Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-08-09
HOKE SMITH GIVEN
ROUSING WELCOME
IN FLOYD COUNTY
Rain That Fell in Torrents
Did Not Prevent Big Audi
torium from Being Taxed to
Its Utmost Capacity
FRIENDS ARE CONFIDENT
OF VICTORY IN FLOYD
fspeci,l DISPATCH to The Journal)

10 Rome today was the occasion OF re-
markabls demonstration. The weather
conditions could scarcely have been more
unfavorable. yet the largest obtainable
auditorium in the city was taxed to its
utmost capacity with representative citi-
zens OF all classes from various sections
OF Floyd and adjoining counties. Barlow,
Polk and Chattooga counties were es-
pecially well represented in the immense
audience.
For a solid hour Just preceding the
speech. which began at $50 o'clock. rain
fell In torrents. and throughout most OF
the time Mr.. Smith spoke the rain con-
tinued to fall almost increasingly He
reached che auditorium in the midst OF
a downpour and he departed two hours
and a half later. when II was still raining.
But despite the heavy rain just before
speaking time" the building was well
niIed when Mr.. Smith arrived and the
wetness outside did not dampen the ardor
OF the men under the shelter
RoUsING RECEPTION.
They gave the former governor a rous-
ing reception, that completely drowned
the music OF the band and as the rain
continued the crowd was gradually swell
ed until seats were at q premium, ana
scores of men were standing In the
aixies.
Indeed. the crowd became so large and
the congestion about the doors and In
the aIsles in the rear so great that MT
Smith stopped In the midst OF MS
speech to invite the people TO push near
or the rostrum so that others who were
anxious 70 gain admission 10 the build
ing might enter And the rain storm
that broke in its fury just before the
Speaking was not the only unfavoraole
condition During the morning there
were frequent showers. and the over
hanging clouds presented anything but
an inviting aspect II Is regarded as
indeed remarkable that any farmer had
the temerity TO fare forth in the face
OF such unfavorable weather conditions
70 hear a political speech.
Had more farmers come TO town. how
ever, II would have been impossible
for them TO have heard Hoke Smiths
speech While the audience was COM
posed for the most part OF farmers
Of Floyd and adjoining counties there
were hundreds Of other representative
citizens OF other walks OF life. Floyd
county is largely agricultural in its pur-
suits. but the city OF Rome is COM
mercial and manufacturing center. There
are thousands Of laboring. professional
and business men in this cts Of hills
and they turned out en- masse TO hear
the issues OF the campaign discussed.
VICTORY is EXPECTED.
As a result OF the remarkable demon
stration. Hoke Smiths followers in
Floyd county are enthusiastic tonight.
They are confident that Mr.. Smiths
chances OF carrying Floyd county are
exceedingly bright and keen disappoint-
ment VIII be theirs IL the six votes Of
this county are not his in the nominat-
Ing convention.
From what they regarded as a lighting
chance for success FLOYD county now
looks TO be a certainty TO them The
speech was the first test or exhibition
OF Smith strength in Floyd. and the
sympathy with the speaker. considered
in connection with attendant circum-
stances. has enthused them
Seaed on the rostrum were Colonel
+. W. Copeland. president OF the HOke
Smith club Of Floyd county: ]. A. Winn.
OF Cedartown; Capt. J. c. Darlington.
W. NJ Selman. w. H II. Gibbons, John
c. King. Felix Corrupt, Rev. A p. Jones.
secretary and treasurer Of the Farmers
Union Warehouse; DR.. F. W. Hall, Of
Armuchee; Judge W. ". Henry, former
Judge Of the superior courts OF the Rome
circuit The following members OF the
executive committee were also in attend
ance: A Rowline. Ben Green. Press
Griffin. W. S. Gibbons, Jr., Jack Early.
Cicero Evans. p. r. Ross. Sam Johnson.
Cary ]. King. Henderson Lanham, W.
J.. Griffin, d. B. Hamilton. Jr., B. T.
Haynes. c. e. Nillican, A. Randle, James
BerryhiIl. James n. Waters, ]. A.
Rounsayille. P. H. yandiver. George F.
Chidsey, c. T. Jervis. Jim Bradshaw,
NJ ~. Griffin. John Ledbetter. W. c.
Atkinson. r. c. Brooks.
The Rome band played a concert OF
popular music before the speaking.
coPELAND's SPEECH.
Mr. Smith was introduced by Presi-
dent Copeland, in ten-minute speech,
as follows:
Fellow Citizens: We have met here to-
day for the purpose OF reasoning to-
gether. loving alike our country and our
country's interest.
In our advocacy Of the principles for
which we contend every incentive Of
patriotism and manhood call for conserv-
atism, and rebuke, even the semblance
Of abuse. Let US accord to each other
the liberty and freedom OF thought
which belongs TO every independent free
man TO act for himself untrammeled
and unbiased by base sentiments arous-
ed by excitement. prejudice or Ill will
IL Is part OF the history OF human
nature and human conduct in every
great political contest in the past. and
Il viii be so TO the end Of time, that
patriotic men have arisen under every
necessity 10 champion the rights and
guard the privileges guaranteed to re-
publics under organic laws established
by them for their welfare. the happiness
and the prosperity Of the citizen.
'Aore than four years ago our great
state that bears with grace the well-mer-
tied name Of Empire State OF the south
began 10 agitate and insist upon certain
essential reforms in our government.
which II made pei .nanent. places Geor-
ga in the foremost OF the most progress
i've states. Georgia then presented one
OF its citizens. whose fitness had previ-
ously been recognized. and had placed him
in the service Of the nation.
LAWS ARE THREATENED
LAS soon as legislative machinery could
place these reform measures upon our
statute books they were enacted into
law and although in their infancy. they
are now In operation, but threatened by
our present chief executive.
The sad memory OF our unhappy con-
ditiOn under the old lease law OF the
state which placed our convicts and the
rewards OF their labor in the hands OF
private individuals still fingers in the
minds OF all men. The cruelties and the
inhumanity OF that system are revolving
10 all intelligent men. and can only be
eradieated by time. the healer OF regret
as well as sorrow. The disgraceful con-