Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-09-02
KEYNOTE SPEECH rs MADE
BY JUDGE THOS. G. LAWSON
He Declares to State Convention That the People Have De-
cded and Placed Their Approval Upon the Progressive
Prncpes-ts Time for All to Lay Aside Difference and
Work Together

Temporary chairman, Judge Thomas G.
Lawson, in accepting the gavel OF the
convention, said:
Gentlemen of the Convention: sincere
Iy thank you for the honor bestowed on
me. Your call on me to preside Temporal
rily over so large a convention of Geor-
gia Democrats will be cherished as one
of, the happiest incidents of my life.
/ I.realize that, there is a difference of
opinion among us upon the issues on
which the recent campaign was fought
out. Some are greatly elated. while 9TH
ers are seriously disappointed at the re-
suit But the battle has been fought
to finish, it is time for peace to be
restored, let there be no dis
cordant note, and let each of us
honesty of purpose and equal disintereest-
edness and patriotism. Excepting those
emolument or other special favor as the
outcome of the election, 1 believe. that
the Intelligent citizenry of Georgia cast
their ballots with a sincere purpose to
advance the general welfare. And have
no quarrel with them because they did
not see the questions at issue in the
same light that 1 saw them. We will
soon be called to combat a national foe,
and IL behooves the Democracy of Geor-
gia to confront them with a bold, united
and invincible phalanx.
he '"' TILE SILENT VOTE.
considerable majority of you gentle
men/are accredited to this convention by
"a handsome majority Of the popular
vote cast in the recent primary cleo
ton. You are not only backed by
handsome majority of the positive votes
cast but also, as think. by vast ma
jority of the silent vote that was not
cast, by that large army of registered
voters who refrained from voting. 1t Is
fair presumption that If they had been
averse to a change OF the administra-
ton they would have voted against
change. 1t is idle to say that they were
contented with existing conditions; such
contention impugns their intelligence;
they we'll knew that a most streuous et-
fort was being made to change the ad-
ministration. If they had been content
with it they would have voted to main
tain it, 1t is idle to say that they were
not aroused from their lethargy ana
urged to vote. The conflict was not
simply Smith VS. Brown, ii ranged all
along the line from the office OF COVER
nor to the humblest county officer In
every county in the state: every voter
was industriously canvassed, every con-
sideration of county pride, Of personal
friendship, of neighborhood affiliation'
of family ties were brought to pear
upon him to induce him to vote, ana
yet he could not be prevailed on 10
vote. And why? Because he was will
ing TO a change in the administration.
but without a certain assurance Of the
benefits to accrue from it, he shrank
from assuming a personal responsibility
IN contributing to II. On no other ny
nothesis can intelligence and patriotism
be accorded him. We may, therefore,
rightfully claim the support and good
will of a vast majority Of the 10000 81
lent voters in the state
THE SOBER SECOND THOUGHT.
Your presence here is an assurance
that the people shave come to them
selves, that they have experienced the So
her second thought and tnat they are
anxious to correct the error ana repair
the injury they committed two years ago.
II Is an assurance that the intelligent
citizenry of Georgia when dealing with
the same issues cannot De 1ooleo out
once. They have found after two
Years, experience that the reform policies
of the Smith administration are not DAN
uerous that IL radical at all they are
~ the radicalism that convey and builds,
but not destroy. They have perceived
that not one of the laws enacted dur
ing his administration has been changed
not even to the dotting of an or the
crossing of {, and that revival OF
business and the inflow of prosperity
have not been hindered by them. Gov
ernor Browns friends say that he could
do nothing, being hampered by a Smith
legislature and in the same breath af-
N1fo
country by affirming that his admins
tration insured the return Of prosperity
To the country. The reason he did moth
ing is because he attempted nothing
that ought to have been done. The leg
fsIature was an able and patriotic body
and If Governor Brown instead of gazing
backward at the Smith administration
with the purpose of destroying If ne
could. Its benencent Achievements, had
turned his face to the front for the pur-
pose of promoting the general welfare
he would have received the cooperation
of the legislature and the thanks of the
people and would have been accorded a
second term in Office without opposition.
The legislature. howsoever they may diff
fer among themselves as to state poll
tics may always be trustees To- aid the
governor in carrying out wise and pa
triotic recommendations. -..-
THREE THINGS SETTLED.
of the many things on which we
differed during the recent campaign at
least three things were settled. trust
for all time In the first place the people
stamped their sovereign approval upon
the registratio law. Henceforth they
intend to have pure elections. They have
discarded that valuable political asset of
the politicians. an irresponsible and cor
ruptible ballot. Our opponents call 1t a
Iau fc mis-
.aer. On the contrary 1t has enfran-