Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-07-26
WATSON LEFT CROWD
WAITING FOR HIM TO
FINISH HIS SPEECH
Continued From Page One

Continued from rage Une
his birth. the circulation OF a rumor had
gained ground to the effect that he had
been expelled from college. Great God"
he exclaimed. ITO thing OF this coming
from my old county where my uncles and
other relatives came from and went to
serve the Confederacy unto death. 1 did
quit college, but only when my money
gave out" However, on one occasion
when the family of DR.. H. H. D. Wor-
sham was afflicted with smallpox, he
visited the home to see II he could rem
der assistance in time of need and he was
advised by the president of the institu-
ton to go home until after danger Of in
lection was over for he would be a men
ace to the health Of the other students
unless he did.
He recited his trials in search of work
in Augusta when he was an ugly red
headed boy, how he failed and at last
had to pawn his books to Binion &
Crump, who auctioned them off for a
paltry sum OF less than $40, then came a
trip to Screven county, where he taught
school two years and started to sowing
wild oats, but reformed one afternoon
after he made trip Of IL miles on a visit
which he should not have made. and he
the song, Am I a Soldier of the Cross, f"
brought back to memory by strains COM
ing from the residence OF Rev. H. J. Ar
nett and from that time he decided to
live a new life.
TELLS OF LAW STUDY.
Then he wrote to Mr.. Pierce to know II
he would board him II months while he
studied law and there came a shout Of
Joy in his heart when he found that Mr..
Pierce and his wife consented. He came
and was first knocked about by lawyers
like Roney, Tut, Hudson, Reese, Twiggs
and others, but later how things were re-
versed. He told of his first fee paid by
Mr.. Jack Roberts, who was present. OF
his first big victory that OF Theresa
Barksdale, who was given the custody Of
her child through his power in court
There was nothing but a long, rambling
chain OF personal experience, the dead is
sues of the past until IL came to the
celebrated McCorkle case, with which the
reading public is familiar Mr.. Watson
presented his side Of the case with en-
phasis, which was in itself convincing
The hours passed in this manner until
Mr.. Watson had spoken two hours not
even touching upon politics, except to
mention the passage Of the income tax
ratification by the Georgia legislature,
which he commended. It seemed that he
was going to avoid politics completely,
but just at IL o'clock he began to assail
Thomas W. Hardwick in most scathing
language, declaring him to be a drunkard,
gambler, petty thief, an migrate who does
not deserve the honor OF associating with
decent people, much less representing
them in congress. He read a communica-
ton, the writer's name not being d.
vulged, purportinig to be an attack on
Hardwick's honesty, declaring that on
one occasion Hardwick, in company with
friends. rifed official papers in Sanders
vile and destroyed executions entered
against Hardwick's supporters. He stated
that he would not give names, for fear
that those with him would not stand up
and tell the truth.
ASSAILS HARDwICK.
He offered to pay the expenses of a
committee composed Of Messrs. Dosh
Massengale, Dolph Strother, Ed Wilson
and others, to go to Macon and ascertain
IL his charges against Hardwick were
not true in regard to the gambling accu-
sations made by Mr.. Watson. However,
closing his morning address he declared
that Hardwick had gone back on his po-
litical daddy because he could not stand
with him on the governorship race in 1908
He recited other little Incidents, finally
characterizinz Hardwick as the Boykon
Wright Of Washington county politics.
In closing, he appealed to the audience
to stand by him. for II not, he would be
politically disgraced and would have no
more power. Then he asked for an 4d-
journment and said the meeting would
open up again after dinner.
CROWD WAITS IN VAIN.
Two hours passed while the crowd wait
ed for his return. but there was no evil
dence of such an event taking place. Mr..
Dosh Massengale telephoned and received
word that Mr.. Watson would not come
back and that Messrs. Evans and Eve
could speak to the people The news
gained currency rapidly. The people
showed plain signs of disappointment and
began to leave with harsh expressions of
belief in political combination and trick
did not wish to hear.
The crowd thinned perceptibly every
minute while Mr.. Evans spoke, and when
Mr.. Eve followed him an hour later, not
half the crowd was there. Before he nm
ished half of the remainder had left the
grounds. In the meantime strenuous eff
forts were made to get Mr.. Watson to
come down and save the ragged remnants
Of the crowd which was grouped OF IN
sections. discussing poor crops. grass and
other kindred topics. Others, who had
come from a distance, had gone home and
people from afar were disappointed. for
Mr. Watson had not mentioned the politi-
cal situation IN the light they had ex-
Dected.
Mr. Evans began his address, almost
quoting Mr.. Watson, by stating that lie
did not believe the people should hold
man irresponsible in public life. for
his private conduct and that a drunkard
and gambler in private life would be UNI
safe and unsound in public life. Follow
ing Mr.. Evans Mr.. Eve mounted the
platform and his first utterance was, Il
am here to tell you that we have got
Mr.. Hardwick !. beaten to q .frazzle all