The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1910-10-05
THE FAMOUS GEORGIAN WAS
GREETED BY A LARGE AU-
DIENCE IN DAWSON.
TOUCHED ON MANY MATTERS

Told What the Populist Party Ac
complished, Explained His Atti
tude as to Missions, and Criticized
Recent Political Events.
"Old Man Peepul" and Aunt Sarah
Jane were in Dawson by a large ma
jority Saturday to hear the speech
that Hon. Thomas E. Watson, the
famous lecturer and statesman, was
billed to deliver here.
It was one of the largest gather,
ings that ever assembled in Dawson
and the crowd that heard the speech
is varinusly estimated at from 75O
to 500 people. A conservative esti-
mate of the number who were pres
emit when Mr.. Watson begun his ad-
dress a short while before o'clock
in the afternoon is from 500 to l.
900 people.
They came here from Lee, Sum
Quitman, Clay and Calhoun cOun-
ties, and even a few came from the
state of Alabama to hear and see
their old populist leader. The east
bound Central train arriving at noon
brought a big crowd.
Mr. Watson was billed to begin
his address at 2 o'clock, but it was
nearly two hours later when he be-
gan his speech, the crowd patiently
awaiting his appearance. He had
spoken Friday night IN Columbus,
and came through from that place
in his automobile. Bad roads made
travel slow, and at 1 o'clock he had
not reached Dawson, nor had any
thing been heard from him. At half
past 1 o'clock a message was re-
ceived that the was in Richland en-
route here, and expected to be on
the stand in Dawson at o'clock.
At that hour the crowd again as
sembled, and several minutes elapsed
and still no Watson.
Behold! The Hero Comes.
Suddenly a big touring car carry
ing five passengers rolled around
the corner at the intersection OF
Stonewall and Lee streets, and
stopped in front of the court house
Some of the crowd recognized in one
of the occupants their old leader
and eX-candidate for the presidency
and set up yell and made a rush
for the automobile.
Mr. Watson was quickly surround
ed by a jam of people, and it was
with much difficulty that he made
the stand at the rear of the building
that had been erected for him.
Beginning of the Speech Delayed.
A hot autumn sun of a sultry
afternoon beat mercilessly down up
on the long rows of seats that haC
been built in front of the stand fol-
the accommodation of the audience
and by a vote of the crowd it was
decided. to adjourn to another place
A break was made for the superior
court room up stairs, and that was
quickly packed with humanity AS
soon as quiet could be restored the
redtopped person, as Mr.. Watson is
fond of referring to himself, asked
how many were on the outside who
could not get into the court room
and on being told that nearly hal
the crowd were still outside an
nOunced that he would go back tC
the stand downstairs, and led the
way there.
After the audience, Drawing the
blistering rays of a torrid sun, be
came seated Mr. Watson began his
speech without introduction or Ger
emony.
Full of Loving Kindness.
The speech was entirely differen
to what a majority of those presen-
expected to hear. They had beer
led to believe that there would be
something doing from the first drol
of the hat, but in this they were mis-
taken, for until near the close q
the address the tone of the speech
was about as mild as any one coult
wish for, and nothing was said unit
the latter part of Mr. Watson's re
marks that the most ardent Smith
man could object to. In fact, in tht
early part of the speech some Smitl
men frequently injected remarks il
approval of what the speaker said
However he spoke with his old-tim,
fire and elouuence, and was Otter
AhLSl upJSu Will ChIu uSldSJlC dp
plause by part of the audience
He began by discussing the prog
ress of political and religious reform
from the earliest days to the presen
time, coming on down to the Origin
and influences of the populist part!
and the situation in Georgia.
He said he was nobodys maste
and nobOdy's slave, and declared ht
would give the information to tGt
public and they could act as the,
saw fit and their cOnsciences die
tated. He said that he is a candi
date for no Office, and never will be
that he is a neighbor and frienC
and would discuss public affairs o
great concern.
Mr.. Watson declared he is misun
derstood by the people. Il mus
know you better, and we must pull
together for the good of the coun
try. He spoke of the feuds of Ken
lucky and West Virginia, which h,
attributed at the beginning to small
misunderstanding, and said: 9TH,