, OF the Georgia Iastitute OF
Technology. Col. A. H. Tim, private sec
rotary Of the governor Col. Minter VIM
berley. Of Macon, Judge Spencer Atkinson.
| of Atlanta Messrs. Edwin P. Ansley, For
rest Adair. Gen. A. J. West and others
Mrs. j. M. Slaton was present with
party Of ladies, and gracefully seconded
the president of the senate in his hosp'-
talfty.